Roksan vs. Primare vs. MF / replacement for Primare I30?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I'm currently in the market for a new amp in the £1,000-2,000 range. Current candidates are i) Roksan Caspian Integrated; ii) Primare I30; and iii) Musical Fidelity A5.5. Likely to be paired with a pair of B&W CM7s. Current front-runner is the Primare. Source will be my existing Marantz 6000OSE KI CD player until I upgrade, plus an Apple TV via. MF V-DAC.

I'm struggling to audition them all side-by-side which makes things tricky, as always. I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on the kit mentioned above, and the pairing - pluses, minuses, observations all welcome.

Also, I note that the Primare has been around for a few years and was wondering if anyone knew of a replacement in the works which might be worth holding out for.

Thanks,

James

 

[floyd droid]

Ask yourself as to why its been around for a bit. I think primare have some new AV gear due to hit the market but as far as intergrated pre/power,well i dunno to be honest.

 

[Anonymous]

Good point. I infer from your response and your avatar that you're a happy customer!

 

[floyd droid]

Nah, total rubbish. Ask jd what he thinks when he gets back from his hols.

 

[Babur72]

James Cocker:

Hi,

I'm currently in the market for a new amp in the £1,000-2,000 range. Current candidates are i) Roksan Caspian Integrated; ii) Primare I30; and iii) Musical Fidelity A5.5. Likely to be paired with a pair of B&W CM7s. Current front-runner is the Primare. Source will be my existing Marantz 6000OSE KI CD player until I upgrade, plus an Apple TV via. MF V-DAC.

I'm struggling to audition them all side-by-side which makes things tricky, as always. I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on the kit mentioned above, and the pairing - pluses, minuses, observations all welcome.

Also, I note that the Primare has been around for a few years and was wondering if anyone knew of a replacement in the works which might be worth holding out for.

Thanks,

James

Hi James,

I don't know if you've considered going down the pre/power-amp. route.But the Pre-30 & the new A-33.2(replacing the old A-30.2) got a decent write-up in a pre/power-amp. combo. group-test in this months Hi-Fi News...Worth checking out.

The A-33.2 is a bit bigger & heavier than the old A-30.2,in order to accommodate a larger power-supply & associated circuitry improvements.These modifications & recent currency fluctuations may account for it's £200- to 300- price differential,when compared to it's former stablemate.

EDIT - I appreciate that,together,they are currently more than your budget allows.However,if you did go for the I-30 you'd have the potential of an easy upgrade path.

Using the I-30 as a pre-amp. & connecting it's pre-outs to the A-33.2 power-amp's inputs you've turned a decent mid-priced integrated into a pretty potent pre./power-amp. combo.

Whether or not you subsequently decide to add a power-amp. at least you'll have the option available.

BABUR.

 

[Anonymous]

Useful advice, thanks Babur.

 

[ALTANPSX]

I listened, Caspian and Pirmare with b&w 703. They are very different amps. Pirmare is very smooth, it sounded lovely, but Caspian is sounding very transparent. Both them are very musical amps. You will not be disasppoint buying any of them.