BluePotato said:
Thanks for the pointers guys.
Crocodile - cheers for heads up on the usability issues. Seems they really got it wrong in the looks and usability of the new model. Shame. I'm only planning on using as stereo just now though, not anticipating needing to change often but silly none the less. Does volume reset when you turn the machine off?
Thought I could be past the looks but more I look worse it gets. If it was £500 rather thanks £599 think I'd go for it. Minis £150 for the DAC and I would struggle to say no. Looking at the forums their is just a different vibe attached IMO from the original. Lot of people seem to have sold new one on eBay,
refer to it as not bad but the original seems to have a real passion attached (led by PP - heck man you are all over this site! )
Sorry! well I've contributed a lot elsewhere, hence my post count over a 4 year period. But guilty as charged
And to be fair I only really push the amp when it's on promotion and budgets of individual posts are sub-£1,000.
When I spoke to Leema a long time ago they said the SQ between the two isn't so very different. However, the looks are. To me, the new MKIII looks as if it was designed after a few pints. The aesthetics go against the Leema grain.
By no means is the Leema perfect: It has trmendous dynamics, stereo imaging and realism to the sound. Otherwise, the likes of Roksan Caspian, Naim XS, Audio Analogue, Creek, Moon, Arcam will match (and better in some cases) but this based on my £600 speakers. Things greatly improve with Totem and PMC speakers but not heard the other makes with these speakers (apart from the entry-level Naim).
The overall package, and the input count with a fabulous phono stage for the turntable, became too irresistable.