PIONEER A 400 OR NEAREST MODERN DAY EQUIVALENT.

[gary1961]

HI i am new to this forum , so please excuse any ramblings , i had a hifi years ago ,but got married again and moved and sold it , but now have more time and want to get back to it , i had a pioneer a400 amp and some bw floor standing speakers which were huge and the reason the new wife hated them, with a sony cd and tuner, i was wondering what modern day amp would be as close to the a400 as there are still loads on ebay, and what speakers would be a great match (stand mount speakers )to keep the other half happy.

I have a room of 16x12 like rock ,pop, and most music ,i will use cd and maybe my ipod , i have about a budget of £2000 maybe a little bit more , been reading reviews and like the look of the kef r300 on stands and naim gear looks good , so any advise for a newbie would be greatly received thanks .

 

[gary1961]

anyone got any answers for me please

 

[Vladimir]

If buying blind these two might make an interesting combination.

Exposure 3010S2 + KEF R300.

 

[Al ears]

If buying blind these two might make an interesting combination.

Exposure 3010S2 + KEF R300.

Good suggestion, the Creek 100A might make a good alternative.

 

[Vladimir]

Good suggestion, the Creek 100A might make a good alternative.

It won't dissapoint I'm sure.

 

[drummerman]

Well, I would have thought that Pioneers later A-A6 J (and 9) are close contenders.

I read a couple of comparison reviews and if I remember even the 6 was deemed to sound better.

As the old A-400's now have a few decades of probably fairly enthusiastic use under the belt I'd certainly would go for something newer.

 

[Al ears]

Well, I would have thought that Pioneers later A-A6 J (and 9) are close contenders.

I read a couple of comparison reviews and if I remember even the 6 was deemed to sound better.

As the old A-400's now have a few decades of probably fairly enthusiastic use under the belt I'd certainly would go for something newer.

I would agree. The A300R was better but agewise it is no longer a goer.

 

[Vladimir]

Well, I would have thought that Pioneers later A-A6 J (and 9) are close contenders.

Nothing to write home about IMO. Mediocre build quality, and low-ish on power. I'd rather have a Harman/Kardon HK990 for that price from the mainstream AV manufacturers.

 

[gary1961]

hi so most seem to think i should go for a new more modern amp, i will try to audition as much as i can , and will look into creek and naim 5 also was wondering about acoustic energy speakers, thanks

 

[matthewpiano]

After seeing your thread I pulled my Pioneer A400 out for a run this afternoon. With the Rega CD player and Dynaudio DM2/6 speakers (as I'm in a Dyn mood for speakers at present rather than the RS1s), it sounded superb. I still feel that it betters the Brio-R in many respect with a very large and stable soundstage, plenty of detail and real punch. If you go for a modern amp I'd certainly be looking at the candidates mentioned above from Creek and Exposure. I wouldn't worry too much about the A400's age though. They are solid amps and serviceable if and when attention is required. Still one of the best bargains in hi-fi.

 

[gary1961]

thanks for that ,i have seen a couple of mint condition a400 on a auction site and seen the dyn 2/6 for £299, but i am still able to spend more for better quality newer gear , will keep looking thanks again

 

[grimharry]

Just listening to my pioneer a400 and loving it.

 

[radiorog]

Roksan k3? It's a blooming superb amp. Everything sounds great through it.

 

[Vladimir]

Roksan k3? It's a blooming superb amp. Everything sounds great through it.

The K2BT certanly made me pack the A400 in storage.

 

[plastic penguin]

HI i am new to this forum , so please excuse any ramblings , i had a hifi years ago ,but got married again and moved and sold it , but now have more time and want to get back to it , i had a pioneer a400 amp and some bw floor standing speakers which were huge and the reason the new wife hated them, with a sony cd and tuner, i was wondering what modern day amp would be as close to the a400 as there are still loads on ebay, and what speakers would be a great match (stand mount speakers )to keep the other half happy.

I have a room of 16x12 like rock ,pop, and most music ,i will use cd and maybe my ipod , i have about a budget of £2000 maybe a little bit more , been reading reviews and like the look of the kef r300 on stands and naim gear looks good , so any advise for a newbie would be greatly received thanks .

If you like the Pioneer sound the obvious route would be the newer A70. Generally speaking, Pioneer marry very well with Wharfedale - had this combo many moons ago and sounded terrific.

