Question Stereo Amplifier advice to match current system

[DaveyLounge]

Hi, I am looking for advice on purchasing a Stereo Amplifier to match my system. Most of the music I listen to is on Vinyl. My budget is limited to £1000 max, preferably around the £500ish mark.

My system comprises of
B&W 606 S2 Anniversary Edition Speakers on Atacama Stands
Chord Rumour X Speaker Cable
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo Turntable
Rega Phono MM Stage Mk3
Marantz 74CD63/15b Special Edition CD Player
Denon DRM-600 Cassette Deck

My current Amp is a Cambridge Azur 540A.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Al ears]

Of you want new might I suggest the Rotel A11 Tribute.
You could then sell the Rega phono
Failing that then this:-

eBay

 

[rainsoothe]

Of you want new might I suggest the Rotel A11 Tribute.
You could then sell the Rega phono
Failing that then this:-

eBay

This, or the Rega Brio.

 

[muljao]

Or the musical fidelity ms2i seems to be an all analogue unit that ticks all the right musical boxes

 

[gasolin]

Rotel A11 Tribute is a very good match and not super expensive

 

[matthewpiano]

The Rotel or Rega would work great, though the Rega may work better with the slight brightness of the B&Ws.
Your budget would stretch to an Elex-R, but I doubt you'd see any difference in your system, and the Brio offers a huge amount for the price.

 

[gasolin]

The Rotel or Rega would work great, though the Rega may work better with the slight brightness of the B&Ws.
Your budget would stretch to an Elex-R, but I doubt you'd see any difference in your system, and the Brio offers a huge amount for the price.

Why, i remember whathifi saying the rega brio r is a little bright sounding

 

[matthewpiano]

Why, i remember whathifi saying the rega brio r is a little bright sounding

There's nothing bright about the Rega. It's a beautifully balanced little amplifier and it punches well above its weight.

 

[rainsoothe]

There's nothing bright about the Rega. It's a beautifully balanced little amplifier and it punches well above its weight.

If I remember correctly, in the comment section of the MF M2si on avforums there was someone contemplating an upgrade from the Brio to the M2si, and another person replied "the Brio is no joke" 🙂

 

[Al ears]

If I remember correctly, in the comment section of the MF M2si on avforums there was someone contemplating an upgrade from the Brio to the M2si, and another person replied "the Brio is no joke" 🙂

the Brio is a Rega, the OP would have to audition........
I have and and would take the Rotel..... But that's just me

 

[DaveyLounge]

I originally had been looking at the Marantz PM6007, Cambridge CAX61/81 and the Arcam Sa20. I would like to keep the Rega Phono, and was wary of having an empty phono stage on an amp. I was hoping to connect the CD player & my TV, for stereo only, via digital optical leads. I have a separate A/V Setup with a projector, for movies.

 

[Al ears]

I originally had been looking at the Marantz PM6007, Cambridge CAX61/81 and the Arcam Sa20. I would like to keep the Rega Phono, and was wary of having an empty phono stage on an amp. I was hoping to connect the CD player & my TV, for stereo only, via digital optical leads. I have a separate A/V Setup with a projector, for movies.

Can you clarify, you want an amp without an internal phono stage?

 

[gasolin]

Can you clarify, you want an amp without an internal phono stage?

isn't it obvious ? He want to keep using the Rega Phono MM Stage Mk3 he has

 

[Al ears]

isn't it obvious ? He want to keep using the Rega Phono MM Stage Mk3 he has

No, it's not. Read his original post. I have offered my advice.
The idea that he might have an empty phono stage on an amp is ambiguous. Especially when the amps he later mentions have internal phono stages

 

[gasolin]

musical fidelity ms2i

musical fidelity m2si has no input for a turntabel, which is fine as long as he keeps the Rega Phono MM Stage Mk3

 

[gasolin]

No, it's not. Read his original post. I have offered my advice.
The idea that he might have an empty phono stage on an amp is ambiguous.

NO, mabye he just doesn't wnat to pay for something he is not gonna use like i wouldn't buy an amp with digital inputs since i have a good Topping E30 dac

 

[Al ears]

NO, mabye he just don't wnat to påay for soemthing he is not gonna use like i wouldn't buy an amp with digital inputs since i have a good Topping E30 dac

The amps he later mentions do have an inbuilt phono stage, so as I said, ambiguous

 

[DaveyLounge]

Apologies, I would prefer an amp with no Phono Stage, as I would not be using it.

Can you clarify, you want an amp without an internal phono stage?

Yes

 

[Al ears]

Apologies, I would prefer an amp with no Phono Stage, as I would not be using it.



Yes

then the MS 2si mentioned makes sense. Pity this wasn't mentioned initially.
the Marantz and Arcam you mentioned have an inbuilt phono stage

 

[Al ears]

musical fidelity m2si has no input for a turntabel, which is fine as long as he keeps the Rega Phono MM Stage Mk3

that's the only one out of his list

 

[gasolin]

Also Cambridge audio CAX 60/80, Nad c356bee

 

[RoA]

Your current CA 540a seems like a good little amplifier. I just wonder how much of an improvement a newer £500 amplifier is? I can't say for certain as I have not used the suggested options.

I'd cautiously say upping your budget to the limit (what else are limits there for) may be a better option and would survive a few upgrades elsewhere in the future if desired?

It would put you in the realms of a s/h Hegel, even a MF M5si (if lucky) and others. - All probably a sizeable step above what you have.

The question is what would you like to improve and what are your preferences?

 

[DaveyLounge]

Your current CA 540a seems like a good little amplifier. I just wonder how much of an improvement a newer £500 amplifier is? I can't say for certain as I have not used the suggested options.

I'd cautiously say upping your budget to the limit (what else are limits there for) may be a better option and would survive a few upgrades elsewhere in the future if desired?

It would put you in the realms of a s/h Hegel, even a MF M5si (if lucky) and others. - All probably a sizeable step above what you have.

The question is what would you like to improve and what are your preferences?

Both the Cambridge Cxa 61 & 81 have caught my eye. My Cd player was linked to my A/V system but has now relocated to my dedicated music system, therefore I would prefer Digital inputs for the CD player & TV

 

[RoA]

Sorry, I do not have experience of any of those.

External DAC's are cheap and good now so perhaps do not base your decision solely on that?

A Hegel H90 has a good DAC though. I did own this amplifier and it is very good imho. How it compares to your choices I can't say but you can pick one up s/h under your budget.

CA make good products and a lot of users seem happy.

 

[gasolin]

the cambridge 61 costs as much as the cambridge 80, thats why i didn't mention cxa 61/81

The cxa 60 has a very open sound not to much bass and a more bright sound than dark, so make shure nothing else is bright