Integrated Amp for KEF Q100 Speakers

[Machinemessiah]

Hi, looking for some advice on a new amp to replace the Marantz PM6004 in the below mentioned system. I've had the system for about 18 months now and have funds for an upgrade. I am happy with the overall balance of the system which I find to be neutral (possiblly a little dry) and detailed, both of which I like. My thinking is to replace the amp this time round, then add a streamer to replace the Pure ipod dock at a later date. The PS Audio DAC is going to be a fixture for sometime as this really is an excellent sounding product. I have a budget of between £600 and £700 for an amp that will improve the overall sound of the system without upsetting the balance.....any ideas anyone?

 

[stevebrock]

Hi, looking for some advice on a new amp to replace the Marantz PM6004 in the below mentioned system. I've had the system for about 18 months now and have funds for an upgrade. I am happy with the overall balance of the system which I find to be neutral (possiblly a little dry) and detailed, both of which I like. My thinking is to replace the amp this time round, then add a streamer to replace the Pure ipod dock at a later date. The PS Audio DAC is going to be a fixture for sometime as this really is an excellent sounding product. I have a budget of between £600 and £700 for an amp that will improve the overall sound of the system without upsetting the balance.....any ideas anyone?

cant help thinking that spending that budget on speakers will give a better upgrade

 

[BigH]

I would look at replacing the speakers, how about Kef R100s?

 

[stevebrock]

the KEF R100s would be ideal - can be had for £550 if you shop around, save the rest for our Amp budget

 

[Machinemessiah]

Ultimately I will replace the speakers but my thinking is that I will get more out of the speakers first with an amp upgrade and for any future speaker upgrade I will already have a better amp in place. When I auditioned the KEF Q100s originally I thought the Marantz amp was at it's limit for SQ with these and it would be somewhat out of it's depth with anything better. The source components will definitely benefit from a better amp.

 

[stevebrock]

ok then plenty of amps in the £600-700 arena

Arcam

Nad

Rotel

Roksan

Rega

get yourself to demo a few, while your there demo some speakers too with your Marantz

 

[BigH]

Ultimately I will replace the speakers but my thinking is that I will get more out of the speakers first with an amp upgrade and for any future speaker upgrade I will already have a better amp in place. When I auditioned the KEF Q100s originally I thought the Marantz amp was at it's limit for SQ with these and it would be somewhat out of it's depth with anything better. The source components will definitely benefit from a better amp.

I disagree but if you insist on an amp, try the Creek 50A, best amp I heard under £700. If you want to save money then you can get Rega Brio Rs for about £400 (ex demo, hardly used). To be honest I did not find much difference between amps. If you want more power then the Roksan Kandy K2 youcan get new for about £650.

 

[Tacty]

i think i may have sharing some sentiments about solid state amps sounding the same...ok, it's not quite right but changing amplifier a to amplifier b from your price range at best will give you somewhat different presentation, in many cases not for the better...changing amp who's worth 500 to amp worth 700 is hardly considered an upgrade and it's a kind of dead end streat...if you want something really different try some other things like tubes, or hybrid amps, it might bring you some new perspective about hifi...solid state and digital are more of same old same old...

 

[brandmartyr]

Hi,

I had pair of Q100s powered by a Naim Nait 5i-2 (purchased as ex-demo). I'm not familiar with the sound of the Marantz PM 6004 although I've been a user of Marantz receivers over the years. IMO the Nait is a wonderful integrated amp that has the right balance of punch, detail but ultimately is just musically involving. Not surprisingly, it didn't take long for me to want to upgrade the speakers - now using Rega RS3 with the Nait.

Good luck

m

 

[stevebrock]

now using Rega RS3

fantastic speakers

 

[audioaffair]

Agreed - the Naim Nait5i is a fine choice of amplifier for the money - in fact I've just popped one into our window display today as it happens!

 

[Machinemessiah]

Seems the majority opinion is a speaker change! As regards an amp, I was hoping to put together a short list of 3 or maybe 4 and then identify a dealer who stocks all of them. However, If I am gauging people's drift right the opinion seems to that the PM6004 is a decent amp capable of working with speakers twice it's price?

I think I will investigate some speaker options as well. I bought the current amp/speaker combo as a pair because they do work well together and I know that it is sensible to shop for hifi in this way. I will try the Naim although in the past I have struggled to find a Naim amp/speaker combo I would be happy with. Having said that I haven't heard Rega speakers.

So, the plan is to hunt down a dealer who stocks Naim, Rega, Arcam and Creek. I will listen to combinations of my own amp and speakers, Rega and Kef R100s and any other speaker suggestions? I know where this is going now, new amp new speakers lol !

 

[BigH]

Seems the majority opinion is a speaker change! As regards an amp, I was hoping to put together a short list of 3 or maybe 4 and then identify a dealer who stocks all of them. However, If I am gauging people's drift right the opinion seems to that the PM6004 is a decent amp capable of working with speakers twice it's price?

I think I will investigate some speaker options as well. I bought the current amp/speaker combo as a pair because they do work well together and I know that it is sensible to shop for hifi in this way. I will try the Naim although in the past I have struggled to find a Naim amp/speaker combo I would be happy with. Having said that I haven't heard Rega speakers.

So, the plan is to hunt down a dealer who stocks Naim, Rega, Arcam and Creek. I will listen to combinations of my own amp and speakers, Rega and Kef R100s and any other speaker suggestions? I know where this is going now, new amp new speakers lol !

Its fairly common to spend more on the speakers than other components of hifi. Good luck with the demo, tracking down Creek canbe tricky. If you find Creek you could try Epos speakers, the same company as Creek. I would not try to hear to many combinations in one go, I would say 20-30 mins for each one although sometimes its quicker clear when something does not suit. For amps. I would try Rega Brio R, Arcam A19, Creek 50A, Roksan Kandy K2. Speakers KEF R100 and Epos.

 

[Covenanter]

My PM6004 drives my Kef Q500s very well so I agree with the general sentiment that you should upgrade the speakers.

Chris

 

[Machinemessiah]

Doug Brady in Warrington stock Naim, Arcam, Rega and Creek but they don't do KEF! Ok then, I think I'll try my amp with better speakers first and see how that goes. If I'm not satisfied I'll investigate new amp and speaker combinations.