Best £1,500 amp with phono stage

[baldy38]

Hi

This is effectively a continuation of an earlier thread I started the other day - http://whathifi.com/forums/t/130634.aspx.

What's the best amp, which includes a decent phono stage, for around £1,500 or under? I have a Rega Saturn and will soon have a pair of B&W 805S speakers. I was thinking Leema Pulse or Rega pre/power combo but a couple of posters are talking Leema Tucana or Krell integrated, which both come in at around £2,500 (unless the KAV-400xi is not the Krell integrated).

But isn't a Tucana or a Krell (both at around £2,500) overkill for speakers costing nearly a grand less than that? Aren't we always being told to balance our systems? Wouldn't it be counter-intuitive to spend so much more on an amp than on source and speakers? Or have I got that wrong?

Either way, I suppose the question I'm really asking is, what's the best amp at around £1,500 or under that also includes a decent phono stage?

 

[chebby]

The new Rega Elicit integrated amp is going to be a firm candidate I think. It launches this month. (May be out already.)

Can be purchased with MM or MC phono card built in.

http://www.rega.co.uk/html/Elicit.htm

I believe it will hit your budget exactly. (I have seen £1498 quoted)

It is 80W per channel (Rega tend to be conservative with quoted power ratings so the Elicit should drive your speakers fine) and has pre-out sockets for bi-amping etc. if that is required later on.

 

[baldy38]

Yeah, I noticed the new Elicit. Problem is, I was hoping to find a bargain on ebay, and it's going to be a while before any Elicits make it on to there...

 

[John Duncan]

TBH I don't think there are that many 1500 quid amps out there with a phono stage to do them justice - I'd be looking at a separate one, or maybe consider one of the amps where the company do at least make excellent phono amps - like the Creek Destiny with the matching SE board?

 

[matengawhat]

Buy a Musical Fidelity A5cr Pre Amp - the phono stage is fantastic and these are going for less than £600 original rrp was £1500 and then you have £900 quid to spend on a power amp - i picked one of these up and two Arcam P35s for just over £1500 quid all brand new from good dealer.

 

[chebby]

baldy38:Yeah, I noticed the new Elicit. Problem is, I was hoping to find a bargain on ebay, and it's going to be a while before any Elicits make it on to there...

Okay I understand you but for that money (well above my budget I am sad to say) I would want to hear the equipment at the dealer and/or at home with my speakers and source and have the 'safety net' of their 36 month guarantee. That usually means full RRP unless the item is 'last year' or ex-dem. E-bay means no dem and none of that nice 'loaner while we repair yours' type service that full RRP at an official dealership brings with it.

Even if the e-bay dealer does offer a full guarantee, it will involve massive postage fees to and from for repairs/returns etc.

In your position I would try and hear the Elicit. About 75 - 80 percent* of Rega's new components punch well above their weight for at least a couple of years after launch compared to the market (25 years in the case of certain tone-arms!) and in my opinion & past experience do built-in phono-stages in their amps better than virtually anyone else at the same price-point.

I think it is very likely that their new £1500 'flagship' integrated amp will inherit a whole chunk of Rega Ios design/components for the slot-in Elicit MC board which in itself could save a small fortune by not having to buy an outboard phono box.

* With some exceptions like their MM cartridges which have always been 'good' but are regularly outperformed (even on Rega's own decks) by cheaper models from other cartridge manufacturers.

 

[baldy38]

This is all great, thanks. I may well take the advice on the Elicit. I've also noticed the Musical Fidelity A5, though, which seems to have been replaced now by the A5.5. Anyone know anything about the A5?

 

[Anonymous]

The Creek Destiny amp with the build-in SE board is indeed very good.

 

[Anonymous]

My Arcam A32 has a brilliant phono stage which I didn't pay for - it just came with one when it's an option! lol...me thinks the dealer gave me the wrong box!

 

[drummerman]

baldy38:
Hi

This is effectively a continuation of an earlier thread I started the other day - http://whathifi.com/forums/t/130634.aspx.

What's the best amp, which includes a decent phono stage, for around £1,500 or under? I have a Rega Saturn and will soon have a pair of B&W 805S speakers. I was thinking Leema Pulse or Rega pre/power combo but a couple of posters are talking Leema Tucana or Krell integrated, which both come in at around £2,500 (unless the KAV-400xi is not the Krell integrated).

But isn't a Tucana or a Krell (both at around £2,500) overkill for speakers costing nearly a grand less than that? Aren't we always being told to balance our systems? Wouldn't it be counter-intuitive to spend so much more on an amp than on source and speakers? Or have I got that wrong?

Either way, I suppose the question I'm really asking is, what's the best amp at around £1,500 or under that also includes a decent phono stage?

That's not unlike asking whats the best dish on the menu without telling the waiter what you like. If you can be a bit more specific I'm sure you'll get a lot of well meant and better focused advise.

 

[baldy38]

What do I like? Well, here goes. I love my Rega Saturn for its clarity and timing, the preciseness and snap of the notes, the way it picks out the detail of the track in an organic way without losing its ability to replay the sense of the whole of the music.

