steve s
25-10-2014, 18:33
Hi,
Been tasked with putting together a good sounding, sub £200 CD based starter system, for my niece. So I've been looking around for s/h bargains ...was thinking Rotel RDP965 CD player, Rotel 820 or NAD 3020 amp, Wharfedale Diamond Mk1's and whatever I've got spare in my cables box .... should be achievable I reckon !!
Anyway, whilst out hunting, a Teac A-H500 integrated amp in mint condition caught my eye. It was a thing of beauty, a mid sized unit with a 6mm thick silver/gold metal facia and smooth and weighty feeling control knobs. No good for my nieces system being a little over budget and not black and plasticy enough for a teenager. But I couldn't resist getting it for myself. I knew Teac made some good gear a few years back and the unit was fairly heavy and well constructed .. but mostly I bought it on its on its looks alone... shallow I know !!
So after being sat on the side for a week I finally got round to swapping it into my system for my 4 month old Musical Fidelity M3i and I was gobsmacked. Its sounds great, very detailed with big open midrange and punchy bass. Ok, it lacks a little of the MF's refinement and the cymbals sound a bit 'tishy' at times but overall its not far behind the £1000 MF for sound quality (and the MF's a wonderful sounding amp)
The biggest surprise was yet to come, when I plugged my HD600's into its onboard headphone stage. I've just bought a Lehmann BCL headphone amp and I'm struggling to say which sounds the best at first listen. I never imagined a mid range amps onboard hp output could come near to a good, dedicated HPA. Well this one does.
Its a really top amp, and for just over £100 a real bargain. Thinking of using it purely as a HPA and selling the Lehmann to fund a pair of HD800's
We'll see !! :scratch: :D
Steve
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a595/steves61/a_zpsff78e8a3.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/steves61/media/a_zpsff78e8a3.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a595/steves61/b_zpsa03f08d4.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/steves61/media/b_zpsa03f08d4.jpg.html)
Been tasked with putting together a good sounding, sub £200 CD based starter system, for my niece. So I've been looking around for s/h bargains ...was thinking Rotel RDP965 CD player, Rotel 820 or NAD 3020 amp, Wharfedale Diamond Mk1's and whatever I've got spare in my cables box .... should be achievable I reckon !!
Anyway, whilst out hunting, a Teac A-H500 integrated amp in mint condition caught my eye. It was a thing of beauty, a mid sized unit with a 6mm thick silver/gold metal facia and smooth and weighty feeling control knobs. No good for my nieces system being a little over budget and not black and plasticy enough for a teenager. But I couldn't resist getting it for myself. I knew Teac made some good gear a few years back and the unit was fairly heavy and well constructed .. but mostly I bought it on its on its looks alone... shallow I know !!
So after being sat on the side for a week I finally got round to swapping it into my system for my 4 month old Musical Fidelity M3i and I was gobsmacked. Its sounds great, very detailed with big open midrange and punchy bass. Ok, it lacks a little of the MF's refinement and the cymbals sound a bit 'tishy' at times but overall its not far behind the £1000 MF for sound quality (and the MF's a wonderful sounding amp)
The biggest surprise was yet to come, when I plugged my HD600's into its onboard headphone stage. I've just bought a Lehmann BCL headphone amp and I'm struggling to say which sounds the best at first listen. I never imagined a mid range amps onboard hp output could come near to a good, dedicated HPA. Well this one does.
Its a really top amp, and for just over £100 a real bargain. Thinking of using it purely as a HPA and selling the Lehmann to fund a pair of HD800's
We'll see !! :scratch: :D
Steve
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a595/steves61/a_zpsff78e8a3.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/steves61/media/a_zpsff78e8a3.jpg.html)
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a595/steves61/b_zpsa03f08d4.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/steves61/media/b_zpsa03f08d4.jpg.html)