[Closed] Retro HIFI-ists - what CD player / amp combo's are you running?

Have you tried an external DAC?

I have a CA Dac Magic and a Topping D30. The Topping was about £80 when I got it a couple of years ago and you can tell difference.

Topping D30 £90

Never thought of myself as retro! Early 80's (retro) Duel amp with Rega CD player using B&W bookshelf speakers. Happy with that.

Nad 312 i bought new in the 90s
Marantz CD63-SE
Gale 2i speakers on the wall

I like the sound so no plan to change really...

Dunno if it counts, but I'm listening to a Rotel RCD 965bx and pioneer a300x. '92 I think.

In traditional STW fashion I'll recommend what I've got....
No CD player - a Raspberry Pi with external DAC (not so retro), Quad 405 amp (pretty retro) and some 1980's Snell speakers (pretty retro). It all sounds good.

I think that the speakers being suitable for the room is by far the most important thing - get that right and the rest is straightforward, assuming a good quality amp.

Just my 2p worth of course.

I've got a Technics PG490 CD player which cost a £100 about 20 years ago. A few years later I decided to upgrade to a NAD 521(??) which cost £200. Couldn't tell the difference and the NAD packed up after a couple of years.

Arcam Delta 60 amp and Delta 90.2 CD player. Have to turn the volume up and down on the amp a few times when using it before both channels kick in (dunno why, maybe someone can help with that) but otherwise works ok and the sound is still pretty damn good.

NAD 621cd
Musical Fidelity A1 as power & Pre amp and 2 x monoblocks running Dali Royal Menuet 2's - Bi amped.

Derek - yes, they can. The source is the most important piece of equipment.

As stated above room acoustics make a huge difference.

As do power supplies.

Best ever hifi I heard was a record player though.

Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista M3 amp and Linn Ikemi CD (although mostly stream Tidal via Linn Akurate DS)

Linn Klassik integrated amp/tuner/CD - lovely sound and even better with my Rega Planar playing through it

Mix of old and new here:

Rega Planar 3 turntable and Mordant Short speakers. Must be 30 years old at least.

Demon TU260 tuner and Technics 490 CD player, probably 12 years old.

New Onkyo A9110 amp as my old Creek amp gave up the ghost recently.

Arcam Bluetooth dongle to connect my phone to the amp - new.

Awesome sound all round in my opinion. First upgrade when I have cash will be a better CD player, amp after that then new speakers.

TS.

Ancient Sony Cd Player
Yamaha Tape Deck
Naim Nac82 Pre Amp
Naim Hicap Power Supply
Naim Nap180 Power Amp
JMLabs Speakers
..and it is just fabulous, but was more fabulous with a Naim CDX CD player, which I sold.

Nothing special on paper, but sounds pretty damn good compared to other people's streaming systems: Dual Cs-505-2; Cambridge Audio amp; Rega phono amp; NAD CD player and Kef Cresta speakers on stands.

Linn Karik cd player
Mission Cyrus 2 with PSX
Tannoy Eyris speakers.
Does sound really good but.....have started listening to vinyl and it is better than cd any day.

Marantz PM-66se KI sig

Marantz CD-63 mkii KI sig

Mission 773e

All getting on for 25 years old now but still love the sound. My turntable gets a lot more use than the cd player though.

Musical Fidelity A1 amp and Marantz CD65II currently, the more modern system is a Linn Classik. Plus a Linn Axis turntable and Marantz ST4000 tuner. Ruark Prelude speakers. Nothing is younger than 20 years.
One day I will upgrade...

Arcam Alpha 7 CD player

Rotel Pre-amp

Feeding 4 x Rotel RB850 power amps all running as mono-blocs

Which power a pair of Kef IQ 90 speakers

All second hand off eBay

Sound quality is out of this world and the power delivers frightening sound levels

I'm not convinced that cd players adhere to the 'spend more on your source' rule.

Ive had a few, kenwood in the 80s (120 quid), jvc dvd in 90s (100 quid), cyrus in the 2000s (1000 quid), now on an Arcam (400 quid) and there really hasn't been much difference between them.

The cyrus was a total disappointment as its capacitor leaked inside and rendered it unfixable after 10 years.

I'd focus on getting the right speakers for your room size and shape.

