What HI-FI

[crankedup]

My little set-up is now 22 years old and is starting to show its age with interference when using the volume control. Also it seems the speakers take an age for the speaker cones to warm up.
So it looks like time to replace perhaps. Current setup is :
TANNOY GOLD speakers
MARANTZ CD-66DX player
NAD 3130 amp
These have given years of pleasure with a sound both rich and yet decent crystal cutting top end (until last couple of years)

So is it possible to get an half decent replacement for around 900 pounds or so? or might I be better off having my current setup overhauled?

I have'nt listened to any other equipment for donkeys years and so completely in the dark.

[zippy500]

Look on E-Bay, think credit crucnh has really hit and goodies not going for half as much as they were a few months back.

Could get your self some well nice gear.

[PJR]

Unless that amp is knackered, I think you'll find that even today, not a lot betters a good NAD amp. In fact, theres a guy in Scotland that services and uprates those amps http://fidele.co.uk/nad_3130.htm Could be worth pursuing? I'd be tempted for sure.

As for your other gear, im a bit out of the loop on the rest of the stuff in the hifi world, but im sure it can be bettered now It's just that I think i'd keep that amp..

P,

[crankedup]

Thanks for that, I think I will keep the amp. A good service on it should improve the contacts and I think your right, maybe replace the speakers. I have read elsewhere that KEF are a very good companion for NAD amps.

The upgrade route certainly seems to offer what I am after, thanks for lead.

Edited by crankedup on Sunday 2nd November 22:06

[scott.s]

find a good dealer in your area and get yourself some ex-demo kit or used kit, you will almost certainly get a great little system for your budget.

dealers are alway keen to move used stock out to make way for new models.

[grumbledoak]

Never really got into the black boxes that many seem to love, and I'm still very happy with my lickle Technics system. But a mate of mine is very into it, and...

He's just sold enough Naim equipment to buy an Audi S4, and has moved to a squeezebox with a very good DAC, amp and speakers. He uses some whizzy CD reading software on a PC, lossless compression, and the squeezebox's digital out. But he reckons the quality of the system as a whole is very, very good even using the analogue out. And, of course, it's all rather neat, fairly cheap, and you can still upgrade bits individually.

Worth a look.

ETA- maybe start here: http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcomponents/906sli...

Edited by grumbledoak on Sunday 2nd November 15:49

[Parrot of Doom]

A 22 year old amplifier will almost certainly benefit from a service, not least from replacing some of the capacitors which will by now have partially dried out. The sockets should be fine although I'd also recommend replacement of the input selector switches and the volume control, which by now will be pretty mucky - and that will make a difference.

[crankedup]

Thanks for that guys, I reckon it is perhaps the muck around the gubbins that perhaps causes interference on the output when I adjust the volumne. So a service it is along with looking at a replacement player and speakers.

[shirt]

as stated, service the amp. website is ropey but this chap comes highly recommended:

http://www.londonsound.org/

my amp and tuner are 35yrs old and still sound a1.

[crankedup]

shirt said:

as stated, service the amp. website is ropey but this chap comes highly recommended:

http://www.londonsound.org/

my amp and tuner are 35yrs old and still sound a1.

Thanks, always good to know of possible contacts.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

For £900 you could almost get this set up which would just sound awesome:

- Avondale Audio Arcam Alpha 5 CD player. An absolutely world class source compared to amything at any price.

- 2 x Quad 405 power amps with Fidele Audio upgrades.

- A suitable pre-amp - possibly a Quad 34 again with the Fidele upgrade.

- Home made active crossovers.

- Linn Keilidh or Kaber speakers.

It will be a bit of a pain putting all this together, and will probably cost more than £900, but oh my God it will be AMAZING!

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Monday 3rd November 20:51

[LHDisbest]

crankedup said:

My little set-up is now 22 years old and is starting to show its age with interference when using the volume control. Also it seems the speakers take an age for the speaker cones to warm up.
So it looks like time to replace perhaps. Current setup is :
TANNOY GOLD speakers
MARANTZ CD-66DX player
NAD 3130 amp
These have given years of pleasure with a sound both rich and yet decent crystal cutting top end (until last couple of years)

So is it possible to get an half decent replacement for around 900 pounds or so? or might I be better off having my current setup overhauled?

I have'nt listened to any other equipment for donkeys years and so completely in the dark.

Give Paul at Shadow Audio a call in Glenrothes in Scotland.

Tell him Mr Bauld sent you.....

[telecat]

LHDisbest said:

crankedup said:

My little set-up is now 22 years old and is starting to show its age with interference when using the volume control. Also it seems the speakers take an age for the speaker cones to warm up.
So it looks like time to replace perhaps. Current setup is :
TANNOY GOLD speakers
MARANTZ CD-66DX player
NAD 3130 amp
These have given years of pleasure with a sound both rich and yet decent crystal cutting top end (until last couple of years)

So is it possible to get an half decent replacement for around 900 pounds or so? or might I be better off having my current setup overhauled?

I have'nt listened to any other equipment for donkeys years and so completely in the dark.

The Only thing I'd be worried about would be the CD Player. Get the Volume Pot replaced on the NAD as that sounds(!) like the problem there and see if the speakers are still in good nick when that is done. As for replacing the CD I'd look at what £900 could get you new then check out the second hand market to see what the "next step" up will cost second hand. For that money Roksan, Arcam and Audiolab players are all available. I'd demo to get the one that suits your tate in music.

[andy_s]

LHDisbest said:

crankedup said:

My little set-up is now 22 years old
I have'nt listened to any other equipment for donkeys years and so completely in the dark.

Give Paul at Shadow Audio a call in Glenrothes in Scotland.

Tell him Mr Bauld sent you.....

Have also had good experience with Shadow.