New amplifier advice please

[Stick Legs]

Good morning Audiophiles.

My current set up is this:

B&W DM601 S2
Chord Silver Screen cable
Yamaha CDX-493 CD player
Rega Planer 3 turntable

All of this good stuff is running through a Rotel RA-931 Mk2 amplifier.

My amplifier has ‘died’ and is probably repairable, but I have been considering upgrading the amp.

I was toying with the idea of buying a Naim Nait 5 Si amp & matching Naim CD5 Si CD player.

But this is £3000 and frankly as nice as a matching Naim set will look I can’t help but think that my existing CD player is fine, and in reality how much benefit is there in buying a ‘high end’ CD player anyway?

Would my money be better spent on a really great Amp to work with my existing set up, and if so what would you recommend?

[psi310398]

Stick Legs said:

Good morning Audiophiles.

My current set up is this:

B&W DM601 S2
Chord Silver Screen cable
Yamaha CDX-493 CD player
Rega Planer 3 turntable

All of this good stuff is running through a Rotel RA-931 Mk2 amplifier.

My amplifier has ‘died’ and is probably repairable, but I have been considering upgrading the amp.

I was toying with the idea of buying a Naim Nait 5 Si amp & matching Naim CD5 Si CD player.

But this is £3000 and frankly as nice as a matching Naim set will look I can’t help but think that my existing CD player is fine, and in reality how much benefit is there in buying a ‘high end’ CD player anyway?

Would my money be better spent on a really great Amp to work with my existing set up, and if so what would you recommend?

You might consider instead getting a more expensive amp with a built in DAC (and maybe streamer) and you can then use the old CD player as a transport (assuming it has a digital out) . For your money you could probably get something like a Hegel.

[Stick Legs]

psi310398 said:

You might consider instead getting a more expensive amp with a built in DAC (and maybe streamer) and you can then use the old CD player as a transport (assuming it has a digital out) . For your money you could probably get something like a Hegel.

That’s exactly the kind of thing I was after, yes I have an optical out from my CD Player, so that’s an idea I hadn’t thought of.

[OutInTheShed]

The other side of the coin is:
How old is that CD player?
It may not last forever. I don't think choise in good CD players is exactly likely to increase over the next dcade.

So if you want to feel that you're sorted long term, then a new CD player might be worth considering?

Also, maybe we need to get to grips with the 21st century and consider stored music?
I'm in a similar positon with a Marantz CD player, which I re-engined this year, plus an Arcam amp which would probably benefit from some attention.

[psi310398]

OutInTheShed said:

The other side of the coin is:
How old is that CD player?
It may not last forever. I don't think choise in good CD players is exactly likely to increase over the next dcade.

So if you want to feel that you're sorted long term, then a new CD player might be worth considering?

Also, maybe we need to get to grips with the 21st century and consider stored music?
I'm in a similar positon with a Marantz CD player, which I re-engined this year, plus an Arcam amp which would probably benefit from some attention.

There’ll be no shortage of cd players or dvd/BluRay players that can act as a CDT for the foreseeable future. But, I agree re streaming/digital files, which is why I suggested the capability.

[Stick Legs]

OutInTheShed said:

…maybe we need to get to grips with the 21st century and consider stored music?
.

I use iTunes & iPod classics as my portable solution.

In another couple of rooms I have a Yamaha streaming amp & a pair of big ‘80s Sony bookshelf speakers which make a lovely sound.

Not the last word in HQ but very enjoyable.

CD will be around for a while, as will vinyl.

[99flake]

Long term reader but first time poster here!

For my two pence, something like the Rotel A14mkii would be a perfect fit for your speakers, plenty of power, a brilliant DAC built in, Bluetooth etc and lots of power (not just wpc but actual current).

I have owned many amps over the years, Yamaha, Arcam, Denon but have always returned to Rotel, I currently have an A14 and it is the best bit of kit I have bought in a long time, supplanting a pair of RB970s that were running in bridge mono, couldn't recommend it more.

