Upgrading and matching a system?

[whiskywheels]

My once magnificent Hi-Fi, dating back to 1979, has, over the years lost most of it's original components, and all that's left are the Kef Corelli speakers.

I'm looking to upgrade the system, as the hotch potch of components I'm now using aren't terribly exciting aurally. I'm happy to keep the speakers, a new Rega Pi turntable, and the Denon TU-1500 RD tuner. So, I'm thinking of a new amp and CD player. The current amp is a NAD 315bee, and I recently got a NAD C515bee CD player but reverted back to my ancient Aiwa XC-700 CD as I thought it sounded better. I wondered if the Marantz 6003 amp would be a worthwhile improvement, and maybe the matching CD player as well.

What's your advice? Will I achieve any synergy with some of my existing components, or would I be better off starting from scratch? I listen to all kinds of music, but mainly want to have good sounding reproduction of classical music. I've a budget of around £1000, but would spend more on a new, matched, system.

Looking forward to hearing your views!

 

[matthewpiano]

I'd say the Corellis are well worth holding on to. Perhaps spending a bit on getting them serviced would pay dividends. Capacitors in the crossover might be due for renewal and that could give them a whole new lease of life. Very good drive units and a bit of a classic so, with some good amplification and a decent source I'm sure you could get them singing again.

The 6003 Marantz components are excellent for the money but I'd be looking at something like the Cambridge Audio Azur 650A and 650C. If they are anything like the outgoing 640 series components they will bring that extra level of spark and attack to the sound without losing any of the tonal quality that is so important for classical music.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your tuner or turntable but it really depends how the balance of your listening is divided between vinyl and CD. If you have a large vinyl collection I would suggest going for a complete set-up of the following:

Rega P3-24
Your existing Denon tuner
Cambridge Audio 650C (CD player)
Cambridge Audio 650A (Amp)
Cambridge Audio 640P (external phono stage)
Your existing Corellis, serviced as appropriate.

Connect the whole thing up with Chord Crimson interconnects and some Chord Carnival Silverscreen speaker cable and you'll be loving the sound I'm sure.

 

[whiskywheels]

Thanks mathewpiano! I hadn't thought of getting the speakers serviced, but to be fair they sound OK to me. I think I'll stick with the turntable as my vinyl collection isn't that extensive, although, who knows, I might start building it again.

The Cambridge audio stuff looks good and is readily available from Richer Sounds, and if it suits classical music then it sounds like a good recommendation.

If you have any suggestions about who could service the speakers in the vicinity of Dorset, let me know! I always regret parting with the original system technics amp over 20 years ago, as it just needed repair/replacement to knobs and selectors, and I couldn't find anywhere to get it done. That was such a nice amp.........can't remember the model though.

 

[Anonymous]

have to disagree with matthewpiano on this about the amp not the speakers though which are very good indeed

if you like classical then audio analogue would be one of the best options think you can get them for the £1000 mark or unison research

ca arent really in the same ballpark for classical as the italian amps are you dont really want spark and attack but musicality and truthfulness thats my opinion anyway

plus just listened to an audio analogue verdi with classical and it was magic

 

[matthewpiano]

I wouldn't even suggest that the Cambridge amps could match the Audio Analogue ones but there is a huge price difference and it is really down to what the budget can stretch to. The AA stuff SHOULD be better than the Cambridge amps with that price difference. At more affordable levels the Cambridge amps do their job very well and, as the 640A always handled a full range of classical works adeptly, I strongly feel that the better finished 650A would do the same.

I don't subscribe to this school of thought that classical music should be all about warmth and being cuddly. Like any music I believe it benefits from fairly neutral components that help to bring out the differences. Some works NEED spark and attack - the big orchestral showpieces for example - and it is perfectly possible to achieve a balance between this and maintaining the wonderful atmosphere of, say, a Debussy prelude. 'Musicality and truthfulness' is about being able to portray the whole dynamic spectrum and the whole tonal spectrum, whether thats the lush warmth of English string music or the uncomfortable sounds of a Birtwistle opera.

