What £200 integrated amp?

[daveray]

Hi all,

I'm new here so please be gentle.

So my question; I'm in the market for a new amp as my old small box rega brio has developed a bit of a crackle. I've just bought a flat with the girlfriend so not only do I not have much money but I'm also desperately in need of some musical accompaniment to painting.

My sources are a rega P3, a rega planet and more often than not a macbook. My speakers are opera nota minis, (that's what they say on the back though google image tells me they are just called minis.)

I have a strict budget of £200 so limited choice, certainly not the new brio. I'm slightly averse to the 40 year old japanese monster or 30 year old british obscurity because of the whole recapping thing; I'd like something reliable I suppose. My thoughts have been the nait 3, Nad c352, Arcam a85.. any opinions/other options/offers.

Let me know, all opinions gratefully received. Thanks a million,

Dave

 

[budgetblown]

I'd get the brio serviced, personally. Had a couple, found them very worthy.

From memory, the Exposure 2010s can be had second hand for about the £200 mark, I found the one I listened to very pleasant. Audiolab 8000s for around the £250 mark second hand? Creek 4040s - cheap as chips, you'd prob buy and have serviced for under £150 all in.

Failing that, Cambridge Azur 340 as a new amp purchase perhaps? Rotel RA-04?

And that reminds me - I really must dig out my Sonab R3000, which was packed to ship before a sale went through. 4 channel class A receiver amp, jolly good fun!

 

[Jason P]

It's probably either a dry joint or more likely the volume pot needing a clean. Some switch cleaner sprayed on the pot is surely worth a try? You should be able to get the top off for a look see easily enough (making sure its not plugged in of course!). Failing that, see if anyone here can recommend someone to service it nearby. Should cost a lot less than £200 and I doubt you'll get better than the Brio for that amount, but others may think differently!

 

[goomer]

A tin of this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SERVISOL-SUPER-10-SWITCH-AND-CONTACT-CLEANER-FOR-MUSICAL-INTRUMENTS-FREE-P-P-/281136593233 and a set of metric allen keys to undo the case (you have to remove the bolts that hold the feet on to get inside Rega cases, 3mm allen key is needed from memory) should hopefully only be what's needed to sort your current amp. Depending upon whereabouts you are I would be happy to give it a quick clean of the volume control, to see if simply grubby contacts are the problem.

 

[meridian man]

Get it fixed and keep the rega synergy.

 

[hifinutt]

what about this rather nice specimen , not a bad sound

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?89452-FS-RA05-amp-with-remote

 

[MJ.]

Another vote for getting the Rega serviced.

You'll save a shed load of cash and have a reliable, newly serviced amp that will easily be as good as any 'unknown quantity' amp that you could buy for that sort of money.

 

[daveray]

Hey thanks everyone for the advice, you guys are fast!

Overwhelmingly servicing seems to be the order of the day. It isn't that the volume pot crackles when I move it, the issue is that occasionally there is just a crackle, for no reason. But certainly a service would be something I should get done. I've always been of the leave it on a lot gang and as it is getting on for nearly 20 years old that's a lot of electricity through its veins. I'd say it is overdue. I'm in east London, are people allowed to recommend service people or is that too much like business?

I guess I was thinking that a service is probably about £100 and something like an A85 or a nait 3 cost so much more money new than the old clam shell Brio did that they would be country mile better so I would be getting a huge leap of an upgrade for effectively £100. You don't reckon so?

Thanks again you lot.

 

[marko]

Fatman itube. £129 ish.

 

[budgetblown]

You'd find the Naim dry compared to the Rega for a start, and the Rega is a musical, lively, bouncy little amp - synergy with your Planet is beautiful (had a couple of them too), you've had it for 20 years and been happy - something a load of us on here would LOVE to do with our kit - why change now? A little tlc for the wee beastie after 2 decades of service is long overdue, I think.

It's a shame you're not in Cardiff, there's a cracking repair chap just around the corner from me. There is however a recommended servicer/repairer thread on this forum, here: http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?36719-Audio-Repairs-amp-Upgrades - start on the last page and work backwards to find the latest recommendations in your area.

 

[The Strat]

Hey thanks everyone for the advice, you guys are fast! Overwhelmingly servicing seems to be the order of the day. It isn't that the volume pot crackles when I move it, the issue is that occasionally there is just a crackle, for no reason. But certainly a service would be something I should get done. I've always been of the leave it on a lot gang and as it is getting on for nearly 20 years old that's a lot of electricity through its veins. I'd say it is overdue. I'm in east London, are people allowed to recommend service people or is that too much like business?

I guess I was thinking that a service is probably about £100 and something like an A85 or a nait 3 cost so much more money new than the old clam shell Brio did that they would be country mile better so I would be getting a huge leap of an upgrade for effectively £100. You don't reckon so?

Thanks again you lot.

Dave I love Naim equipment but not a Nait 3 - trust me their worst product ever.

 

[daveray]

Thanks all for your replies. I'm going to get it serviced then. I'll tell you what though, looking on the classifieds doesn't half make you feel like money's burning a hole in your pocket. Suddenly I'm thinking about spending £300 then £400, by the time the summer's over I'll be single and on the street clutching desperately to an Audio Note Ongaku

 

[banjoman]

See if you can sell your old Rega to get some cash, take your £200 budget and add a wee bit more to get a used Brio-R.

You can find them in the used market for about £350. Great little amp and new enough to last you for a while. Also has a decent MM phono stage

 

[PerFlemming]

See if you can sell your old Rega to get some cash, take your £200 budget and add a wee bit more .

Just about my idea too

sell the rather faulthy old brio as it is, put your Money towards the excellent Brio-3 which is a marvellous amp seen here and there" around £200-250 mark, your settled another decade or two

I wouldn't put money into the old one

 

[budgetblown]

Aaaagh! Now restraining myself from making an offer for the Brio.