I demoed it against the Cambridge Audio CXA80 (the 81 wasn't out at that point from memory) and the Arcam SA20, and it just seemed to have more 'go', detail and rhythm.

For reference, it is connected to a pair of Kef Q700s, which have a very different sonic signature to the B&Ws, so a demo of anything with them is always a must but Rotel always used to demo their kit with B&W due to their redistribution relationship.

Oh and the DAC on board would probably make you CD player sing again!

[Nomme de Plum]

Lyngdorf' do some great DSP amps. Room correction can improve sound significantly as we tend not to acoustically treat our rooms.

[Panamax]

2-channel amp - Moon 240i
https://www.whathifi.com/moon/240i/review

5-channel amp - Anthem MRX 540
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/anthem-mrx-540

[FMOB]

Stick Legs said:

psi310398 said:

You might consider instead getting a more expensive amp with a built in DAC (and maybe streamer) and you can then use the old CD player as a transport (assuming it has a digital out) . For your money you could probably get something like a Hegel.

That’s exactly the kind of thing I was after, yes I have an optical out from my CD Player, so that’s an idea I hadn’t thought of.

Panamax said:

2-channel amp - Moon 240i
https://www.whathifi.com/moon/240i/review

5-channel amp - Anthem MRX 540
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/anthem-mrx-540

I have a Hegel h190 which I bought to drive a pair of Focal Aria 936's, the Focals hit quite a low impedance and the Hegel is stable into 2ohms. I did look at the Moon 240i but preferred the Hegel.

I would say you need to demo the amps at home in your setup and room, based on listening to amps at the dealer I liked an AVM amp over the Hegel but the AVM was awful at home, the Moon was underpowered and I think reviewers describe it as warm. The Hegel is neutral and to my ear complements the Focals.

For streaming I bought a Marantz ND-8006 which is also a CD player, this connects digitally to the Hegel to use the better DAC.

Last time I checked the h190 has come down in price to around £2.5k new from around £3.4k as I guess it is getting replaced soon. I bought mine ex-demo for around the £2.5k mark a couple of years ago and I am still very impressed with it (the remote is naff, solid aluminium block but fiddly buttons so rarely gets used as the volume control codes match the Marantz streamer controls).

Edited by FMOB on Friday 22 December 21:46

[Stick Legs]

Panamax said:

2-channel amp - Moon 240i
https://www.whathifi.com/moon/240i/review

5-channel amp - Anthem MRX 540
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/anthem-mrx-540

They look very interesting.
Great write up!

[Funk]

I recently went on the mooch for a new amp whilst my XTZ Class A100 D3 was off having its output protection relays replaced. I was thinking the same sort of budget as you (ie. £2-3k) but ended up spending a lot less than that on a Roksan K3 whic I have to say is superb. Richer Sounds still have it at £899 down from £1399: https://www.richersounds.com/roksan-k3-integrated-... I needed something with a bit of clout behind it to drive my Kef Reference 3.2s.

I had thought about getting an all-in-one with bluetooth/streaming etc but I already have a decent DAC and headphone amp (Topping D90SE and A90) and the D90SE already provides bluetooth functionality. This wasn't critical but has proven useful several times and whilst the Roksan used to include bluetooth it doesn't since component shortages during covid lockdowns - worth noting as some places still say it has it.

I actually picked up the XTZ today with a clean bill of health (from well-regarded amp guru John Caswell) but I'll be sticking with the Roksan now I think. If you want a solid, clean-sounding amp the K3 is worth an audition imo. I've found ways to spend the other £1200...

[Ed.Neumann]

I would look at spending half your budget on speakers.

Those B&W DM601 S2 was good for the money when everyone was selling them for £199 nearly a quarter of a century ago, but seriously, consider upgrading those as well.

[TEKNOPUG]

Get a separate DAC/streamer and separate amp. More choice and greater flexibility for any replacements in the future.