In article , Signal
writes
tony sayer wrote:

I am very out of touch with the current market offerings for budget
stereo amplifiers and i wonder if anyone can advise me.

I currently use a Cambridge audio 640A but am not very impressed with
it. The buttons are wearing out (not always responding when pressed)
and one channel has died (producing very loud white noise
continuously).

The system is in my office. It is a small room and the speakers (KEF
Concertos from 1970) are about 4 feet from my ears so that I have the
volume very low usually. I mostly listen to Radio-3 on DAB. I'd
prefer to use FM but I am not allowed to put up a good aerial here. I
also listen to CDs.

I do not need a remote control.
25 Watts would be enough.
I do not need a preamp for a turntable.
I need tone controls.
I would like to spend up to about £200

The Marantz MM4400 seems to be a possibility at £99 (Richer Sounds).
Any comments on that?

thank you for any suggestions,

Robert

Get a Rotel Ra-04 £249. You can't go wrong. Excellent build,sound and
reliable.
Borosteve.


Or pick up a second hand Audiolab A8000 on e bay and have some class)

You mean 8000A -

Err yes

cracking amp, owned one for 10 years. Many have said
the pre-amp lacks transparency, but it sounded great to me.

Sounds fine the one I have with the ESL63's..

However, a
used 8000A is going to be old now.


And so what do you think is going to have deteriorated?, or they've
bettered since it was designed?..

The 8000S, sans tone controls, is
the "legendary" Audiolab integrated, of course.





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S i g n a l @ l i n e o n e . n e t

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Tony Sayer