All 90's Technics A class separates inc. 1210 turntable (never gone wrong, still sounds good, touch wood) with newer Dali bookshelf speakers & one of those cheap Esinkin bluetooth adaptors, does the job

I’m not convinced that cd players adhere to the ‘spend more on your source’ rule.

I agree. I think that the "spend more on your source" idea came from turntables, which are a fundamentally challenging method of reproducing music and hence need a lot of effort hence expense to sound good. (Despite which - I still want a really nice one one day when I can justify it.)

I’d focus on getting the right speakers for your room size and shape.

I fully agree with this - start with the speaker / room / personal preference bit and then work backwards from there.

Or..... endlessly swap and tinker which is quite good fun in its own right and if it's second hand gear doesn't cost anything (can even make a profit).

I have my Dad’s old Cyrus amp, power supply and CD player connected to some Systym speakers. I also have a Planar 3 deck which is currently in my wardrobe.

Next week I should be taking delivery of a Naim QB2 and the HiFi will be going up in the loft as “it takes up too much room” but I can’t bear to part with it as it was my Dad’s and we went around numerous HiFi shops debuting different systems and combinations , deciding this one sounded best.

Marantz cd52mk2se and a Cyrus 1 amp here making noise through some b&w 601 speakers. I really like the sound. Amp is in need of a refurb really but still works.

Naim 72/140 with a Rega Planar 3. All well over 25 years old, and sounds fantastic.
If anyone want to buy a Naim CDi or an Onix BWD1 FM tuner let me know!

arcam alpa CD 1987
audiolab 8000A 1989
audiolab 8000p 1990
rega planer 3 / rb300 1989
tannoy dc6tse 2007
wharfdale sw150 sub 2020
Rpi 3 / allo digione
music fidelity v-dac

all good 😁

Marantz CD80
Musical Fidelity A3
Linx Stratos Monoblocs
Monitor Audio R300

My hi-fi is a right old Richer Sounds love fest...

NAD 3020i amp, which sounds good but could really do with some more grunt. It's fine but a conservative 20w per channel.

Luxman D322 cd player

TDL RTL MkII floorstanders, which i love. They're relatively compact, but with a ton of oomph when needed.
I used to have KEF Coda 9s, but while i preferred the sound and they were very sensitive so easy for the amp to drive, the quality control was shocking. I had 4 pairs with loose front baffles before giving up on them.

Do higher end CD players and amps make a HUGE difference? I’m not talking £5k+ but stuff from Cyrus, Roksan etc.

Yes.

But before price kicks in, you have to work out which company produces products that you prefer the sound of.

I like Marantz and Creek amps.
To me, Arcam and NAD are a bit dull and closed in, whilst Cyrus are way too forward.

Same with speakers - I like the house sound of Tannoy - Monitor Audio not so much.

Older Technics CD players and Rega/Pink Triangle turntables work for me. Linn not so much.

Pick a sound you like - spending more within that brand will give incremental improvements but won't fundamentally change the tone.

Basically, do voices sound like real voices?
Do simple instruments like brass, guitar and piano sound like the real thing?
Can you hear the bass? Is it distinct and does it go as low as it should?
Can you tell acoustic bass from electric?

You're more than welcome to pop round and have a listen.

Rega 3 turntable with a Denon cartridge.
Marantz PM66KI amp (If you can find one, buy it).
Technics SLPG CD player.
Tannoy DC6T floorstanders.

Could not be happier.

Thorens TD160 Turntable.
Arcam Alpha 10 integrated Amp
Arcam Alpha 10 Power amp (bi-amping speakers)
Arcam alpha 8 CD player
Cambridge Audio DacMagic DAC
Denon DRM-700 cassette player.
Monitor Audio GR20 floor standers

My Arcam Alpha 10 Power amp has developed a fault so currently trying to sort that out. So only running on one amp at the moment.

My old Technics cd player is a bit temperamental these days. Is it worth looking on eBay for a replacement or would that be a waste of time and money?

Marantz 50 se from 1991, I have two of them never missed a beat. Sony Ta-fe 370 amp does the job and speakers Aegis are my favourites

I have an Arcam A19 connected to a Naim CD5si playing in a set of B and W 603's

Matsui midi hi-fi.

