Amp advice for a new wammer please

[Maverick]

Hi all,

Have been lurking on the forum for a while, now my maiden post! sorry it is a little long . . . but I am in a quandary, hopefully you can help me

System

Linn Axis / K9 - big thanks to a wammer who sold me one to replace the one our cleaner dusted to bits (now sacked)

Audiolab 8000A

Marantz CD63SE KI Sig (in very good order)

Mission 752 (connected with very good cables)

Now funds are starting to materialise a little I've got the bug - and a new room to play in - actually quite a large family room with laminate flooring.

1st

My amp has had the phono sockets replaced (heat cracked plastic) however now has a slight buzz at the speakers (quite low) but the big issue is that anything above 15-20% volume and relays cut out the power. Not technical but I know it didn't used to do it

So what is the issue likely to be? fatal? basically is it worth repairing???

2nd

so if the Audiolab is a dead duck I have always had a hankering for Quad set up, that I have never been able to afford, however read on . .

3rd

recently acquired new headphones - much more revealing than my Sennheiser ones (old, expensive, years of service) and I realised that the headphone stage of the amp is far too harsh (bet no surprise to wammers reading). So bought a little cheap valve amp kit, and it is now sounding completely wonderful To the extent I am sitting up every night to 2am working my way through my modest CD collection (approx 500). It even makes Michael Stipe's voice sound pleasant to listen to, honest

Advice Please!

So I have been infected with serious case of valveitis (is that a word?) So should I skip Quad step and go straight to valve class A? :upgrade:

My speakers will stay and after a new amp next upgrade would be a DAC (as I am sure someone here will suggest it!)

752s say 25 - 150w / 8ohm, research says sensitivity of 90dB so I am guessing not too hard to drive? have been looking at 2nd hand integrated valve amps as ££ will not fund new, but how much class A loveliness will I need? spotted a mint Pure Sound A10 for £450 but gut feel is 10w is too little?

any thoughts appreciated, many thanks for reading my ramblings

Paul

 

[James Evans]

HI Paul, welcome to the wam to start off with.

I don't have any specific amp advice, but where in the country are you? It might be worth hosting an amp bakeoff at yours and get local wammers to bring a selection of amps round so you can listen in your room.

Best, James

 

[vacdac]

Depends on your upper budget really Paul?? You may find a decent Puresound A30 or Icon Audio Stereo 40 for not too much more than that. Maybe worth considering valve amps that offer switchable Triode/Ultralinear operation, which would enable you to switch to U.L. operation for when you need more ooomph* (well known tech term. :^ )

As a S/S leftfield suggestion XTZ's A100D3 Desire integrated amp offers switchable class A/AB operation & has a decent built in Dac + switchable mm/mc phono stage & one of these may be found at a similar budget to the little A10 s/hand & I believe they're now around £700 new. Don't think it has a h/phone stage though so you could use your current solution via the tape outs. These are generally highly praised units & there's several happy users here & on AOS.

They are a big unit though & ideally need room to breath (They're also slightly deeper than they are wide & are pretty heavy at around 25kg)......Racks are fine as long as they're open at the sides, as good airflow is needed all around/from above as these amps run pretty hot in class A operation. I have the balanced power amp brother of this Amp & I'm extremely happy with it on SQ grounds. :stereo:

Welcome to t' Wam BTW Paul.....look forward to more posts from ya in the future.

BR

C.

 

[Maverick]

thanks both, I really like this place

I live J24 M62 so about halfway between Leeds and Manchester, I'd probably wait until I get to a bakeoff etc but would welcome thoughts on the Audiolab repair as well as the 752s are rather gathering dust

 

[pgarrish]

I'd say grab a solid state integrated for 20-50 quid to get you running again and provide a back-up. Then get your audio lab off to Purite North (Paul/Sodders) or Wychwood (BMTell/Mark) and get a quote to fix it.

Amp wise - definitely have a bake off at yours - try some amps with your speakers in your room. Be prepared to change everything too

 

[themadlatvian]

thanks both, I really like this place I live J24 M62 so about halfway between Leeds and Manchester, I'd probably wait until I get to a bakeoff etc but would welcome thoughts on the Audiolab repair as well as the 752s are rather gathering dust

What I can't understand about this particular post is why you need to mention two irrelevant sprawling metropolises, when you should be talking about Huddersfield or its poorer brother, Halifax.

Nothing to be ashamed of you know, God's own county!

;-)

 

[gingembre]

Covering up the laminate floor might give you the biggest bang for the buck improvement!

 

[Andy831]

Agree with John's post #6 there are plenty of us in easy striking distance of J24 M62 to give you a taste of valves in double quick time. Pm me if you fancy a listen at some valves, oh I have a few Quad amps too. :^

 

[Maverick]

What I can't understand about this particular post is why you need to mention two irrelevant sprawling metropolises, when you should be talking about Huddersfield or its poorer brother, Halifax.Nothing to be ashamed of you know, God's own county!

;-)

wo John, another local lad !

actually technically I'm in Huddersfield (Lindley), though my rugby (union naturally) club is in Halifax - so a foot in both camps

but I am a south Leeds lad by birth but hopefully people won't hold it against me on here