Show me the way

[Spence]

I have the need to make a small upgrade to my humble system and am here seeking the oracle.

My current system is as as follows, Densen B400Xs, John Shearne integrated and Ruark Talisman II speakers.
I have been enjoying this system for the last few months after a hi-fi free life of 10+ years but now feel the need to improve things.

The Densen is here to stay so first on my list I think is the amp. I recently borrowed a new Exposure 2010S2, not bad, but prefer the Shearne which seemed to have more depth to the sound and just seemed more musical. Here lies my problem, with a budget of £600 - £850 can I expect a decent improvement on what I already have ?

I will be looking at the second hand market which obviously makes listening a little difficult or maybe find a friendly dealer who does interest free.

The speaker's too, will be upgraded at a later date.

All views welcomed.

Thanks,

[John]

What size room and what music do you like
It might be worth thinking about one of the WAD Amplifiers great sound per pound

[Spence]

Sorry John, I shall add more details.
Room is approx 22ft x 12ft with the speakers firing across the room down one end.
I listen to pretty much all music apart from classical.
I have been advised elsewhere to sort the speakers first so am open to all opinions.
I have also considered maybe adding a power amp to the shearne.

Thanks

[DSJR]

The Shearne is smoooooth and almost silky for a ss amp, but the speakers used to sound to me as if they had carrots stuck up their collective backsides..

If the amp was livelier in character I'd suggest some good used Spendor S8's, which are really good, quite natural in tone and bass quality, but can sound over-damped in some systems, although the "E" versions were better.

If you want to keep the speakers, the AVI LSI integrated is very good for £700 or so and doesn't get in the way of the signal fed it. Densen themselves made some good amps as I recall, but they're not easy to get serviced if anything goes wrong..

Other speakers from recent antiquity could be B&W CDM-7's which were the better part of £2,000 when new and rather good, and possibly their 805 varients if placed on highish stands. Sonus Faber Concerto's from whatever era with their adjustable (preferably) stands are great buys and communicate well.

There're dozens of others that I don't know too well (the Pro-Ac Response 1sc is popular but very wrongly balanced IMO) and I suspect the WD speaker kits are fun as well...

[Rare Bird]

Dave
Do you have one of those Dual 1019 in your Avatar, any cop? Sorry for butting in.

:sofa:

[Spence]

Dave, the speakers were a short term purchase with the intention of moving them on when funds allowed.

As for the Shearne you are correct, i have had this from new and do enjoy the way it makes music. I borrowed the Exposure amp to see how a new £700.00 integrated would perform but was a little surprised to find my 16 year old amp simply made better music, to my ears anyway.

This has left me wondering just how much money needs to be spent to gain significant improvements.

I am beginning to think a speaker upgrade is maybe the way to go.

[Butuz]

So. You love the amp, and you bought the speakers fully intending to move them on quickly. The answer seems obvious to me - go through with your plan of moving the speakers on :)

Butuz

[DSJR]

The Croft 25/Series 7 at £1400 would be the first stop re amp upgrades (cripes, I'm as zealous on Crofty as others are on Naim, and AVI actives.......)..

Andre, I don't have one of these right now and have no space for more, but I know the deck very well and it's lovely, with the slick controls a joy to operate. I had a 1229 for many years and that's even better, with a really decent arm and idler drive. These latter decks need attention now as the rubber arm mounts (the height was adjustable in two modes) go and the infamous "steurpimpel" on the cueing device crumbles as it did on my 701 (easily bodged though :)).

[Spence]

So. You love the amp, and you bought the speakers fully intending to move them on quickly. The answer seems obvious to me - go through with your plan of moving the speakers on :)

Butuz

Is the correct answer I think, I shall start thinking speakers.

[Steve Toy]

The front end is very good in the B400XS. What is it sitting on?

[Spence]

The front end is very good in the B400XS. What is it sitting on?

I agree Steve, definitely a stayer, saw it second hand so snapped it up.

It sits on an Isoblue stand.

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/584/dscf0483g.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/i/dscf0483g.jpg/)

I think I will go with the advice offered and look at a speaker change at this stage. I am fond of the old Shearne and after listening to a new Exposure feel I may need to spend a fair bit to better it.

Thanks,

Spence..