A good and possibly High-End amplifier.

Harry · February 29, 2008, 04:59:26 AM

Since I will replace my Nakamichi RE 1, with a better piece, I invite some suggestion were I might go. Suggestion based on hearing and not only on price are appreciated.
The price limit is 1500,- euro's, since it is performing in my secondary system.

longears · February 29, 2008, 05:15:12 AM

Harry, what are your requirements? I presume you're seeking an integrated. Phono section? If so, MM or MC?
Output power (or efficiency of speakers it will drive)? Off the top of my head I'd say you should probably at least audition the Creek 5350.

Harry · February 29, 2008, 05:15:26 AM

The present set-up is the RE 1, Meridian G08 cd player, Tannoy speakers Saturn S6L CR., Nordost Red Dawn cabling and interlinks.
Only used for classical music, and will need no high volumes.

Harry · February 29, 2008, 05:17:13 AM

Quote from: longears on February 29, 2008, 05:15:12 AM
Harry, what are your requirements? I presume you're seeking an integrated. Phono section? If so, MM or MC?
Output power (or efficiency of speakers it will drive)? Off the top of my head I'd say you should probably at least audition the Creek 5350.

Yes, integrated, no Phono.
50 watts will drive the speakers.
I will see if I can find the brand in Holland.
Thanks.

Harry · February 29, 2008, 05:25:41 AM

Looks good Longears.
Have experience with listening?

E d o · February 29, 2008, 11:15:34 AM

I'm partial to Naim Audio. Their SuperNait might be good for you. Creek is decent too although not quite in the same class.

Harry · February 29, 2008, 01:10:51 PM

Quote from: E d o on February 29, 2008, 11:15:34 AM
I'm partial to Naim Audio. Their SuperNait might be good for you. Creek is decent too although not quite in the same class.

Prices, links, etc....?

Daverz · February 29, 2008, 03:14:58 PM

I'm a big Bryston fan. Very no-nonsense gear. They have a 20-year warranty. Not sure about the availability of their stuff in your area.

http://bryston.ca/ampsel.html
http://bryston.ca/intsel.html

andy · February 29, 2008, 03:47:41 PM

I have a Portal Panache and love it. It's a great integrated for the price, which is USD 1800, which is about 1,200 Euros at the current exchange rate. I tried out many integrated amps before buying this one, and the Panache exceeded everything I tried for under $2000.

http://www.portalaudio.com/panache.html

Not sure if you'd use it, but its headphone amp is great as well... sounds better than my previous $400 dedicated headphone amp.

Harry · February 29, 2008, 11:43:22 PM

Quote from: Daverz on February 29, 2008, 03:14:58 PM
I'm a big Bryston fan. Very no-nonsense gear. They have a 20-year warranty. Not sure about the availability of their stuff in your area.

http://bryston.ca/ampsel.html
http://bryston.ca/intsel.html

Yes Daverz, there is a dealer, and I am going to check it out.
Do you have it yourself, and if, could you describe the sound, and other things you think are strong points of these Amplifiers?

Harry · February 29, 2008, 11:46:25 PM

Quote from: andy on February 29, 2008, 03:47:41 PM
I have a Portal Panache and love it. It's a great integrated for the price, which is USD 1800, which is about 1,200 Euros at the current exchange rate. I tried out many integrated amps before buying this one, and the Panache exceeded everything I tried for under $2000.

http://www.portalaudio.com/panache.html

Not sure if you'd use it, but its headphone amp is great as well... sounds better than my previous $400 dedicated headphone amp.

Looks good Andy, but no dealer in the Netherlands, alas.

Topaz · March 01, 2008, 12:46:53 AM

CYRUS

The Cyrus 8vs is "What Hi-Fi?" Amplifier of the Year for 2007 in the £750-1500 bracket. I bought it, together with the matching PSX power supply, about 18 months ago, before it won the accolade.

The choice of this amplifier choice was based on reviewing several others at a leading UK retailer's demo room. I bought both items together and the total price was £1500, but the Cyrus 8vs is an integrated amp and thus works on its own. I didn't actually notice a vast difference in the shop's demo room with and without the PSX, but it didn't take long once I got it home and "warmed up" to appreciate the advantage of the PSX in combination with the amp. Moreover, it's kit that's built to last and has an extremely high quality feel about it. You still see earlier versions of this product, eg the Cyrus 1 and Cyrus 2 which were made some 20 years ago, being sold on E Bay.

