What difference will I hear.......

[lcd4ever]

Just about finished......I seem to have said that some years ago.......anyway. Just recently bought myself some MS Mezzo speakers I have a 5.1 set up comprising the Mezzo 1 as rears, the Mezzo 5 centre and relevant to this topic the Mezzo 6 floorstanders as fronts. I also bought at the same time a NAD C545BEE cd player and a Yamaha RX-V1900 receiver, so completes my dream cinema sound system. But for my hifi requirements I want to add a new stereo integrated amp via the receivers front pre-outs for use with the NAD and also my Linn Axis turntable......

Firstly let me say I am very impressed with the stereo sound via the 'pure direct' mode on the Yam, so if I was to add a decent stereo amp I want to know what I will be getting for my money......(the wife thinks I am a lunatic so I need to have some ammo to convince her that this further spend is worth it.......)I am looking at amps in the 700 - 850 price range atm the front runner is the Roksan Kandy K2, I want to keep the power rating on a par with the Yam(130 W pc), as I still want to hear the fronts in film mode. I am also considering the CA 840 A(which the wife likes the look of much more) but from other posts on here I feel it may be too bright for my Mezzos. Demoing is nigh on impossible where I am located in Scotland the respective dealers are miles apart(dosen't help that CA are exclusive to Richer Sounds these days).....so could someone suggest others that would work well with the NAD/Linn and Mezzos and try to describe to me what I will hear that improves the sound over the receiver.....should I be considering any product by either NAD or Linn sub 1K...?

Many thanks in advance.......

Should mention I have very wide musical tastes classical to punk.....so looking for an all rounder

 

[lcd4ever]

Please anyone......someone must have a similar set up......

 

[lordmortlock]

Hey lcd

Don't worry about the mezzo/ca combo - they gel well and its a sound lots of people like.

lcd4ever:Firstly let me say I am very impressed with the stereo sound via the 'pure direct' mode on the Yam,

Imo its more a matter of whether you really need a dedicated integrated amp. I've not had much experience of yamaha av amps but a couple of friends of mine think they are very musical. (Unlike my Onkyo, which I couldn't listen to in 2 channel for longer than about 2 minutes.) Perhaps you could rope a friend in with a good stereo amp for a few beers and a nights auditioning? Its a big spend, although the stereo amp will sound better I'd have thought. How much is up to opinion.

Oh and don't forget the 30 day money back trial on cambridge kit from richer. Might be useful if you can take advantage where you are.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't find the 840A too bright and I use it with Mordaunts... it's much less bright than the 340A I used to have which was very sharp.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

lcd4ever:
Just about finished......I seem to have said that some years ago.......anyway. Just recently bought myself some MS Mezzo speakers I have a 5.1 set up comprising the Mezzo 1 as rears, the Mezzo 5 centre and relevant to this topic the Mezzo 6 floorstanders as fronts. I also bought at the same time a NAD C545BEE cd player and a Yamaha RX-V1900 receiver, so completes my dream cinema sound system. But for my hifi requirements I want to add a new stereo integrated amp via the receivers front pre-outs for use with the NAD and also my Linn Axis turntable......

Firstly let me say I am very impressed with the stereo sound via the 'pure direct' mode on the Yam, so if I was to add a decent stereo amp I want to know what I will be getting for my money......(the wife thinks I am a lunatic so I need to have some ammo to convince her that this further spend is worth it.......)I am looking at amps in the 700 - 850 price range atm the front runner is the Roksan Kandy K2, I want to keep the power rating on a par with the Yam(130 W pc), as I still want to hear the fronts in film mode. I am also considering the CA 840 A(which the wife likes the look of much more) but from other posts on here I feel it may be too bright for my Mezzos. Demoing is nigh on impossible where I am located in Scotland the respective dealers are miles apart(dosen't help that CA are exclusive to Richer Sounds these days).....so could someone suggest others that would work well with the NAD/Linn and Mezzos and try to describe to me what I will hear that improves the sound over the receiver.....should I be considering any product by either NAD or Linn sub 1K...?

Many thanks in advance.......

Should mention I have very wide musical tastes classical to punk.....so looking for an all rounder

The 840A is brilliant for the money and you can get a straight refund if you don't like it.

And as the set up you want is the same as mine (front pre outs with receiver), it's a God send that you can fix the volume level on that input.

 

[lcd4ever]

After a bit more research I have discovered that the 840A has no phono stage......this is a shame as one of my 2 sources is my LInn turntable. So now I will have to buy a decent phono amp as well I would probably have to downgrade to the 740A, so here the Kandy scores. But the Kandy only has one set of speaker outputs so I can't biwire the fronts........point to CA. I was set on the 840A plus the CA phono stage(5 stars in the mag for only 60 quid) but Richer won't supply the phono stage online but they will send me a £800 amp....go figure.......

Just very confused now...........choices choices

 

[Lost Angeles]

lcd4ever:

After a bit more research I have discovered that the 840A has no phono stage......this is a shame as one of my 2 sources is my LInn turntable. So now I will have to buy a decent phono amp as well I would probably have to downgrade to the 740A, so here the Kandy scores. But the Kandy only has one set of speaker outputs so I can't biwire the fronts........point to CA. I was set on the 840A plus the CA phono stage(5 stars in the mag for only 60 quid) but Richer won't supply the phono stage online but they will send me a £800 amp....go figure.......

Just very confused now...........choices choices

You've confused me saying the Kandy has only one set of speaker outputs so you can't Bi-wire the fronts as I have my fronts Bi-wired from a Caspian with only 1 set of speaker outputs.
I think you should only have your speakers connected to 1 amp.

I apologise if I have misunderstood your post.

 

[lcd4ever]

The Kandy has only one set of speaker outputs , so to biwire I would have to put the 2 sets of positives and 2 negatives together for each speaker (hi and low frequency), surely it is only worth biwiring if the amp can actually drive 2 sets of speakers simultaneously...?

 

[Lost Angeles]

lcd4ever:The Kandy has only one set of speaker outputs , so to biwire I would have to put the 2 sets of positives and 2 negatives together for each speaker (hi and low frequency), surely it is only worth biwiring if the amp can actually drive 2 sets of speakers simultaneously...?

That's how I bi-wire mine with 2 sets of positives and 2 sets of negatives to each post, I did it the same on my Audiolab and in the Roksan manuals which you can download from the internet that's how they tell you to do it.
I've got one set of cables bare wired in and the others on banana plugs in the end as I thought the holes in the speaker posts were not big enough to get 2 lots of QED in and meant to sort it out properly but have never got around to it

 

[carter]

my setup is not in the same class as yours but i added a stereo amp to my onkyo and it was a great move .alot of upgrades i have made i think yeah thats better but by hooking up a power amp(or 2)i can say it was night and day and worth every penny .

 

[JoelSim]

Go ex-demo and get Arcam A32/P35. A grand ish. Pure quality.

ÿ