SOS! Suddenly have a high-end turntable, need to upgrade Amp + Speakers

You don't mention what, if anything, you're using now in terms of amplifier or speakers, but assuming you do have something in place I'd agree with those that suggest you upgrade the phono preamp before worrying about amplifier or speaker upgrades.  Your Luxman turntable is far above the Alva Duo phono preamp, so that you're not going to get the performance out of it that it's capable of.  There are many good phono preamps in the $1000 - $1500 range that would be a much more suitable match for the Luxman.

Much of the advice here is good. The Rega Brio and Arcam FMJ A38 for sale now on Agon for under $700 would both be excellent choices. The Arcam with 100/140 watts into 8/4 ohms respectively has a performance envelope that could drive a wide array of bookshelf speakers.

On the speaker side, the Revel Perfoma’s, Vienna Acoustics Haydens, a couple pairs of Sonus Fabers and Totem Model 1’s for near or below $800 on Agon now all look good to me. For new speakers, I agree with @soix you cannot go wrong with Wharfedale or Elac bookshelf speakers.

The Arcam FMJ A38 combined with the Totem Model 1 speakers would I think be wonderful eith your new analog front end, but as others havd noted the Cambridge phono pre will be the weak point.

Here is some out of the box thinking - NAD C316BEE V2 integrated (new), Vandersteen Model 1 (on ebay) and a Schitt Mani 2 phono pre. You could get all this for around a grand and it would sound cracking with your front end.  I realize the Vandersteen Model 1’s are small floor standers, but I have heard this combination and its sounds way better than it has a right to for this amount of money.

@analoguefan thank you!

@grislybutter

Thanks for sharing this great link!

If you are in Switzerland I have a great, warm sounding Rega Brio for sale. Made for vinyl.

Handy? Near Rhode Island?

3 Way, Horns, 12" Woofer, extremely efficient

These would be a great sounding pair in the right space 

Electrovoice Aristocrat III Speakers, asking $499. Rhode Island

With beloved level controls for the mid and tweet horns!

Take a look at CSS Kit speakers. I have the Criton 1TDX and they are incredible. 
find a nice used integrated amp and you’ll have an incredible system 

your budget, something enjoyable until you save more money and get lucky with a great speaker find. IOW, you will upgrade, so get listening pronto, the speakers the most important, let features help you choose electronics.

USED yes, and LOCAL. you need to find something you can drive to pick up, either go there, listen 1st, or meet seller half-way.

where do you live?

One thought is to search for ’stereo system’, find one with speakers you want to use for a while, the electronics more than likely pretty good, easy to sell/trade/change separately later,

suppose you lived in Canada, I’d be borrowing a truck in case those Polk speakers sound good, get the R2R ......

Complete System, Canada, $1,300 USD.

Of course look for only speakers, only integrated separates, vintage receiver: it’s just that sometimes people selling complete systems are in a hurry, don’t know what they have, need money ...... you might get lucky

.............................

Near these KEFs in the UK?

KEFs with Pioneer Receiver in UK, $950. USD

I'll third the Schiit stuff. Very good quality at reasonable prices and since they sell direct, you get something that would cost $900-$1200 through a dealer for $500.

Someone mentioned Darlington - never heard of them before but from their website alone look very interesting and reasonably priced.

Yes - A Schiit Raggie integrated along with a pair of Triangle Borea on USAM should set you up just fine. Save and upgrade the phono stage later.

Schiit isn’t a bad suggestion for everything. I have not heard their pre&amp but I did have the Skoll phono in my system for a while and it is surprisingly good for $400 and you can try Schiit at home for 2 weeks and return for a 5% restocking fee.

Looks like there are some Schiit deals on USAM

don’t be turned off by comments that state that you can’t buy much for $1500. You can buy a used integrated amp for $600 on usaudiomart (Rotel, NAD, CA, Musical Fidelity, Peachtree, Yamaha, Audiolab...) and if you are patient, you could also find decent speakers online. The sound of the speakers vary so much, and they are so personal - what you would enjoy the most, that I would stay away from naming brands. Figure out the basics first: size, format, number of drivers, need for bass, sensitivity that goes with the integrated (yes, start with the amp, you won’t regret it)

Amir at ASR listens to less than 50% of the products he reviews. Not a viable site for information in my mind.

Another member mentioned balanced inputs and outputs. This is only a true advantage if the components are truly balanced which many are not.

I remain unimpressed with most class D amps.

I will make a very "unbalanced" suggestion that in the end might shock you in performance.

The Fosi amp mentioned in another thread is a steal. You can even upgrade the power supply if your speakers need more power.

If you go with this approach you will have almost all of your budget to devote to speakers.

