Replacement Amplifier Recommendations for 80's Speakers.
Hello there,
Hope this post finds you all well, I am new to these forums but an old head with respect to HiFi...
Current set-up is a Marantz PM6010 OSE integrated amplifier driving Celestion SL6S speakers on Custom Design stands, interconnected by QED Silver special 25th anniversary edition, the source is predominently from a Squeezebox II using an external DAC.
My musical tastes are varied, from modern electronic music, to modern jazz, The Beatles, 80's and Kate Bush, quite a heady mix I know!
The amplifier is beginning to show it's age and is now exhibiting an intermittent problem where the right channel disappears, the only way to cure it is by having Source Direct on (normal operation for me!) and the speaker balance knob fully to the right, with this in mind I am now contemplating replacing it.
I am aware that the Celestion SL6's are not the most easy to drive units in the modern World, so an amplifier with some oomph is required current wise, but I would like the oomph with finesse, I have an approximate budget of £200 - £500 for the amplifier, and I have no real allegiances to manufacturers.
For historical references, I have had in the past amplifier wise some Quad II monoblocks with the Quad 22 pre-amp (worse mistake getting rid of them) and a Cambridge Intergrated way back in the 80's, all been paired with the same old trusty Celestions
Any help in sourcing an amplifier that will pair up with the Celestions would be greatly appreciated, I have been looking at the usual suspects like Music Fidelity, Arcam, Cambridge, Marantz, etc and I am not averse if needs be in purchasing a good 2nd hand amplifier if it fits the bill.
Many thanks in advance,
Russ
Hi Cno,
Many thanks for the reply it's appreciated!
I was wondering if a new amp capable of doing these speakers some justice was going to be a costly exercise, hence my comment about not being adverse to a 2nd hand amplifier if needs be, point is... Like new amplifiers there's a lot of them!
I know the brands to look for (and the ones to avoid) it's just getting some help / hints on what is best suited to pair up with the SL6S's as I do know they are very revealing if not fed the right source / amplification.
I was considering pushing the boat out for a Roksan amplifier or one of the more powerful Marantz's / Cambridge Audio's but as mentioned earlier I am unsure if they would mate up with the setup.
Anyways I will hang around here for a while and see if anybody else comes up with any suggestions or ideas.
thanks again,
Russ
You need somebody who knows their way round the past models to look out for in the Musical Fidelity stable....as it's a bit of a mixed bag. Maybe worth starting a thread on.
Any thoughts on the Rega Mira 3 anybody?
Anyone?
Thoughts on the Rega Mira 3 with the Celestions?
IMO. If you want the speakers to shine, you need something with substantially more grunt.
Better, but I think the whole thing would be a bit smooth and lacking excitement.
Maybe something like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Musical-fidelity-A3-2-integrated-amplifier-imm...
or you could get your Quad mono blocks back if you are quick
Well out of my budget Kevin, the Music Fidelity one is on the confines of it and thats for a 2nd hand amp!
I guess I am being punished for wanting to stick with the awkward that are the Celestions, but there's no way I would get rid of them, I just love the sound of them too much.
I would prefer a new amp, but if 2nd hand is the only way to go then I guess thats the path I must take for Audionirvana.
Oh and thanks to Cno for replying quickly as well, I have stuck a watch on that A3.2 to see what happens.
Cheers again
Russ
Well if it's anything like the A3.5 the A3.2 should be a good bet; good luck!
Aye Kevin I am sure it is a good amp, Music Fidelity have never been shabby...
Point is surely for around the sub £500 price point there must be a new amplifier that fits the bill?
Russ
Well out of my budget Kevin, the Music Fidelity one is on the confines of it and thats for a 2nd hand amp!
I guess I am being punished for wanting to stick with the awkward that are the Celestions, but there's no way I would get rid of them, I just love the sound of them too much.
I would prefer a new amp, but if 2nd hand is the only way to go then I guess thats the path I must take for Audionirvana.
Oh and thanks to Cno for replying quickly as well, I have stuck a watch on that A3.2 to see what happens.
Cheers again
Russ
I can think of no modern speaker that sounds like an SL6, so I understand why you want to hold onto them.
The trouble with going new, is that £1k is the very minimum it would take, and even then it's on the edge.
The A3.2 has 115W into 8 Ohms and 185W into 4 Ohms which means it has reasonable current behind it.
Let me know how you get on
Cno
(lovely pics btw)
Can you stretch to this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leema-Acoustics-Pulse-Integrated-Amplifier-Sil...
This is new, and going at half price. It should inject the necessary life into your speakers....must be the best new amp you can get for that money. There are 2 of them on there.
CNO!
You corrupter of minds!!!!
I am hovering over the Commit to Buy button right now, but it is going £200 over my budget, which I am sure I will get me my divorce papers served...
It looks a very, very nice amplifier would good reviews, I am just concerned that my source (Squeezebox II) playing FLAC would be exposed by the quality of this amp.
I don't have a CD Player these days, nor record player.
Russ
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Hi Russ, and welcome to the forum.
I have the original SL6 so I know how good these speakers can sound. The are almost holographic with certain types of music (acoustic/orchestral/simple vocals etc) and can sound lifeless and dead with others (heavy hitting pop/rock/electronic).
These speakers need a really good kick up the backside to get the most of them, which means lots of power/current. I don't think your budget will get close to getting you what you need, if going for a new amp. Look out for a powerful, high current old amp from the likes of Musical Fidelity, Linn, Krell, Electrocompaniet or one of the more powerful Cambridge Audios. The combination with Arcam might be too smooth and lacking life.
If you don't feed these speakers with a lot of power/current, they sound too smooth and lifeless, though the "S" version might be a little better than my originals....The original Copper dome tweeter was replaced with an Aluminium one, giving 2db more efficiency.
Cno
"Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again." André Gide