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Thread: Worth Buying An A & R Cambridge A60 amplifier?

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: Cheshire UK

    Posts: 843
    I'm Martin.

    Default Worth Buying An A & R Cambridge A60 Amplifier?

    I have an urge to buy one of these and the matching tuner. I try not to buy much "vintage" stuff now although I dispute the term vintage as it makes me feel very old

    Talk me out of it It it worth having a dabble bearing in mind I will have to re-capacitor the whole thing. My soldering iron is ready

    What should I pay for a tidy example as they range from say £70 to £200 for the amplifier.

    I have the Arcam Alpha 1 which is a bit of fun with a very low noise floor...better than the Creek 4040 in that respect.

    Is the A60 a fighting contender for the Nytech 252 or is it just time to stop buying vintage equipment and get with the times.

    Best wishes
    Martin
    Last edited by Minstrel SE; 14-08-2017 at 16:41.

  2. #2
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

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    The A60 sounds 'safe' with budget gear. Which is why it used to be popular. I've had a couple and found them rather unexciting and dull. Same with the NAD 3020 and Audiolab 8000..............I'd not touch a Nytech.

    If I wanted an old amp, I'd consider a Cambridge P50/60/80. Not exactly the ultimate in reliability, but surprisingly decent sounding. Rotel RA-611 is rather nice too and doesn't go wrong, which is why there are still quite a few about. Both have good phono stages.
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  3. #3
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: Cheshire UK

    Posts: 843
    I'm Martin.

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    Yes I think what drives this is products I feel familiar with because I grew up with the adverts and they look good to me. Its hardly a proper reason to be buying them now as times move on

    I looked at what you mentioned and my feeling is they go back too far into the seventies but as you say they probably sound very good

    I probably going to stop buying vintage gear now and go with my plans for a new passive pre and power.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: NE England

    Posts: 4,173
    I'm Jez.

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    Quote Originally Posted by walpurgis View Post
    The A60 sounds 'safe' with budget gear. Which is why it used to be popular. I've had a couple and found them rather unexciting and dull. Same with the NAD 3020 and Audiolab 8000..............I'd not touch a Nytech.

    If I wanted an old amp, I'd consider a Cambridge P50/60/80. Not exactly the ultimate in reliability, but surprisingly decent sounding. Rotel RA-611 is rather nice too and doesn't go wrong, which is why there are still quite a few about. Both have good phono stages.
    Technically interesting and ahead of their time but they have indeed got a dubious reliability record...

    I was thinking the other day that it could be fun to do up a Leak Stereo/Delta 70 into a "street sleeper"
    Arkless Electronics-Engineered to be better. Tel. 01670 530674 (after 1pm)

    Modded Thorens TD150, Audio Technica AT-1005 MkII, Technics EPC-300MC, Arkless Hybrid MC phono stage, Arkless passive pre, Arkless 50WPC Class A SS power amp, (or) Arkless modded Leak Stereo 20, Modded Kef Reference 105/3's
    ReVox PR99, Studer B62, Ferrograph Series 7, Tandberg TCD440, Hitachi FT-5500MkI, also FT-5500MkII
    Digital: Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (Digital Swiss army knife-CD recorder, player, hard drive, DAC and ADC in one), PC files via 24/96 sound card and SPDIF, modded Philips CD850, modded Philips CD104, modded DPA Little Bit DAC. Sennheiser HD580 cans with Arkless Headphone amp.
    Cables- free interconnects that come with CD players, mains leads from B&Q, dead kettles etc, extension leads from Tesco

  5. #5
    Join Date: Aug 2010

    Location: East Midlands

    Posts: 426
    I'm Hugh.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Arkless Electronics View Post
    Technically interesting and ahead of their time but they have indeed got a dubious reliability record...
    My P110 gave sterling service (apart from a noisy volume pot) for over twenty years before I moved it on.

    I must have been lucky.

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