Daverz · March 01, 2008, 12:49:12 AM

Quote from: Harry on February 29, 2008, 11:43:22 PM
Yes Daverz, there is a dealer, and I am going to check it out.
Do you have it yourself, and if, could you describe the sound, and other things you think are strong points of these Amplifiers?

I have a B-60 integrated with the MM phono section, which I used to drive Dunlavy SC-IIIs. I don't think an amp should really have a sound, but if pressed to give a subjective impression I guess I would say it is warm and vibrant sounding. According to Bryston, it shouldn't be used with speakers that present a load much below 4 Ohms.

Harry · March 01, 2008, 12:51:23 AM

Yes this Cyrus is a serious option indeed. Friends of mine have the 1 or two at home, for what seems to be a eternity now.
So I will put this in serious consideration.
Could you try to describe the sound as you hear it.
What are the characteristics of the 8vs Topaz?

Harry · March 01, 2008, 12:53:48 AM

Quote from: Daverz on March 01, 2008, 12:49:12 AM
I have a B-60 integrated with the MM phono section, which I used to drive Dunlavy SC-IIIs. I don't think an amp should really have a sound, but if pressed to give a subjective impression I guess I would say it is warm and vibrant sounding. According to Bryston, it shouldn't be used with speakers that present a load much below 4 Ohms.

Well thats not a problem for my Tannoys Saturns.
Warm you say, right. I allready spoke with the dealer, and will call me next week back, to come with some amplifiers, and let me try.

Topaz · March 01, 2008, 01:26:56 AM

Quote from: Harry on March 01, 2008, 12:51:23 AM
Yes this Cyrus is a serious option indeed. Friends of mine have the 1 or two at home, for what seems to be a eternity now.
So I will put this in serious consideration.
Could you try to describe the sound as you hear it.
What are the characteristics of the 8vs Topaz?

Regarding the 8vs, I'd say that it is highly suitable for classical music, which is my main interest( 99%). It has a very detailed sound with fast pacing, good mid-range and accurate bass.

My full system is;

•   Cyrus 8vs/PSX-R amplifier
•   Arcam Diva CD 192 CD player
•   Spendor S5e floorstanding speakers
•   Cyrus interconnect; Cyrus speaker cable.

However, I'm in the process of moving over completely to a PC based system, rather than using my CD player. The PC is far more convenient in accessing material for comparison and for generally playing about. I find CD's ripped at 320 kbps MP3 to be OK although for some material there's an advantage in using WMA lossless. I use a Creative Labs X-fi "Extreme Music" sound card in a Packard Bell Quad Core PC. The interconnects between sound card and Amp are "Chord Company" i-chords for both play and record. I do quite a bit of recording using a Denon Tuner, mainly the BBC's Radio 3 DAB broadcasts at 192 kbps.

Incidentally, I have several other amplifiers: a Cyrus 2/PSX; a NAD 352; Cambridge Azur 640 Mk II. Of these, the Cyrus 2/PSX purchased in 1989 sounds far better than either of the other two. It's a laugh isn't it, but it's true. I recently got in touch with the Cyrus factory in Huntingdon to inquire about a new headphone socket for the Cyrus 2. They duly supplied me with one at a cost of £4.69, including p&p. The staff were very helpful. How about that, for a piece of kit nearly 20 years old?

Harry · March 01, 2008, 02:30:58 AM

Quote from: Topaz on March 01, 2008, 01:26:56 AM
Regarding the 8vs, I'd say that it is highly suitable for classical music, which is my main interest( 99%). It has a very detailed sound with fast pacing, good mid-range and accurate bass.

My full system is;

•   Cyrus 8vs/PSX-R amplifier
•   Arcam Diva CD 192 CD player
•   Spendor S5e floorstanding speakers
•   Cyrus interconnect; Cyrus speaker cable.

However, I'm in the process of moving over completely to a PC based system, rather than using my CD player. The PC is far more convenient in accessing material for comparison and for generally playing about. I find CD's ripped at 320 kbps MP3 to be OK although for some material there's an advantage in using WMA lossless. I use a Creative Labs X-fi "Extreme Music" sound card in a Packard Bell Quad Core PC. The interconnects between sound card and Amp are "Chord Company" i-chords for both play and record. I do quite a bit of recording using a Denon Tuner, mainly the BBC's Radio 3 DAB broadcasts at 192 kbps.