Pioneer A70 + Wharfedale *new* Denton woulkd certainly worth a listen.

Otherwise, the other suggestions sound good.

 

[CnoEvil]

Gary, welcome to the forum.

IMO. With that budget I would go new, as there is some great kit out there. I would also go out with a clean slate and just listen to a few different combinations, rather than trying to replicate a sound from yesteryear.

As well as the Creek, I would look at amps like Arcam A39, Rega Elicit R, Hegel H80 or possibly Bel Canto C5i

The R300s are a great choice, but you should also consider the LS50s. The other speakers that are getting a lot of love at the minute, are the curved ATC SCM 11s (which I haven't heard).

 

[Andrewjvt]

Abrahamsen v2.0 £699 new
Or v2.0 up for £899
Plenty of current for the r300s

 

[Frank Harvey]

I have a room of 16x12 like rock ,pop, and most music ,i will use cd and maybe my ipod , i have about a budget of £2000 maybe a little bit more , been reading reviews and like the look of the kef r300 on stands and naim gear looks good , so any advise for a newbie would be greatly received thanks .

I prefer the R Series with tighter, clean sounding amplification, so try them with the Rotel RA1570 or the Primare I22 with media board. Both of these will offer on board DACs.

 

[radiorog]

*good* Vlad, I'm sure you'd be interested in hearing the k3. Going from the k2bt you immediately notice a slightly more accurate stereo effect, and better treble presence which I think is what also adds to the extra timbre noticed on instruments and vocals. It's only a small "upgrade" but as said it is immediately noticeable, which means with long term listening, it really is a joy to live with and everyday I am amazed at the sound it makes. I really need to get a review posted here soon.

 

[Vladimir]

When I tour the hifi shops this winter, I might get a chance and hear (and look at) one on demo. I love the new faceplates on the PR photos.

 

[radiorog]

When I tour the hifi shops this winter, I might get a chance and hear (and look at) one on demo. I love the new faceplates on the PR photos.

Good stuff. One thing I have said since owning the k3 is it now looks as good as it sounds, and it also sounds as good as it looks. A happy camper here (and it does look really good...I have the opium finish ).

 

[Singslinger]

After seeing your thread I pulled my Pioneer A400 out for a run this afternoon. With the Rega CD player and Dynaudio DM2/6 speakers (as I'm in a Dyn mood for speakers at present rather than the RS1s), it sounded superb. I still feel that it betters the Brio-R in many respect with a very large and stable soundstage, plenty of detail and real punch. If you go for a modern amp I'd certainly be looking at the candidates mentioned above from Creek and Exposure. I wouldn't worry too much about the A400's age though. They are solid amps and serviceable if and when attention is required. Still one of the best bargains in hi-fi.

I agree. Used to own this amp back in the day - absolutely brilliant it was.

 

[gary1961]

thanks for all the great replys , will demo amps from creek ,roksan and have a look at exposure, speakers, will look at the kefs , dyn audio 2/6 and the atcsm11 thanks .

may still buy a pioneer a400 just to keep for old times sake and if its still sounds great will use it , just need speakers that will sound great with it.

 

[gary1961]

thanks for all the great replys , will demo amps from creek ,roksan and have a look at exposure, speakers, will look at the kefs , dyn audio 2/6 and the atcsm11 thanks .

may still buy a pioneer a400 just to keep for old times sake and if its still sounds great will use it , just need speakers that will sound great with it.

 

[rainsoothe]

If buying blind these two might make an interesting combination.

Exposure 3010S2 + KEF R300.

+1 to this, also check out the following combos:

-Naim Unitiqute 2 + Kef LS50 or Neat Iota

-Arcam FMJ A19 + Focal Aria 906 + either Pioneer N50A or Cambridge Audio CXN.

EDIT: also, with the Exposure you could also check ATC SCM11, and later add either of the sources mentioned with the Arcam (the Pioneer or the CA). With Naim Nait 5 you could looke at Arcam iRdac for a source, and warm sounding speakers from Q Acoustics, Sonus Faber, Kef (the R series), Rega, Neat, Totem and maybe Dynaudio. For used or old stock, check Sonus Faber Toy Tower, B&W CM5 (1st series), Quad 11l or 12l.