What temporary amp should I get?

[worrasf]

I'm taking the 25R/S4s over to Glenn's later today for a winter service ;)

What with work schedules and all it's likely it will be several weeks before I can collect them so in the meantime I'm looking to get a temporary replacement and am looking for some suggestions.

It will need to be pre-owned and not silly money as I only need it for a month or so and will move it on again once the Crofts are back home. Needs to have phono (mm is fine) as well as line input. While I'm not really fussed I think an integrated transistor design would be best as it will be easier/cheaper to ship when I'm through with it.

Any (sensible) thoughts ?

Steve

[Firebottle]

Why not use the 33/303 and save your money?
:cool:

[worrasf]

Why not use the 33/303 and save your money?
:cool:

I know I know that's the sensible suggestion but the 33/303 is in the study system and I want something downstairs "for the family" as it were. I'll be selling the "new one" on anyway so shouldn't actually cost me much more than the postage if I choose wisely

Steve

[walpurgis]

Denon PMA-350SE, remarkable sound quality for the money (second hand) and powerful enough to drive most speakers. Best jap integrated I've come across. You'd get one on eBay for around £80.

[worrasf]

Thanks Geoff - sounds good - I just need to be careful I find one with the optional phono stage

Steve

[DSJR]

Ah, you need a cheap-n-cheerful integrated with phono stage?.. I was going to suggest a Mini-T style amp for standby duties, since it's cheap and can be put in a drawer somewhere when not needed...

In addition to the Denon, which is great for your needs, try to look out for a Creek 4040/4140, A&R A60 (should be bought, restored and kept in all honesty) and even some of the "BX" series Rotels, which benefitted so much from their UK design input at the time.

[RichB]

For cheap and cheerful I'd go with any old Arcam myself... The Denon PMA I've heard were also very good. I think the phono stages in old NAD 3020s were also well regarded in their day. I wont recommend Pioneer A400 as the phono stage sounds worse than a sack of spanners falling down council block stairs.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Steve,
How much is 'not silly money'?

[spendorman]

NAD 3130, not a bad amp at all.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11071

[Audio Al]

Cant Glenn help you out with a loan amp while yours are in for service ?

May be worth asking ;)

[worrasf]

Cant Glenn help you out with a loan amp while yours are in for service ?

May be worth asking ;)

Indeed Glenn made the kind offer of a loan amp BUT - I decided that while the 25R was with him he might as well upgrade it to 25RS level - all the caps in the S4s were bulging and about to go FUBAR and the power valves were down so all in all a worthwhile trip for my ears :) but not I suspect my wallet :eek:

I think I might just get a bit more acquainted with my headphones and the family will just have to put up with the TV's internal speakers for a while

Steve

[worrasf]

Steve,
How much is 'not silly money'?

Hi Chris

See my post No 11 - I suspect when I find out how much the 25R to RS upgrade is anything over $1 is going to sound silly :doh:

Oh well - I was at Glenn's place and saw all these humungous power supplies with big fat cables going to slinky 25R type boxes and thought to myself Mmm that looks nice - the rest as they say is history :mental:

Oh and I've just ordered a quad of KT120's from Watford Valves to see if the S4s will take them. If not I'll be advertising them on here.

Steve

[nat8808]

Anything, as long as it can be purchased for a fair bit less than the going rate!

Just keep an eye on ebay in both the amp section and the systems section...

[nat8808]

There were a couple of good ones that just sold on eBay.

A Myst for £110 and a Cymbol CA-1 for £100. The first is a classic, normally selling for £150 + and the latter was made by the Onix designer and is highly recommended.

P.S. I have an unusual Creek I could sell - a Creek 5050. Is unusual in that it's a Creek with tone controls (defeatable) and lots of options like seperate pre/power, bridgable and also active cross-over cards inside with its dual outputs. Nice phono section too.

Would just have to check it over first as it's not been used in a while.

[worrasf]

Well Glenn has pulled out all the stops and my amps are ready to collect :)

25R now 25RS (even has new knobs) - s4s now recapped and with TungSol KT120's.

Should be back in the rack on Wednesday :cool:

Piccies to follow

Steve

[worrasf]

Well the amps are back and up and running and man am I pleased :)
I'm actually stumped for how to describe how much better this now sounds.
The first thing you notice is how much more relaxed the music sounds - just ebbs and flows and you can't help just getting into it.
This is now one of those amps you just have to hear for yourself and decide.
I think there is a huge improvement over the " standard" 25R (I appreciate how bizarre that may sound) now I don't know how much the KT120's and the full recap in the S4s is contributing ( I guess a fair amount as the old caps were about to burst) all I can say is if you are considering a 25R then get to listen to a 25RS but be prepared to shell out a load of dollar because you'll want one.
So no details on this track or that artist - I just want to listen
It really is very very good
Steve

[StanleyB]

Oh well - I was at Glenn's place and saw all these humungous power supplies with big fat cables going to slinky 25R type boxes and thought to myself Mmm that looks nice - the rest as they say is history :mental:
I don't think you paid close enough attention. One set of those cables would have been connected to a Bushmaster at the other end ;).

[worrasf]

:brickwall: