100% New system advice needed.

I would definitely listen carefully to the ARCAM kit. The CD17 is quite good, but I found the A18 to be very uninspiring. I think your money can definitely be spent better elsewhere I'm afraid. Loads of deals going on with end of line Cyrus kit. Maybe you could look there? The new NAD kit sounds like its worth an audition too but I can't comment as I haven't heard it. Another thing to consider would be this if you could stretch to it....... http://www.moorgateacoustics.co.uk/index.php?product_id=1442997&option=Prod_detail

looks great value

The MM Stage 3 was around £900 when it came out, so I'd be rather surprised if it's suddenly rubbish overnight. It does, however, warrant better partners I think, from your amp and speakers, so I'd be inclined to improve the amp first, then the speakers.

I very much doubt the Arcam CD player will be a step up, or at least, give you the kind of improvement you think you will get. Bit of a backwards step IMO and digital technology on the CD front hasn't improved so significantly in ten or twelve years that the Arcam will be good enough to beat the Micromega. A friend of mine had the same player when it came out and it was very impressive I thought. Can't recall the amp he used it with, but he did partner it with Castle Severn 2 floorstanders and it sounded magnificent.

My gut feeling is that you can save the money for a new CD player and put it into a better amp and speaker combination to improve the quality of the audio you get from what was an excellent - and I suspect still is - source.

I would find a local dealer, tuck your stage 3 under your arm, and compare it to the current £600 players and see which you prefer, say the Arcam or apollo. As was said above, it mey well be that the CD player can stay. For my money the Rega may well better the Stage 3, as Rega have had a new OS developed for the apollo/saturn that to my ears has improved CD replay for the better. Only your ears can tell you. From that point you know if your budget has to be spread over three or two boxes.

If I were you, I would keep the CD player (a very good one) and use it as CD transport to feed music to a DAC like the Beresford (£180) or DACMagic (£220), which connects to the amp.  This will not only produce sound quality to match if not improve on your Stage 3 (because of more uptodate converter chips), but will also provide you with the option of going computer-based music via "streaming" from computer to DAC (check this forum for posts on this vast topic), or just via the humble USB lead from computer to DAC. I have gone this route and I love it, have not used a CD player for a while now.

Thanks for comments. Ill have a look as some of the things mentioned and post bk soon. thanks RGA

My micromega stage 3 is great i must admit. Anyone got any views on what DAC (possible) and amp to use! looking at the beresford (looks good) , Not to sure about the CA DACmagic (dont like CA may just be stuck in my ways) Amp?????... god no idea now! rga

Thanks for comments. Ill have a look as some of the things mentioned and post bk soon. thanks RGA

At there latest prices I think the Arcam CD17 and A18 are over priced. The Rega Apollo is in a different league to the CD17 IMO, and I actually think the Brio 3 is a better amp than the A18 as well.

I'm not convinced relying on a transport as old as the Micromega is a great idea. They weren't the most reliable of machines.

AVI Neutron's with amp-pack or AVI's ADM9.1?

reggaedave:

My micromega stage 3 is great i must admit. Anyone got any views on what DAC (possible) and amp to use! looking at the beresford (looks good) , Not to sure about the CA DACmagic (dont like CA may just be stuck in my ways) Amp?????... god no idea now! rga

Assuming your MM Stage 3 is still performing well mechanically, then have a look at the Stello Signature SA100 DAC (was £650 before the price rises at the turn of the year), which has had an excellent write-up and was recommended to me before I sold off my old Linn Mimik to partner that ahead of buying a new transport. In the end I went with the existing Marantz SA7001 KI I now have as it was at too good a price to pass up.

The Beresford gets a fabulous write-up and I wonder just how much it would cost if it were to be sold via typical retail outlets. £155 online is a fine price for what seems to be an excellent piece of kit and my gut feeling is that £250-£300 wouldn't be too far off the pace (?).

If I were you, and I was looking to upgrade I would keep the CDP and would buy a pre/power amp combo and some new speakers. A £200 CA DACMagic isn't going to improve on your Micromega but your amp and speakers can easily be bettered. And I do like Arcam but I wouldn't go for entry level kit as you've suggested. Arcam is one of those brands that doesn't do itself justice in a short listening test, but come 2am you don't want to switch the off...the number of times I've woken up soon after I've gone to bed...

ÿ

Im going to get the beresford TC7520 for a start to solve possible imputs (pc etc..)

Amp will be next. Looked at the possibility of of a pre+pwr amp combo but going to be to pricey i think (as i have money commitments elsewere) so think will get an int amp, speakers and lastely a new cd player. was looking at the naim nait 5i intergrated amp...

http://www.naim-audio.com/products/nait5i.html

But its early days yet.Any ideas for an amp for upto 600 pound.

The Nait 5i is a cracker and well worth an audition. I'd also suggest looking at the following:

NAD C326BEE and C355BEE

Creek Evolution

Cambridge Audio 740A

Rega Brio 3


The NADs punch WELL above their weight. The Creek is very highly thought of and there are still one or two good deals on it now its been replaced with the Evolution 2. The 740A is great if you like a very detailed sound, whilst the Rega Brio 3 is one of those amps that just sweeps you up in the music.

regal brio 3 looks good. had nad amps before.... do like the look of the RB3 got to say.

reggaedave:

Im going to get the beresford TC7520 for a start to solve possible imputs (pc etc..)

Amp will be next. Looked at the possibility of of a pre+pwr amp combo but going to be to pricey i think (as i have money commitments elsewere) so think will get an int amp, speakers and lastely a new cd player. was looking at the naim nait 5i intergrated amp...

http://www.naim-audio.com/products/nait5i.html

Sounds an excellent idea to me ...