Hi
For powering my various speakers, I'm wondering whether to stick with what I have that works, repair what I have (see below) or replace amps (with class D or s/h class A/B). But repairs are often (sadly) uneconomical, and it seems Chinese made class D is now so good (e.g. Aiyima A08 Pro or Fosi V3 or ZA3) , there may be little point. Thoughts welcome! (Including on decent repairs in England - ideally in SE London)
Background
The main use case is for some PMC FB1 floor standers (nominally 90dB/W - 8 ohms) in a room c. 5.7m x 4.4m x 2.4m high. They're currently powered by an Arcam Solo Minis integrated CD/amp/radio, which I doubt is getting the best out of them (probably under powered).
Sources in all cases is be streaming via Wiim Mini (sometimes into an SMSL DAC), but I may keep the Arcam Solo Minis for CD playback (if I don't sell them).
I've put approx date of original release, approx RRP and watts into 8 ohms in brackets for each.
Amps needing repair:
- Marantz PM66SE KI sig (1996, RRP on release £400, 50W) - no output to speakers. Otherwise supposedly in decent health.
- Pioneer A400 (1990, £300, 50W) - working but has an earthing/grounding issue (only solved by disconnecting the earth, which doesn't seem safe/sensible!); dusty and might need re-capping given age.
I recall it sounding good - fast, clean, detailed, perhaps lacking in bass weight so maybe not a brilliant match for my PMCs, which can be quite neutral and detailed and might benefit from some warmth (which the Marantz offered more of).
- Denon CEOL RCD-N7 integrated CD/amp/radio (c. 2011, £500, 60-65w)) - flashing red power light, no output.
- 6 x Flying Mole DAD M100 monoblocks (4 UK models from c. 2007/8 and 2 US ones) - distortion on outputs and/or noise. They've all been repaired at least once already. So far:
a) I can't find anyone to repair them in the UK (Jon Snell has retired)
b) I'm concerned they'll only fail again
c) Repair is probably uneconomical, given the low cost of Fosi / Aiyima etc these days.
d) Even if repaired, I'm guessing Fosi / Aiyima might out perform them (if not, the likes of Hypex and ICEpower presumably would) ... ?
I guess there might be sense in putting Hypex modules in the Mole boxes, but I've never DIY'd an amp and hate soldering, so would likely need help.
FWIW, I used to use these with PMC TB2s and the BX2 and they sounded great (better, to my ears, than the Marantz IIRC)
Working
- Aiyima A07 Pro with Aiyima's 36v 6a psu. Arriving soon, but I'm planning to use this to power some Tannoy Revolution DC4T small floorstanders (nominally 88 db/W - 8 ohms) - living room system (which also has a BK Electronics XL200 FF mkii sub).
- Fosi audio BT30 Pro. Arriving soon. Planning to power all 2:1 speakers of the kitchen system, being 2 x Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 + 1 x Apart SUBLIME 6.5" passive thin sub. This is more of a "fun" system than critical listening - given lots of reflective surfaces, bracket wall mounting of speakers, etc. It's currently powered by an Arcam Solo Mini.
- Cambridge Audio A1 (mk ii or iii) (c. £80, 25W). Probably best sold since it'd presumably the weakest point in any of these systems.
- 2 x Arcam Solo Minis integrated CD/amp/radio (2008, £600-800, 25w). Again, probably best sold.
Many thanks in advance.
For powering my various speakers, I'm wondering whether to stick with what I have that works, repair what I have (see below) or replace amps (with class D or s/h class A/B). But repairs are often (sadly) uneconomical, and it seems Chinese made class D is now so good (e.g. Aiyima A08 Pro or Fosi V3 or ZA3) , there may be little point. Thoughts welcome! (Including on decent repairs in England - ideally in SE London)
Background
The main use case is for some PMC FB1 floor standers (nominally 90dB/W - 8 ohms) in a room c. 5.7m x 4.4m x 2.4m high. They're currently powered by an Arcam Solo Minis integrated CD/amp/radio, which I doubt is getting the best out of them (probably under powered).
Sources in all cases is be streaming via Wiim Mini (sometimes into an SMSL DAC), but I may keep the Arcam Solo Minis for CD playback (if I don't sell them).
I've put approx date of original release, approx RRP and watts into 8 ohms in brackets for each.
Amps needing repair:
- Marantz PM66SE KI sig (1996, RRP on release £400, 50W) - no output to speakers. Otherwise supposedly in decent health.
- Pioneer A400 (1990, £300, 50W) - working but has an earthing/grounding issue (only solved by disconnecting the earth, which doesn't seem safe/sensible!); dusty and might need re-capping given age.
I recall it sounding good - fast, clean, detailed, perhaps lacking in bass weight so maybe not a brilliant match for my PMCs, which can be quite neutral and detailed and might benefit from some warmth (which the Marantz offered more of).
- Denon CEOL RCD-N7 integrated CD/amp/radio (c. 2011, £500, 60-65w)) - flashing red power light, no output.
- 6 x Flying Mole DAD M100 monoblocks (4 UK models from c. 2007/8 and 2 US ones) - distortion on outputs and/or noise. They've all been repaired at least once already. So far:
a) I can't find anyone to repair them in the UK (Jon Snell has retired)
b) I'm concerned they'll only fail again
c) Repair is probably uneconomical, given the low cost of Fosi / Aiyima etc these days.
d) Even if repaired, I'm guessing Fosi / Aiyima might out perform them (if not, the likes of Hypex and ICEpower presumably would) ... ?
I guess there might be sense in putting Hypex modules in the Mole boxes, but I've never DIY'd an amp and hate soldering, so would likely need help.
FWIW, I used to use these with PMC TB2s and the BX2 and they sounded great (better, to my ears, than the Marantz IIRC)
Working
- Aiyima A07 Pro with Aiyima's 36v 6a psu. Arriving soon, but I'm planning to use this to power some Tannoy Revolution DC4T small floorstanders (nominally 88 db/W - 8 ohms) - living room system (which also has a BK Electronics XL200 FF mkii sub).
- Fosi audio BT30 Pro. Arriving soon. Planning to power all 2:1 speakers of the kitchen system, being 2 x Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 + 1 x Apart SUBLIME 6.5" passive thin sub. This is more of a "fun" system than critical listening - given lots of reflective surfaces, bracket wall mounting of speakers, etc. It's currently powered by an Arcam Solo Mini.
- Cambridge Audio A1 (mk ii or iii) (c. £80, 25W). Probably best sold since it'd presumably the weakest point in any of these systems.
- 2 x Arcam Solo Minis integrated CD/amp/radio (2008, £600-800, 25w). Again, probably best sold.
Many thanks in advance.
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