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


Hey everyone!

Ran into some luck recently and was able to score the following for MUCH lower than it would have gone for usually:

  • Turntable: Luxman PD-151 Mark II

  • Cartridge: Hana ML (MC-LO) Cartridge

  • Phono Pre-Amp: Cambridge Alva Duo

I need help figuring out which Passive Bookshelf Speakers and Amplifier would work best with the rest of my system! My budget is maximum $1000-$1500 give or take. What Amplifier + Speaker combo works best with my system without undermining the rest of the components?

The room the setup is in is a rectangular sitting area however it's open to the rest of the house. I wish I could go to a dealer and do listening tests but unfortunately, we don't have any in my country.

P.S: I saw the reviews on the Topping Amps over at ASR and they seemed extraordinary at first only to check reddit and find that people are kind of conflicted by those amps. What do you guys think?

rainizzm

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.

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.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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

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

 

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.