Sugden A25, Naim nait 5i, rega mira or sugden mystro?

[admin_exported]

Hello,

I'm hoping that some learned people can pass on their advice on my set up:

- Laptop with a mixture of poor quality and lossless files

- ARCAM rDAC (USB and wireless)

- SUGDEN A25 Mosfet amplifier (20 years old)

- REGA Jura speakers

- QED QUNEX 2 interconnents, QED XT 300 speaker cable.

At present I have very nice smooth sound that is great with vocals and relaxed pieces of music. However, I feel it lacks some pace and punch.

I want a sound with maximum Pace Rythem and timing (PRAT). Something that really works with rock, soul, rythm and blues music etc. However, I do need to keep a certain level of smoothness as I have a number of poor quality MP3s and enjoy internet radio. In other words, I don't want something that will sound harsh with poor quality files or recordings.

I think the weak link in my system is the amplifier. (However, I'm open to other suggestions)

Do you agree that I should upgrade the amp first? If so, would you recommend:

-Naim nait 5i

-Rega Mira

-Sugden Mystro (I can get £500 part exchange for my A25 making this £1225 cost £725!)

Finally, do you think the Rega Juras will do justice to the Nait 5i or Sugden Mystro?

Many thanks,

Will

 

[chebby]

Rega Mira 3.

Even better value now Rega have officially dropped the price to £448.

 

[Anonymous]

If you though £448 was good check this out

http://www.thehomeofhifi.com/rega_offers_brio_3_mira_3_apollo_cd_saturn_cd_.html

just wish i waited DOH!

 

[airconace]

This is the route that I considered before upgrading my system. I put the cost of the Arcam rDAC & large hard disk towards upgrading my CD player and amplifier. The decision was easy, as along came a Sugden Mystro amp & CD at half price on Ebay. I had previously had a Sugden A48 amplifier for 18 years and missed it, even though I replaced it with an Arcam Alpha 7 amp. Changing my NAD 521i CD player to the 545BEE model was disapointing so I went for the Sugden combination and I'm well pleased with them. I went back to my hi-fi roots, buying the best equipment I could afford, seemed pointless to play music through it from a computer, and unless your computer is more or less silent it spoils the music. Note the Sugden amp takes about 2 hours to get into it's stride the first few times you turn it on, if you have listened to a demo model then you may wonder what youv'e bought when you get it home. The Sugden is a laid back amplifier meant for listening for long periods, more lively equipment can also be tiring. The other option was the Audiolab 8200 CD with the built in DAC, but I'm pleased I've left the computerised music alone. If you don't have a CD player borrow one, I think you will find the source is your problem, not the amp, try it you have nothing to lose.