Hello from the Lot

[marcus]

Hi all,

My real name is Mark and I live near Figeac in the department du Lot, France.

I'm an expat and moved here from Stockport 4 years ago. Before I came here I had a huge Cyrus setup which I had to sell. The new old house was just not big enough to contain the equipment so it had to go.

We run a business from home (english language centre see www.a-lot-of.com which I must update). After a few adjustments to the accommodation I now have my own office .

I have a mac pro which contains my entire music collection (apple lossless) and and a pair of Rega Alya speakers. I've just purchased a Beresford 7510 from a forum member to plug into the toslink hurrah.

Now I need an amp. I've got a limited budget, about a tenner (okay a few hundred quid) and need an amp. I have some cables which I'll upgrade after I get the amp. I see my new office system as work in progress so I'll be looking to upgrade as spare cash allows.

So, do I get some sort of Cyrus power amp (will this be okay with the Beresford?) or an integrated, or should I go down the Naim route (but what) or should I consider something else?

As I live in the middle of no-where opportunities to try before I buy are extremely limited, so I need some advice....please.

Regards from the sunny south

[marcus]

Struth, went on a bit didn't I!

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Mark


Welcome to AOS have fun and enjoy yourself.


Regards D S D L

[DSJR]

Welcome!

Why not get a new Rega amp like a Brio 3, which I understand is more capable than the original clamshell one I remember from the last century I liked the "clamshell" Luna and Mira too, the latter should be quite cheap now and still very capable.

The Naim Nait 2 works well with Alya's and any good vintage big-n-beefy integrated should flesh 'em out a bit (they're light in the bass, but the mid is very "invigorating..."). Two oldies that share the same designer are the A&R A60 and the Myryad MI-120, both of which giving a refined and subtle presentation.

Off the wall, very old, yet charming to listen to, the ancient Rogers Cadet III is holding its value and has a charming sound that the Alya's would love. The Beresford should drive it ok I think...

[marcus]

Thanks for the welcome guys and great suggestions DSJR. There's a couple of Naim Nait 3's going on Ebay at the mo, similar vain to the 2's?!?!

[Steve Toy]

I would like to retire to the Lot/Correze part of France. Both my wife and I are fluent French speakers so integration would be less of a problem than moving to a neighbouring town in England.
You are lucky to live there.

[Alex_UK]

Hi Markus - I don't appear to have said hello before - how rude of me! I can't really help you with your question, I'm usually just hanging around here making a nuisance of myself like a teenager loitering outside the shops! Welcome, and have fun! What sort of music are you into - if you have a specialisation? (Like one-legged banjo players no later than 1951 or something!)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

i use a little tripath in my office system, but i guess you want something with a bit more grunt? you could by my naim kit off me if you like ?
if i was going to buy a nait id have the 2 it looks the best and from what i understand sounds nicer than the 3
is the size of amp an issue? there is info on a tiny little valve amp fairly recently posted on here somewhere

hi and welcome by the way

[Jonboy]

Hi Marcus,
I hope to semi retire to France in a (quite)few years time and like the area you are in we stayed in Eymet near Bergerac in 2002 and now have a small place in the Vendee, any way the Rogers amps are very good and a good way of having a valve amp the does the job for reasonable money, its a shame you don't live nearer the Vendee as i can always bring a amp over for you to try, i have just worked out you are 540 km away or a 6 hour drive

Cheers

[Themis]

Hello Marc, welcome to the forums !

(no, I don't plan to retire to France, I've been for too many years... )