WTD: Cheap as chips integrated amp with phono to drive Tablettes

[anubisgrau]

I have a pair of vintage Proac Tablettes I want to donate to a friend and I need an integrated with phono stage to drive them - a budget is almost a non-existent but say about 100 pounds delivered to a London address (of my courier).

Frankly speaking it should be something that can work without any issues - meaning clean pots, switches, etc.... since it's not a hifi person. Basically an idiot proof thing.

Any ideas pls let me know, also a hint what older amps are proven to deal with the original (early vintage) Tablettes.

I know pics are obligatory but not sure what pic to post? Maybe the speakers?

Actually I have no clue if these are Tablette or Super Tablette, they look like this


http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/diffusori/proac-tablette/tablette%20proac.jpg

[anubisgrau]

Just checked the back stickers - yes ProAc Super Tablette, a single pair of binding posts with a proper Union Jack in between!

:)

[5acan]

Hi G,
Not sure if that helps but as per phono:
https://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Salon-Stereo-Preamplifier-Module-MD-A310/dp/B01J3CQKFO/ref=sr_1_1?m=A2OVMUS055KMW5&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1485842431&sr=1-1&keywords=electronics+salon+a310

I use one modded as described in LH by the filmaker, amazing.
As per amp:
http://hifimediy.com/amplifiers/diy-amplifiers/T1-CTR-amplifier

Both are easy to hook-up and can be funny,
Find a nice cigar box and that's it ;-)

Good luck in your search,

[ianlenco]

The Tablettes are classy little speakers and deserve decent amplification. If you sold them you'd probably get a few hundred pounds to buy your lucky friend a decent set up. If you really want to give him/her the Proacs then maybe something like a NAD 3020 would do at a pinch. A friend uses one with Tablettes and it sounds OK although I'm always nagging him about what he's missing :)

[twotone]

Buy a Pulse integrated from Farnell (sp) comes with a phono card, FM radio and is less than £100 new delivered.

Alan Steele at Harbeth recommends them for his speakers or you can push the boat out and buy the Pioneer one from Farlnell at about £170 delivered.

I've used one for over a year and it's excellent value for money.

Tony

I see the price is up a bit since I last looked but it's still a great price for a decent amp.

http://cpc.farnell.com/pulse/sra-160usb/hifi-amplifier-stereo-mic-usb/dp/AV19938

[Spectral Morn]

Go buy Bev's Partington stands pronto, ST's need heavy stands to give their best. Stunning speakers, imaging to die for. I have a black pair and I won't ever sell them.

Edit Ahhhhhh you want to give them away :doh: lucky friend. I misread your OP, sorry.

[petrat]

Buy a Pulse integrated from Farnell (sp) comes with a phono card, FM radio and is less than £100 new delivered.

Alan Steele at Harbeth recommends them for his speakers or you can push the boat out and buy the Pioneer one from Farlnell at about £170 delivered.

I've used one for over a year and it's excellent value for money.

Tony

I see the price is up a bit since I last looked but it's still a great price for a decent amp.

http://cpc.farnell.com/pulse/sra-160usb/hifi-amplifier-stereo-mic-usb/dp/AV19938


Interesting. And here's the original Alan Shaw quotation on that amp ...

P.S. The Pioneer is a luxury amp by my standards. Don't want to spend as much? Then I'd go for this, at half the price here. I have two of the slightly earlier versions with a few less facilities. How does it sound? You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you that it was completely indistinguishable from a very highly respected North American unit under carefully controlled, level matched to about 0.15dB instantaneous A-B comparison. There really is no magic in amplifier design whatever.

Just thought you'd appreciate that, Gordan :D

Quick question, though, Tony ... none of the ads for it explicitly say it has a phono-stage built in, or provides any specification for it. Are you sure it has one included, or is it an extra?

[twotone]

Interesting. And here's the original Alan Shaw quotation on that amp ...

P.S. The Pioneer is a luxury amp by my standards. Don't want to spend as much? Then I'd go for this, at half the price here. I have two of the slightly earlier versions with a few less facilities. How does it sound? You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you that it was completely indistinguishable from a very highly respected North American unit under carefully controlled, level matched to about 0.15dB instantaneous A-B comparison. There really is no magic in amplifier design whatever.

Just thought you'd appreciate that, Gordan :D

Quick question, though, Tony ... none of the ads for it explicitly say it has a phono-stage built in, or provides any specification for it. Are you sure it has one included, or is it an extra?

Mine definitely has a phono stage built in Peter, maybe not the best phono stage ever but it does the job.

Tony

[anubisgrau]

Thanks everyone, I went for a Crimson combo - a slightly above the planned budget (actually 3.65x more :eek:) but I was just too curious about it.

Re Partington stands, if there is a pair in London for 80 quid so my courier can collect, let me know. I couldn't arrange that in Portsmouth (or where where the pair for sale was).