Looking for amp with Technics SL-1500c and KEF R3

[BernddasBrot]

Hi all

(new forum member here )

I would like to ask for suggestions and opinions for a nice amplifier to put inbetween a Technics SL-1500c record player and a pair of KEF R3 (non meta) speakers.

That amp would replace a Cambridge Audio AXA35. To be honest, I cannot point to what I miss from the AXA35. It is a fine amp. Maybe it's just GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).

I am listening to vinyl only. think I always will stay with MM heads. Maybe I will experiment with phono pre-amps in future. However, I would like to have a line input on the amp, for REW room measurements. Listening room is small, about 12 square meters. I listen room volume only. Mainly rock music, in all flavors. I don't like/need deep bass.

I am looking for a simple high-quality no-frills amp, in terms of features. Less is more. Fully analog. No display needed. Budget up to 2.000€ new. I do like the concept of the Exposure 2510, being just an power amp with at passive source select and volume control. I also like how it looks, admittedly

What would be your recommendation for my use case?

I am in Germany, in case that is relevant.

Thank you very much.

 

[dagfinn]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum! Since there's nothing you want to improve, stay with the Cambridge. The Exposure 2510 brings nothing but looks. Also it's an integrated amp, not a pure poweramp. It has a preamp stage, phono stage, line stage asf.

If you want something more flexible which may improve your vinyl sound, a separate phono stage is the way to go. I'd say for instance the Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B is even better than @amirm reveals, it will shine brighter when you connect an actual cartridge and turntable to it , see https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/pro-ject-phono-box-ds3-b-review.51792/. It gives you load options, so your carts sounds the best. Also you get adjustable gain for MM, useful for lower output carts. You get balanced in, which can be an advantage regarding noise, both from many (not all) MMs and MCs. (Some will say only MC, but that's wrong and can be measured.) Wood panels sold separate, I might get some .

You want fully analog, but want to use REW. REW you run from your PC, if only measuring is what you need. The amp is not involved. If you want amp with room correction, Wiim Amp Pro could be one good way to go, according to users and measurements. Not analog anymore, but that's the price of room correction. No built in phono stage, but once you go external, the internal will never be used again.

But I'd start with the phono stage, try it with the Cambridge. It will produce audible differences from your vinyl . I guess for the money left over, I'd add another cart to the collection .

 

[antcollinet]

Hi all

(new forum member here )

I would like to ask for suggestions and opinions for a nice amplifier to put inbetween a Technics SL-1500c record player and a pair of KEF R3 (non meta) speakers.

That amp would replace a Cambridge Audio AXA35. To be honest, I cannot point to what I miss from the AXA35. It is a fine amp. Maybe it's just GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).

I am listening to vinyl only. think I always will stay with MM heads. Maybe I will experiment with phono pre-amps in future. However, I would like to have a line input on the amp, for REW room measurements. Listening room is small, about 12 square meters. I listen room volume only. Mainly rock music, in all flavors. I don't like/need deep bass.

I am looking for a simple high-quality no-frills amp, in terms of features. Less is more. Fully analog. No display needed. Budget up to 2.000€ new. I do like the concept of the Exposure 2510, being just an power amp with at passive source select and volume control. I also like how it looks, admittedly

What would be your recommendation for my use case?

I am in Germany, in case that is relevant.

Thank you very much.

Unless you are hitting the power limits of the AXA and clipping, and you clearly are not if you are happy with the sound, then no other amp will bring you any audible benefits.

If you just want to spend 2000 notes just for looks, that is up to you, but I wouldn't.

There are better ways to improve your audio much more effectively and lower cost - implementing DSP room equalisation would be the first place to start.

 

[drodgers]

I have that exact setup (Technics SL-1500c and KEF R3 - metas in my case) and was very happy with a CXA81 until I upgraded to a pair of Fosi Mono V3s (for easier Home Theatre integration). Both sound the same in terms of frequency response, colour etc. but the Fosis obviously have power to spare and the auto-on sensing is lovely.

In terms of improving the sound, I got a lot of benefit from adding a MiniDSP DDRC24 and doing good room correction. If you're keen to keep it all analog for some reason, then I can recommend the Schiit Loki Max. It's no substitute for room correcting DSP in the low end, but it's awesome for tweaking the colour of the sound to your preference, correcting recordings, dialling down the very low bass late at night etc. I've only had it in my system for a week, but it's really great so far!

Another one to consider is a subwoofer + good amplifier/preamplifier integration if you don't have one. It can really fill out the bass, even on the R3s. SVS pro models are a great choice because their built in PEQ can do about 70% of the necessary room correction without any other external box, even in an otherwise fully analog system.