Amplifier Suggestions - KEF R3

[The3dk]

Hi there,

I am new to this forum and back to Hifi.
The last 10 years I used active pioneer speakers but now I got hold of a pair of KEF R3 (not meta).
I am using 2 Technics 1210 MKII and a Pioneer mixer DDJ SX3 (incl. Serato) connected to a Fosi Audio V3 and I am thinking about a subwoofer (KEF KC62).

If I will have the subwoofer, I think I have to change the Fosi Audio V3 to a Stereo or Multichannel Amplifier.

This leads to the following questions:

- What amplifier could be recommended (up to 1.000 EUR and of course below )?
- Does the amplifier need a special subwoofer out? (in the 90s signals were splittet within my woofer)
- Is there an amplifier model with XLR in?

Any hints are more than welcome!

Thank you so much!

Best
M.

 

[diddley]

Cambridge Audio cxa 81 (mk2)

 

[The3dk]

Cambridge Audio cxa 81 (mk2)

I came across this in the shops some days before and looked up the review here, it was not very positive...
I like the XLR!

But maybe the reviewer is setting higher standrads than me

Cambridge CXA81 MKII Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Cambridge CXA81 MKII integrated stereo amplifier with digital inputs (USB, Toslink, Coax) and Bluetooth. It was kindly drop shipped by a member and costs US $1,199. There are no visible changes from the original CXA81 I tested. I *think* the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Conclusions
The story here is one that we can predict across many manufacturers: quite average DAC performance with competent amplifier implement. Here we are at revision 2 and I am disappointed that the company despite reviewing the original testing with me, has made no improvements in any area that I can see, including limitations such as 1.6 volt output. And a somewhat confusing user interface.

Personally I can't recommend the Cambridge CXA81 MKII. You can do better with a stand-alone DAC and amplifier, albeit losing the preamplifier feature in most cases.

 

[kyuu]

Welcome to ASR!

For a budget option, the Wiim Amp Pro is an easy recommendation (unsure of the availability in Europe though). For something more towards the upper end of your budget, the Cambridge recommended above is fine enough although think it's over 1000 Euro? You can always just use the crossover in the sub, in which case you could easily afford an amplifier with a lot more power, such as this Audiophonics. You could also purchase something separate to handle the bass management duties, such as a miniDSP 2x4HD or the like.

 

[pogo]

I would look for a used NAD M10V2 with Dirac Live.

 

[DVDdoug]

I think I have to change the Fosi Audio V3 to a Stereo or Multichannel Amplifier.

You don't have stereo now? That's not related to whether you have a sub or not. If you get a passive sub, of course you'll need an amplifier channel for that.

Does the amplifier need a special subwoofer out? (in the 90s signals were splittet within my woofer)

Some powered subwoofers have a built-in pass-through crossover.

You can also buy an active crossover.

Or a lot of pro amplifiers have built-in DSP which can be used as a crossover filter (example). (A lot of pro amps also have cooling fans that make a little noise and some people don't like that in a home environment.)

Most pro amps have XLR inputs. (I wouldn't consider it "pro" if it didn't).

In "standard" home theater setups the crossover is built into the AVR.

 

[F1Fan72]

Some monoblocks from @Apollon Audio

 

[Elvom]

i run my kef r3 (non meta) with an aiyima a70, it has sub out and XLR, cost about $180, and it just sounds amazing

 

[The3dk]

Welcome to ASR!

For a budget option, the Wiim Amp Pro is an easy recommendation (unsure of the availability in Europe though). For something more towards the upper end of your budget, the Cambridge recommended above is fine enough although think it's over 1000 Euro? You can always just use the crossover in the sub, in which case you could easily afford an amplifier with a lot more power, such as this Audiophonics. You could also purchase something separate to handle the bass management duties, such as a miniDSP 2x4HD or the like.

Thanks! I can see the Cambridge AudioCXA81 for 899 here in Europe. It would fit the budget

 

[V.b.]

Unfortunately, CXA81 is not much of an upgrade.

10w less at 8 ohm

15w less at 4 ohm

Similar SINAD

Unless you really need a feature, there is no need to "upgrade"

Also, R3 go down to 3 ohm as measured by Amir here. Look for performance at 3 ohm or less.

I would get a Wiim Ultra with a Topping PA7 or 3e A7.

 

[sixty2strat]

Yamaha R-N1000A. Room correction feature "YPAO" works surprisingly well and has plenty of inputs/ outputs for a wide range of applications.

 

[obsessive9119]

I think the answer will depend a lot on if you want to add DSP.

If you buy an active sub, you don’t need to change your amp - you can use an RCA splitter from your source to go to both sub and amps.

I don’t know anything about turntables and mixers, but I assume your whole source chain is analog?

 

[mike70]

Any Hypex or Purifi class D amplifier (mono / stereo / multichannel).
Best bang for the buck.

 

[The3dk]

Yamaha R-N1000A. Room correction feature "YPAO" works surprisingly well and has plenty of inputs/ outputs for a wide range of applications.

Thanks for the hint!!! Seems to be very interessting because of the YPAO!

 

[The3dk]

I think the answer will depend a lot on if you want to add DSP.

If you buy an active sub, you don’t need to change your amp - you can use an RCA splitter from your source to go to both sub and amps.

I don’t know anything about turntables and mixers, but I assume your whole source chain is analog?

Thank you! Sources are analog and digital

 

[The3dk]

Any Hypex or Purifi class D amplifier (mono / stereo / multichannel).
Best bang for the buck.

 

[WillBrink]

Yamaha R-N1000A. Room correction feature "YPAO" works surprisingly well and has plenty of inputs/ outputs for a wide range of applications.

More I read about that unit the more interested I get.

 

[The3dk]

More I read about that unit the more interested I get.

I bought one I did some research beforehand. The 800 model is pretty much the same. The only difference is that there is no HDMI. As I am using it for stereo- / audio-setup, not for TV it saved me quite some Euros

 

[WillBrink]

I bought one I did some research beforehand. The 800 model is pretty much the same. The only difference is that there is no HDMI. As I am using it for stereo- / audio-setup, not for TV it saved me quite some Euros

I was amazed to find the R-N1000A has only one sub out. That seems a major oversight by them.

 

[Talisman]

For those who want to integrate a subwoofer at its best I will always recommend an AVR, a Denon like the 3800 has an impressive feature set, the ability to handle up to 4 subs and room correction, and will probably sound to your ears exactly like a more expensive amplifier that doesn't have the impressive set of features of an AVR.