After 23 years, my first stereo system is slightly starting to wear down (amp stops producing signal to speakers from time to time, speaker foam rings have already been replaced) and I also think it is time for something new, if possible, better than my current setup.
All these years I've been using:
- Sony TA-FE530R amp (110 watts per channel into 4 Ohms, frequency response 7Hz to 70 Khz, damping factor 80)
- JBL Ti-200 speakers (frequency reponse 60Hz - 35 Khz, Sensitivity 88 dB)
- Sony CDP-XE530 CD player (analog + digital output)
- Sony ST-SE520 tuner
- Sanyo TP625 record player (50Hz, 12 Watts, without pre-amp!)
Since my amp and speakers are wearing down and I am not intending to repair them I want a new amp/avr and bookshelf speakers (without subwoofer), however combined with my current CD player, tuner (except when built in the amp) and record player. Listening to Spotify is also a condition and connection to TV (Samsung with HDMI, Ethernet & optical/digital audio out)
Listening room = part of the living room, 13 by 11 feet (8 feet ceiling), relatively damped (rug, furniture, sofa, wooden floor)
I listened to KEF LSX at a friend's, sounded very clear, natural, detailed to me (Maybe obvious, as I probably have listened to "colorized" sound all these years?). However, I went to a listening session at a specialised Audio center and listened to the LS50 Meta's (as I didn't want active speakers) but my attention was caught by the KEF R3's. More detail, more low. Both of these speaker sets were driven by a Hegel H120.
Initially, my budget was € 2000, but I suppose I will come short to combine the KEF R3's with something decent to drive them?
About "something decent": I have read numerous posts and threads on this beautiful forum, ranging from AVR, integrated amps, DIY (Hypex?) amps, also a very broad price range. As an absolute audiophile amateur (I love music but do not know anything about specs) pairing an amp/AVR with the R3's is a difficult task for me.
I would be glad to get a bit of help on pairing the KEF R3 speakers. When you suggest something, please keep in mind in what "quality range" my current setup is (I suppose budget range, or rather basic?), so I suppose that everything will be better than my current setup (?) so I'm more looking for something on my budget (2600€ or less) and something that can meet my requirements (connect to no pre-amp phone, CD player, (built-in) tuner, spotify) than expensive high end audio.
I also went to a classic Audio/Video retail store and the salesman advised me to buy something like Marantz PM7000N, Yamaha RN303 because it would be enough to drive a midrange-priced speaker. The seller from the specialised audio center where I listened to the KEFs however said, that I shouldn't buy these rather mid-range amplifiers for the R3's but stick to Hegel H95 (or if any, Arcam SA20 with phono stage!). I would like to get some clarity on this... (as the Hegel is out of my price range and doesn't have a phono)
So, in short: would the Arcam SA20 be an option or are there other/better alternatives that could pair the KEF R3's?
Thank you!
PS: Sorry if I did not include all the necessary info as this is my first post on this forum!
All these years I've been using:
- Sony TA-FE530R amp (110 watts per channel into 4 Ohms, frequency response 7Hz to 70 Khz, damping factor 80)
- JBL Ti-200 speakers (frequency reponse 60Hz - 35 Khz, Sensitivity 88 dB)
- Sony CDP-XE530 CD player (analog + digital output)
- Sony ST-SE520 tuner
- Sanyo TP625 record player (50Hz, 12 Watts, without pre-amp!)
Since my amp and speakers are wearing down and I am not intending to repair them I want a new amp/avr and bookshelf speakers (without subwoofer), however combined with my current CD player, tuner (except when built in the amp) and record player. Listening to Spotify is also a condition and connection to TV (Samsung with HDMI, Ethernet & optical/digital audio out)
Listening room = part of the living room, 13 by 11 feet (8 feet ceiling), relatively damped (rug, furniture, sofa, wooden floor)
I listened to KEF LSX at a friend's, sounded very clear, natural, detailed to me (Maybe obvious, as I probably have listened to "colorized" sound all these years?). However, I went to a listening session at a specialised Audio center and listened to the LS50 Meta's (as I didn't want active speakers) but my attention was caught by the KEF R3's. More detail, more low. Both of these speaker sets were driven by a Hegel H120.
Initially, my budget was € 2000, but I suppose I will come short to combine the KEF R3's with something decent to drive them?
About "something decent": I have read numerous posts and threads on this beautiful forum, ranging from AVR, integrated amps, DIY (Hypex?) amps, also a very broad price range. As an absolute audiophile amateur (I love music but do not know anything about specs) pairing an amp/AVR with the R3's is a difficult task for me.
I would be glad to get a bit of help on pairing the KEF R3 speakers. When you suggest something, please keep in mind in what "quality range" my current setup is (I suppose budget range, or rather basic?), so I suppose that everything will be better than my current setup (?) so I'm more looking for something on my budget (2600€ or less) and something that can meet my requirements (connect to no pre-amp phone, CD player, (built-in) tuner, spotify) than expensive high end audio.
I also went to a classic Audio/Video retail store and the salesman advised me to buy something like Marantz PM7000N, Yamaha RN303 because it would be enough to drive a midrange-priced speaker. The seller from the specialised audio center where I listened to the KEFs however said, that I shouldn't buy these rather mid-range amplifiers for the R3's but stick to Hegel H95 (or if any, Arcam SA20 with phono stage!). I would like to get some clarity on this... (as the Hegel is out of my price range and doesn't have a phono)
So, in short: would the Arcam SA20 be an option or are there other/better alternatives that could pair the KEF R3's?
Thank you!
PS: Sorry if I did not include all the necessary info as this is my first post on this forum!