 

[Anonymous]

dont disagree with that matthewpiano but that seemed to be part of what the audio analogue did so well wouldnt say warm and cuddly

what you said is what i meant by musicality and truthfullness btw but not convinced about the ca being able to do that always found them a touch bright and edgy for my taste

yes obviously a better amp but saw a couple of sites that have the base model settanta at £649 which allows enough for a decent cd player too

be interesting to see what whf thought but there arent any aa amp reviews on this website

 

[Anonymous]

I auditioned a setup last thursday:

Cambridge Audio Azur 840C (£699)

Cambridge Audio Azur 840E (£799)

Cambridge Audio Azur 840W power amp (£1199)

Mordaunt short mezzo 8 speakers (£899)

sounded OK, but I would not spend £3600 on this setup ...

I spent a long time listening ... but something was definately 'missing' ... perhaps not enough bass or poor soundstage ... or perhaps I enjoy the sound of older gear?

 

[JoelSim]

I would concur. A few links which may be of help.

http://www.ukd.co.uk/bargain_corner.asp

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Unison-Research-Unico-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ180425332524QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item2a0230172c#ht_500wt_1182

http://www.audioemotion.co.uk/pre_owned.php

http://www.audiooasis.co.uk/en/results.php?field=Manufacturer&search=Audio%20Analogue

 

[whiskywheels]

Interesting and helpful comments, thanks. I must say that part of my reason for looking at the more budget end of things is the fact that I've often been left totally underwhelmed by fancy, expensive systems!

I haven't had a look at JoelSim's links yet, but so far I'm looking at the CA options.

 

[whiskywheels]

Just a note to say thanks for the advice! I got the CA amp and CD player a couple of days ago, and although it's not yet 'run in' I think it sounds much better than the old set up, and has restored my interest in listening to music. I've no idea whether the Marantz stuff would have sounded any better or worse, but this is certainly a pleasure to listen to. After a 'hi-fi nerd' gap of over 20 years I can already feel an urge to upgrade my connectors coming on!

 

[drummerman]

matthewpiano:I wouldn't even suggest that the Cambridge amps could match the Audio Analogue ones but there is a huge price difference and it is really down to what the budget can stretch to. The AA stuff SHOULD be better than the Cambridge amps with that price difference. At more affordable levels the Cambridge amps do their job very well and, as the 640A always handled a full range of classical works adeptly, I strongly feel that the better finished 650A would do the same.

I don't subscribe to this school of thought that classical music should be all about warmth and being cuddly. Like any music I believe it benefits from fairly neutral components that help to bring out the differences. Some works NEED spark and attack - the big orchestral showpieces for example - and it is perfectly possible to achieve a balance between this and maintaining the wonderful atmosphere of, say, a Debussy prelude. 'Musicality and truthfulness' is about being able to portray the whole dynamic spectrum and the whole tonal spectrum, whether thats the lush warmth of English string music or the uncomfortable sounds of a Birtwistle opera.

I'd say that Cambridge Audio's products match anything in their respective price categories, some way above above it, from a technical, innovative and value for money perspective. Whether you like the sound is purely subjective. If it's a neutral sort of sound you're after, the companies products should, imo, feature on or near the top of anybodies short list and as said before, can mix with products at far higher cost, especially at CA's top end of their portfolio. Personally, the companies components I've used, lack a little rythm and drive, probably a result of the near perfect technical measurements normally associated with them and its difficult to fault them for that. Impressive nevertheless.

The afromentioned Analogue Audio products will almost certainly sound different for a number of reasons, technically excellent measurements are probably not one of them. Does it matter? Not really but if accuracy is important to you then you simply cannot argue with superior measurements.

 

[Anonymous]

according to a magazine i just read the audio analogue amp measures better than the ca in everything except total distortion so therefore the audio analogue is the amp to go for

 

[drummerman]

one off:according to a magazine i just read the audio analogue amp measures better than the ca in everything except total distortion so therefore the audio analogue is the amp to go for

If that is the case, it would indeed be the product of choice though distortion is not irrelevant to sound, for good or for bad, so I'm not sure what you are referring to when you say the AA measures better. I have been out of the picture for a while so am unfortunately not familiar with the Audio Analogue products.