FOAK: High fidelity advice, please

My much loved and well used QUAD tuner/amp is finally dropping off its
perch. Cost me a grand back in 1981, so I think I've had me money's worth.
Being somewhat out of date on this stuff of late, too tight to buy a mag,
and anyhow, they have too much damn choice....

Anyone got any thoughts on a decent DAB and FM tuner/amp combo? I don't need
home cinema or owt, the Sony TV and associated gubbins does all that. Needs
to drive a still excellent pair of Acoustic Research 100W speakers.

Eye thank ewe.

Ali

 

Personally, I'd avoid combined tuner / amps and certainly wouldn't buy a
DAB hi-fi separate. DAB is fine for portable applications but the
bitrates are far too low to be considered a source for decent hi-fi.
Much better is to get a Freeview box for digital radio as the bitrates
are higher.

Depending on budgets, I'd look at something like the Marantz PM4400 amp
(which is an excellent buy in the lower end of the market - only £120
from Richer Sounds) - if you want to spend a bit more, then the NAD C320
is also a very decent sub £200 amp. Don't know much about higher end
stuff, though, as I've managed to put together a really nice sounding
system from sub-£150 units.

We have an Ariston tuner, that cost about 50 quid, from what I recall,
and I can't fault it. Radio isn't exactly high fidelity as a source, so
I'd not spend major amounts of money on it. If you really want DAB, then
I've read good stuff about the Cambridge Audio combined DAB / FM tuners.

 

I know a man who can fix/upgrade these Quads. Repair or replace? Your call.

JB

 

We've got a Cambridge Audio amplifier that sounds wonderful driving our Kef
speakers when driven by our Cambridge CD player or the a cheap and cheerful
DAB tuner (Matsui DA-1 - currently on eBay). We were looking at adding the
FM tuner / DAB combo too, but emigration has got in the way - the amp and
CD, are however, too good to sell, so we're taking them with us, along with
the KEFs, and will be relying on a transformer to supply the right amount of
mains squigglies.

 

I'd have it repaired. You will not be able to get the same sound
quality from anything current for less than a couple of grand.

If you're set on new kit Ali, you need to look at Cyrus, Arcam or
perhaps Meridian kit. Sadly, none of this is available from Richer
Sounds.

 

Wot the Pixie said. IME the lower-end stuff sounds better than it used
to but there's still a noticeable difference. If you like the way it
sounds, get it fixed.

Sadly? I say. Actually, fleabay can be a decent source for higher-end
kit if you're patient enough. I bought a Creek T40 tuner on fleabay a
few years back and there were a few dealers who were punting high-end
trade-ins. May be worth a look.

 

The Quad amps of that era were not brilliant. That fake 'current dumping' theory
was just a con, a circuit with no bias adjustment to save on build and testing
time. They are still popular and you could get a good price on eBay as they are,
or get them repaired if you like the sound.

I wouldn't buy Marantz ever again. Unreliable crap.
Rotel, however, is great and reasonably priced.

As for radio, a satellite receiver will give more channels of better quality
than FM. A 50 quid DAB radio with a stereo line-out is also better, at least on
Radio 3 at a decent bitrate.

 

I'd have it repaired too.

I love my Cyrus stuff. I'd reckon an 8 integrated amp would give the
Quad a run for Ali's money, *but* it will sound *very* different. Far
more clinical. Of course, there's no tuner.

Having said that, the second hand Cyrus market is very strong and the
upgrade path is great. IME the after sales support is very good as well.

ebay is a good source, most of my stuff came from there, and also the
forums at
http://www.cyrusunofficial.co.uk/
are generally a good source.




--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I'll agree in terms of number of channels, but when it comes to quality,
I beg to differ.

My Harman Kardon TU9400 tuner (admittedly £400 when new) mated to a
half-decent dedicated roof aerial, absolutely wipes the floor with my
sky digibox.

 

Bear was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

I always found them a tad harsh.

 

How much do you want to spend this time and why are you so tight?

 

Haven't really decided on budget - probably similar. And the Hi Fi type mags
just seem to add yet more confusion. Bit like buying "What Car?", which I
did yesterday. Although, I did that more for reassurance, 'cos I knew
roughly what I wanted.

Ali

 

Go find a branch of Sevenoaks Sound and Vision. Phone them up, book an
afternoon and tell em what you want to spend on what.

They (should) will let you sit an listen to as much stuff as you like,
until you find something you like

JD


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Don't forget to allow at least 50% of your budget for interconnects &
speaker wire.

<ducks & runs for cover>

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

You've read my mind, haven't you. Funnily enough, I drove past a branch this
afternoon, and decided that they might be the best bet. OK, I can't try out
with my speakers, but I'd get to listen. Good thinking that man.

Ali

 

Don't start me on that, either. <g> I've a friend with less than perfect
hearing who spent a FORTUNE on gold cable. Hell, I can't hear the
difference, so I'm damn sure he can't.

Ali

 

If we ever want a good laugh in the office we have a read of one.

The last article I read didn't actually contain *too* much airy-fairy
bullshit. It was about a system that had our chip in it, which was why
we were interested.

 

<nods>

 

Why? Take them along. They won't (or shouldn't) mind at all? If they
do, find someone that won't. Plenty of independents will be only too
happy, I just use Sevenoaks as an example cos of what I say below.

but I'd get to listen. Good thinking that man.

BTW where are you? I only ask cos I have a mate that works in a branch
in Sheffield....


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Ah, but you can, my dear. You turn up with your speakers (and your
stands if you're so unfortunate not to use floorstanders) and they
/will/ let you use your speakers. I'd use mine and I'd have a go with
their recommendations too - and the most expensive ones in the shop
just so I could say I had ;-)

If you're considering spending "serious" cash (which in my book would
be four figures) then they /will/ bend to your requeasts ... or they
aren't worth bothering with. Sevenoaks are pretty clueful in a
generic sense and they've always played fair with me. I spent a deal
of time (and a lot of cash) with their Northern partners and there was
a lot of communication and co-operation between the two, with which I
was suitably impressed. My experiences with Sevenoaks have been good.
Their coffee was a bit on the strong side, that's all.