Currently, I have B&W 686s but having tried lots and lots of speakers in the various brackets above that I am going to buy the 805S's. It's a whole new dimension - the breadth, involvement and clarity of the sound are wonderful. I don't like things too lean but I'm not a massive bass-head either - I guess that means I want something neutral.

I have a Rega Brio 3 amp, which is fine with the 805S's for now - I've demoed it. But I'll need to replace it one day not too far away to make the most of the Saturn and the new speakers. I also have a Rega Planar 2, which I'm not going to upgrade but it's good and I don't want to trade in all my LPs for CDs or digital files. I want an amp that replays the music, and fits well with my Saturn and the B&Ws.

I've heard the Saturn and 805S's with the cheapest Naim pre/power combination and I liked the neutrality of it, but it sounded a little bit on the safe side. I don't like over-bright treble and I've read that the Rega Cursa/Maia combination has a little sybillance, although I've not heard it yet. Music-wise, I love R.E.M., Radiohead and the Smiths but I have pretty broad tastes - I like everything from Abba to Ali Farka Toure, from Massive Attack to Mozart, from the Buena Vista Social Club to Bright Eyes, from Springsteen to Leonard Cohen, from township jive to Kanye West. I don't like jazz.

Oh, and there's a wife acceptance factor involved - it has to be silver. Does that help?

 

[Anonymous]

It might be worth giving the Quad 909 and 99 preamp a try if you can audition one during your search. Excellent midrange and very musical. Might work for you although I've never heard one on the 805s.

 

[drummerman]

Ok that'll do

Rega, as mentioned before, is a possibility though I have to say that none of the companies higher offerings (I have not heard the new integrated) have ever tempted me. To safe, to hifi though I can see why they have gone that way when partnered with their Rseries speakers which if anything, are slightly forward and very dynamic. A good match.

Problem is, your 805S are not like that. A rival publication just tested them in a group context, just in case you dont know so it may be a good idea if you get the issue to give you some idea on matching (there's a technical review too).

Personally I would put Cambridge Audios higher end amplifiers on or very near the top. You may be able to stretch to the pre-power though the integrated at £800 certainly does'nt look shabby and the specs are there with the best at even £1500. I have'nt heard it myself but most reviews are very good and they seem to major on neutrality, more so than most of the competition. Let us know how you get on buddy.

 

[baldy38]

Thanks for that - could you tell me which publication and/or whether it is a current issue?

 

[drummerman]

hi-fi news/yes

 

[baldy38]

Thanks very much.

You might be interested in this: http://www.techradar.com/products/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/cd-players-recorders/leema-acoustics-stream--316718/review

If HiFi Choice are to be believed, maybe we've come full circle and the Leema Pulse is the answer after all. They say it "creams" the Cambridge 804A...

 

[drummerman]

Baldy38, whilst I like to read reviews and often though not always agree with findings, amplifiers are heavily speaker dependent (or the other way round, depending which way you are looking at it). Same with cables, cdp's etc etc.

You really need to listen to a few and make your own mind up. I'm sure the Leema is also a very good product.

 

[drummerman]

I just read through the earlier part of your thread where you mention getting a 'bargain' of ebay. At 1500 quid I personally would'nt gamble but Arcams old FMJA32 is available for 600 or so pounds, which probable makes it a bargain in your own words. It would'nt be my choice but its a relatively safe if perhaps ultimately uninspiring choice though for that money there is'nt much else around to better it if you want as little character as possible and not compromise on facilities. It's also better than the new A28 though that does'nt necesseraly mean that much.

As always, my opinion only.

 

[Thaiman]

I am sure if you look hard enough you can get a MF Kw250s around that price. The unit have a build in KW Phono card which on it's own cost quite a bit! Sound excellent too.

 

[baldy38]

Just to be clear on this £1500 thing. I'm not wedded to that amount. It was just a ballpark to give a sense of the quality of the kit I'm after. If I can spend less ex-demo or eBay (where I wouldn't spend anywhere near that amount), I will.

 

[parkera]

Leema Pulse is now revamped at is still way under the 1500 mark. The phono stage is sweet. I coupled one up to an LP12 and just melted. If not seen one come to the Bristol Show where Leema will be in force (room 114) if the guide serves me correctly. Also worth a look at their new Reference Series.

I would look to spend a grand on the Pulse (shop around hard enough and you will) and then spend the other 500 upgrading your TT.
The Pulse Phono Stage is being sold stand alone (just announced) and it will be around 500 mark... so for me that settles it - get a Pulse. Now to spend the remaining 500

Technics DJ decks are selling for 350 and they are superb quality wise. Plenty of ARs being sold second hand with decent arms that will consume a RP2 for breakfast... I bought a AR EB 101 for 88 quid and it is amazing... (now I have isolated it - using RDC feet tapped with M4 threads).

In fact you can still have change from your 1500 and invest a new cartridge perhaps (Goldring/Ortofon)...and so it goes on.

Hope this helps.