Amplifier recommendation please

[CribGoch]

So you're saying an £800 amp and £800 speakers wouid sound better than a £1500 amp using my existing q35s?

 

[CnoEvil]

So you're saying an £800 amp and £800 speakers wouid sound better than a £1500 amp using my existing q35s?

That would be my view, and said so a while back.....though it does depend on what you choose.

I own an A&R A60, as well as various Kef speakers, so have an idea what you are after.

 

[CribGoch]

I am starting to change my thinking. The issue now is whether I spend the £1600 on a new or second hand speaker/amp combo

 

[drummerman]

So you're saying an £800 amp and £800 speakers wouid sound better than a £1500 amp using my existing q35s?

That would be my view, and said so a while back.....though it does depend on what you choose.

I own an A&R A60, as well as various Kef speakers, so have an idea what you are after.

Both options have their advantages.

If you buy a well matched amplifier and pair of speakers you are likely to get more out of it immediately. There are quite a few good deals on last year models out there.

On the other hand, buying the best amplifier you can afford now will help in the long run.

Having said all that, buy a top of your budget amplifier now and you're likely to find it heavily discounted and superseded in three years time ...

One other way is to look at products which are 'upgradeable' with external power supplies, which, I can attest, can make quite some difference). This provides some way of 'future' proofing or go active which circum-navigates all the faff of matching.

regards

 

[CnoEvil]

Both options have their advantages.

If you buy a well matched amplifier and pair of speakers you are likely to get more out of it immediately. There are quite a few good deals on last year models out there.

On the other hand, buying the best amplifier you can afford now will help in the long run.

Having said all that, buy a top of your budget amplifier now and you're likely to find it heavily discounted and superseded in three years time ...

One other way is to look at products which are 'upgradeable' with external power supplies, which, I can attest, can make quite some difference). This provides some way of 'future' proofing or go active which circum-navigates all the faff of matching.

regards

Yup, you pays your money and takes your choice.

If the OP has the money to change his speakers in the near future, go for the better amp. If the £1500 budget is "it" for the foreseeable, then something like the Croft / Kef pairing is (imo) the way to go.

 

[CribGoch]

Both options have their advantages.

If you buy a well matched amplifier and pair of speakers you are likely to get more out of it immediately. There are quite a few good deals on last year models out there.

On the other hand, buying the best amplifier you can afford now will help in the long run.

Having said all that, buy a top of your budget amplifier now and you're likely to find it heavily discounted and superseded in three years time ...

One other way is to look at products which are 'upgradeable' with external power supplies, which, I can attest, can make quite some difference). This provides some way of 'future' proofing or go active which circum-navigates all the faff of matching.

Would the Naim Nait 5 si be a good buy? You can add on the NAP 100 power amp, can't you?

 

[CnoEvil]

Would the Naim Nait 5 si be a good buy? You can add on the NAP 100 power amp, can't you?

I'm personally not a fan of the upgrade path of power supplies etc, though I can see the attraction. IMO. For the slightly neurotic audiophile, it leads to temptation and the drip-feeding of funds to get to the next level. Over time, when you look back, you find that you have spent what would have got you a better system in the first place.......but that's just me.

I would rather put the money into an amp that already has it's power supply sorted out....if you then want to upgrade, trade it in for a better amp.

I'm not a fan of the Naim sound, but again that is personal. There is no substitute for taking the suggestions you get on here and then listening to them. i get the feeling that you are being strongly pulled in the direction of the better known brands, which means you would be overlooking some serious talent.

 

[CribGoch]

I take your point about brands I don't think the dealers here in Nottingham have some of the lesser known kit so it's harder to audition

 

[plastic penguin]

Would the Naim Nait 5 si be a good buy? You can add on the NAP 100 power amp, can't you?

AFAIK the Naim 5 si version (amp and CDP) is not upgradeable, unlike the older 5i.

If you want to upgrade look at Roksan Kandy or Arcam. They have very good power amps... but i would look at better speakers before a upgrading the amp.

 

[Al ears]

'Would the Naim Nait 5 si be a good buy? You can add on the NAP 100 power amp, can't you?'

Well you could but I wouldn't want to personally. There is little point in adding a power amp to an integrated amp. You are basically then not using most the integrated amp that you have forked out good money for.

If you are thinking along those lines then buying a pre amp and power amp now, as a unit, would make more sense. Then, in the future, you could get a second power amp and thus bi-amp your speakers.

I cannot see this as a recommended way forward though.

 

[pauln]

I take your point about brands I don't think the dealers here in Nottingham have some of the lesser known kit so it's harder to audition

Musicraft in Derby is only 15 miles away.

 

[stevebrock]

I take your point about brands I don't think the dealers here in Nottingham have some of the lesser known kit so it's harder to audition

Castle Sound & Vision do Rega, Naim and Linn but quite frankly I found the sales staff sat next to me when i was demoing some amps - I couldnt relax and felt under pressure.

 

[CnoEvil]

I take your point about brands I don't think the dealers here in Nottingham have some of the lesser known kit so it's harder to audition

A little bit of Googling comes up with Divine Audio, which has both Croft and Kef, and I think is about an hour away.

http://www.divineaudio.co.uk/

and also this place has a large selection of great amps (and Gary is good to deal with) : http://www.analogueseduction.net/integrated-amplifiers.html

A little bit further: http://www.midlandaudiox-change.co.uk/index_frontscreen.htm