Incidentally, I have several other amplifiers: a Cyrus 2/PSX; a NAD 352; Cambridge Azur 640 Mk II. Of these, the Cyrus 2/PSX purchased in 1989 sounds far better than either of the other two. It's a laugh isn't it, but it's true. I recently got in touch with the Cyrus factory in Huntingdon to inquire about a new headphone socket for the Cyrus 2. They duly supplied me with one at a cost of £4.69, including p&p. The staff were very helpful. How about that, for a piece of kit nearly 20 years old?

The Arcam Diva I heard a while ago, good, but a tad warm to my taste, I like clean sound, like the Meridian G08 I have now.
The Spendor's are very good.
The Cyrus interconnects or speaker cable is unknown to me.
I use NordOst Red Dawn at the moment.
So a second hand Cyrus 2 would also be a good option huh?
And the service is indeed, perfect, but I had the same thing with Musical Fidelity and Quad when using their equipment.
Typical British?

71 dB · March 01, 2008, 02:56:12 AM

Sorry Harry, I won't suggest anything. Why? Because in the end you will buy what you really want instead of what is recommended to you. I don't know what you want. Trust yourself and buy what you want, you don't need our acceptance for your purchase.

Since we all have different tastes, recommendations are almost worthless. Nobody has ever recommended the music of Tangerine Dream to me and now that I have found their music I wish someone had done that years ago... ...instead I have been recommended all kinds of music that has left me cold. I have also seen how pointless promoting Elgar is. I won't recommend his (or anyone else's) music anymore to anyone. We must find our favorites yourself. We just can't predict how other people will react to music (or other things) we enjoy.

Harry · March 01, 2008, 03:26:39 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on March 01, 2008, 02:56:12 AM
Sorry Harry, I won't suggest anything. Why? Because in the end you will buy what you really want instead of what is recommended to you. I don't know what you want. Trust yourself and buy what you want, you don't need our acceptance for your purchase.

Since we all have different tastes, recommendations are almost worthless. Nobody has ever recommended the music of Tangerine Dream to me and now that I have found their music I wish someone had done that years ago... ...instead I have been recommended all kinds of music that has left me cold. I have also seen how pointless promoting Elgar is. I won't recommend his (or anyone else's) music anymore to anyone. We must find our favorites yourself. We just can't predict how other people will react to music (or other things) we enjoy.

I understand what you are saying and meaning Poju, but I slightly differ with what you are saying. Of course I know what I want, but in this middle of the road equipment world my knowledge is limited, and therefore this info coming from the posters is very useful.
I was not aware of the excellent Creek amplifiers, and forgot completely about the Cyrus. Bryston looks good to, and these I will try first. The Creek will be delivered in two weeks, also to try, and with Cyrus I have to see, if I can find a second hand two model. Naim is not really my thing, and certainly from what I heard, not my sound in classical music. Little enough of them brands are neutral in their sound. A second hand Musical Fidelity 308, is also a option.
So, yes these recommendations are very useful, but I see your point too.

Topaz · March 01, 2008, 03:30:34 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on March 01, 2008, 02:56:12 AM
Sorry Harry, I won't suggest anything. Why? Because in the end you will buy what you really want instead of what is recommended to you. I don't know what you want. Trust yourself and buy what you want, you don't need our acceptance for your purchase.

Since we all have different tastes, recommendations are almost worthless. Nobody has ever recommended the music of Tangerine Dream to me and now that I have found their music I wish someone had done that years ago... ...instead I have been recommended all kinds of music that has left me cold. I have also seen how pointless promoting Elgar is. I won't recommend his (or anyone else's) music anymore to anyone. We must find our favorites yourself. We just can't predict how other people will react to music (or other things) we enjoy.

A few good points here. However, I think that Harry clearly knows a lot about hi-fi and is only looking for a few ideas that may be useful in supplementing his own. I can see that the Cyrus 8vs was probably already on his short list, as well it should be given the highly favourable reviews it's had.

I too like Tangerine Dream. I used to listen to electronica a lot more than I do now. This site (with due respect to the management and other members) is not the best for non-classical. I used to like DDD for that. It also used to have a very good classical section at one time but it's fallen by the wayside over the past year or so. I think that the problem may be that at DDD one has to register to find out what's going on in there.