Speakers are hard to suggest as I do not know your preferences but one kit that would be guaranteed to please would be the Dayton Solstice designed by the late Jeff Bagby.

I thinks that combo would be hard to beat! Also, the Fosi enjoys 4 ohm loads so the match of these two pieces should be very good indeed.

Speaker options you may consider...

Erin's #1 choice on this list are the  Kali Audio IN-8 v2, which are powered monitors so they would be eliminate the need for an amp - could be a great option for you - as long as you have your phono preamp in place.

Fun stuff- happy hunting!

Since you don't need a phono stage, a used Cambridge Audio CXA 61 or CXA 81 amp. For speakers, a used set of Monitor Audio Silver 50's or 100's. The MA Silver 100's have 8" bass drivers and may negate the need for a sub, in a small listening space. I have a pair of Revel Concerta2 M-16's which used would be in your price range. They are a good match with the Cambridge amp, but may be a bit shy of low frequencies, without a sub.

Fischer & Fischer SN 70's speakers for the win. 

Post 1 I think. Long time reader here; learned lots. With those funds, noting the Rega Brio amp is on sale right now; and the Klipsch 600M 2 speakers are probably on sale; and the Schiit Mani pre-amp is just a low price... you might be able to get all those new. Or used. I suggest that those combined with your equipment would be solid.

Ohh and the ASR boys love to push the Topping and other Chinese amps and such. As you said real people don’t seem to have the same opinion. Plus I see they are not very reliable from the reviews. I wouldn’t fall for that s..t if I was you. 

What type of music do you like? What kind of presentation are you looking for? 1st row, 10th row, back row? 
 

$1500 is not a lot for integrated and speakers. I would take my time and pick smart. Used Focal monitors as said above is a good bet. Yet again depending on your musical tastes. 

Your budget is fairly tight, but here is what I would do. Sell the cheap phono stage. Get a used integrated amplifier with built in phono stage, something like Rogue Sphinx for maybe $800-1000. Then look for used stand-mount monitors for $700 or less. Focal makes some good ones, but there are many choices in this price range for used speakers.  When you have a bit more cash, add a subwoofer and you’ll be good to go. 

Get rid of the Cambridge Duo and get a Darlington Labs.

I had a Duo and it's average at best.

I don’t have any suggestions on amp and speakers but you’ve got a very nice TT and Cart, and an entry level phono stage with limited gain options for a LOMC (although 60dB should be OK with the Hana).

So in the future if budget allows, consider upgrading your PS. The GoldNote PS-10 ($2K new) is very good for the money (many say tough to beat even at double the money) and you can add a separate linear power supply later ($1K new) so there is a nice 2 step path.

You might consider an amp with balanced inputs and then take advantage of the balanced XLR outputs of the GoldNote which I highly recommend over RCA.

Good luck and congrats on scoring a great analogue front end.

There is a substantial amount of performance to be found if an individual can find the idea of not buying Branded Products as a Turn Key Item.

The BOM for such Branded products constrained by their marketing pricing, can leave the bulk of the models quite limited in how they produce music at a Particular price point.

Your own budget is tight and will catapult you into this area of product when investigating options for both New off the shelf products and won’t get you much further from these product types as a used purchase being investigated.

When on a tight budget and if willing to buy assembled equipment supplied as a Kit built by competent individuals ( Caveat Emptor), or alternatively by investigating the cost of assembly from a competent builder and purchase the kit, the VFM on offer from this route used for purchasing and achieving a end product can prove to be substantial.

My experiences have shown a very competent EE has supplied a built Modulus 86 for between $400 - $550. I know from experiences had of the 86 Model in comparison demo’s it holds it own against Amp’s up to $8K in value.

The Bigger Brother Amp’ the 686 I have heard in comparisons it hold its own alongside Amp’s close to $50K in value.

The Kit Speaker Brand I have added is one I am not familiar with, but again am Familiar with certain models of Kit Speakers and have no doubts of the Capability.

A proper thought out Kit Design will usually need to be compared to Branded Models costing close to 6 -10 x the Kits Value, to get to the place where a parity in performance is recognisable.

I would like to think a Speaker Build to suit your space and Power Needs are able to found assembled from the CSS Kit range for between $500 - $1000

For approx' $1500 there will be Two Components brought to the System, that would need approx' $10K spent to find Branded Turn Key items to compete similar to them.   

Something like a Bel Canto integrated, NuPrime IDA-8, or Rega Brio combined with some Wharfedale or ELAC monitors would be good, solid choices.  Best of luck.

for speakers: 

@roxy54 All the things I got are pre-owned except the cartridge, so I don't mind buying used components at all and in fact would prefer it if it means I can get better quality than what retails for new at that price

With that budget it would be best to buy speakers and amp that was previously owned to get the most for your dollar.