Long overdue upgrade

[rmcin626]

After deciding on keeping the vinyl I have had the turntable serviced and the arm upgraded by Audio Origami and now sounding really good to my ears but on closer inspection the amp needs replacing love the sound of the Copland but now showing its age was hoping it would last a bit longer so the budget is reduced to around £1000.
Would prefer an integrated again and after years of listening through valves I'm pretty clear on the sound I'm after.
The main problem is that I have not kept up with the changes in Hifi over recent years so looking for suggestions.
I will probably change the speaker cable and the other cables as well so looking for some good value cables that punch above their weight.
Would also be nice to access all the tunes in my iTunes library on my MacBook Pro

Current setup
Turntable - Nottingham analogue interspace with rb250 and goldring elite plus project phono box se
Amp - Copland csa 8 integrated
Speakers - b and w cmd2 se
Cd - Marantz dr 6000
Tuner - Marantz
And Linn movie classik doing nothing at the moment

Taste in music very varied, soul, blues country, rock and Americana

[Sabaselfsit]

Since you will use your Project phono box se and don't need an integrated with phono stage I would recommend the Hegel H80 at a budget of around £ 1000. Amp and super dac (for your digital music from macbook to usb in), connect your turnable and tuner to unbalanced in and hook up your cd-player through coax. :eyebrows:

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/03/hegel-h80-integrated-amplifier-test.html

[rmcin626]

Thanks Andre, interesting choice never heard one and not sure if there are any dealers in Scotland, wee bit over budget but will investigate further I think.

[Firebottle]

Why not get the Copland serviced, with replacement capacitors where need?

Should be an inexpensive upgrade, particularly as you like the sound. I'm sure Jez could do a great job of this.

:)

[Sabaselfsit]

My pleasure. There are much within your budget (I'm sure others will come with many other good suggestions soon), but I can at least vouch for the Hegel. Super amplifier and dac.

The USB input lets you use the included remote control to maneuver through the playlists on your Mac. Features such as skip / play / pause works right out of the box without any setup.

Over her this amp cost 9995 Norwegian Kroners, which should be around £ 850. But possibly it is more expensive abroad...

[rmcin626]

Andre, retail price appears to be £1350 here, but will have a look

Alan, I will probably have the Copland serviced but I just feel it's time for something more modern.

[hard1175]

Hi Robin
Loud & Clear in Edinburgh are dealers for Hegel amplifiers.

Www.loud-clear.co.uk

[rmcin626]

Thanks Bernard

[Arkless Electronics]

Why not get the Copland serviced, with replacement capacitors where need?

Should be an inexpensive upgrade, particularly as you like the sound. I'm sure Jez could do a great job of this.

:)

Thanks Alan :)

[rmcin626]

At the moment weighing up my options and checking the used market

[Frazeur1]

Shoot yeah, get the Copland serviced and keep on going! Those are nice and smooth sounding amps!

[rmcin626]

That might still happen

[Dauntless]

If your grand was mine this is where my money would go :-
http://www.iqspeakers.co.uk/#!abrahamsen-v20up-intergrated-amplifier/c1vfy
You will have to look long and hard to fine a better amp than this.

[Dauntless]

My pleasure. There are much within your budget (I'm sure others will come with many other good suggestions soon), but I can at least vouch for the Hegel. Super amplifier and dac.

The USB input lets you use the included remote control to maneuver through the playlists on your Mac. Features such as skip / play / pause works right out of the box without any setup.

Over her this amp cost 9995 Norwegian Kroners, which should be around £ 850. But possibly it is more expensive abroad...

Hegel H80 around £288 more expensive in the UK than Norway:scratch: More rip off Britain me thinks:eyebrows:

[rmcin626]

The Copland has gone in for a service today, once I have it back will look at the options - if I decide to keep it I might look at upgrading the phono box

[Simon_Nottingham]

What about the new Croft Phono Integrated (http://www.croftacoustics.co.uk/main.html) - at a nice round £1,000.

[hifi_dave]

Now, that is a good amp.

[rmcin626]

It is and will add it to the selection process

[Simon_Nottingham]

It is and will add it to the selection process

The phono stage should be bob on as well, almost certainly better than many external ones, so as that's your main source it's worth bearing in mind. You could sell the current external head amp to help towards the purchase.

From a fellow Nottingham Analogue owner :-)

[rmcin626]

Just need to track one down for a listen

[rmcin626]

I have decided to stick with the Copland amp just now, so looking at upgrading the project phono box se with a better phono stage to partner the Goldring Elite low output cartridge.
I am also looking at connecting my MacBook Pro laptop to the Copland or via another box ? Just looking to access the iTunes library.
All suggestions welcome

[rdpx]

Seem to be plenty of phono stages going begging on the private exhibitions page just now...

Personally I'd back up the Croft option. We just got a phono integrated from hifi-dave, and it's lovely. The phono stage in particular is valve-tastic.


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[rmcin626]

At the moment going to keep the Copland and improved the phono stage, I have looked at Croft but not sure if there are any dealers in Scotland.

[hifi_dave]

Nope.

[rmcin626]

and Essex is just a wee bit far

[rmcin626]

Now have my Copland back, now the upgrade process can begin although I was offered an Acram FMJ A39 today at decent price but would still need to upgrade the phono stage.