FM, 3 band graphic equaliser, high speed dubbing, the lot

Rega Planar 3 with PSU
Meridian 556.24 CD player
Meridian 501 preamp
Meridian 556 power amp
Royd Doublet speakers
Apple Airport Express for connectivity to iPad/Spotify etc.

The Matsui one where a 12" record sticks out the side? Quality, but I had the 5-band equalizer...

Currently I have a NAD3020e eBay bargain but I replaced the 2 big capacitors with something modern. The pots are still clean, which is nice. Takes 10 minutes to warm up, real dirty bass at low volumes, I love it through my old-ish Aegis One speakers. No need for CDs these days.

FM, 3 band graphic equaliser, high speed dubbing, the lot

Swoons.

ARCAM Alpha Amp
Denon CD Player
JPW P1 Speakers
LINN Axis Turntable

The speakers really need replacing - and I'm tempted to upgraded the Amp as well.

Ho ho!

I wonder how much my thread is gong to cost you lot?

I bet the Richer Sounds' website has had some traffic since.

I think I'll stick with my current set-up as I'm not convinced my 51 year old ears would pick out the difference.

Can I just add that the Philips X2HRs I bought just this week are fantastic. Not just for the money (£127.28 AMZN) but in their own right.

Bought with wedding present money back in February 1990:

Mission Cyrus One amp
NAD CD player (drawer stopped opening a while back so it was replaced with an eBay bargain NAD C521BEE of indeterminate age, but sounds really very good)
Dual 501 Audiophile series turntable.

Think I need to open up the Cyrus and blow some of the dust out of it.... it started blowing fuses if I move it so I suspect fluff ingress causing shorts, and the volume switch is a bit crunchy.

I think I’ll stick with my current set-up as I’m not convinced my 51 year old ears would pick out the difference.

You'd be surprised.

audiolab 8000A 1989
audiolab 8000p 1990

I have the 8000a, same vintage, powering BW685s. I've always wondered what difference, if any, I'd notice by adding the power amp. Used 90% to play vinyl, with a bit of Spotify/radio via a chromecast.

Most of my music is through the Chromecast, it took a wee while to get it working but much tidier than cd's , and back to Spotify . Are they the best for £10 ? Definitely much better than amazon

Had the same question so went along to Sevenoaks the other day and had a listen to PMC speakers with a variety of £600-£900 amps ... yes it makes a difference 🙂

(Current home system = Nad 320 + Rega P3 , dead Nad CD player through Mission 771 bookshelfs)

I really really need a pair of PMC Twenty5.22s now 🙁

Yes, it very much can / does make a difference. However, I reckon rusty hit the nail on the head. Ultimately most of the hifi manufacturers are supposed to be creating kit that reproduces the original sound as closely as possible. However, everyone has their own preferences on the colouring (or otherwise) of reproduced sound. For CDs it will be very much down to the quality and capability of the DAC and how the manufacturer has integrated it into their equipment. You then have the whole joy of pairing systems - generally amps and speakers. If you have a speaker manufacturer that has a naturally brighter sound and you couple that with an amp that tends towards the bright you will have at best a fairly bright or harsh sounding system, at worst something that is almost unlistenable to. I have also found that price doesn't necessarily mean good or that you will like it. Fro example, I am generally pretty non plussed with Naim. Yet others will wax lyrical about them. On the other hand, I absolutely loved the Audiolab 6000 ensemble with relatively modest Wharfedale speakers - sounded gorgeous. And for not a vast amount of momey. As did the Quad Vena. The only real way of knowing is going out to listen to stuff and let your ears decide if it sounds good or not.

I keep wanting to upgrade my amp but it's still going (Rotel RA935 - probably over 30 years old now) and a similar vintage CD player (Pioneer PDS 904). Inherited a friends old Cyrus system for a while a few years ago and that sounded a noticeable step up on my system, but it took up to much space for SWMBO and so I traded it. Got me some B&W CM6S2 speakers in their place. Wasn't historically a big fan of B&W but these sounded lovely and were better than anything else I tried there. My recent short list for new amps includes the Audiolab 6000, Quad Vena and Cyrus One. Have been recommended to take a listen to the Musical Fidelity M2 and M3 and given how popular they are I should also check out the Marantz amps. I will then probably spend the next 3 years going round the same loop and never actually buying one! 🙂

I’m running a gorgeous Yamaha CA-810 amp and Sony 337ESD. I do cheat a little though as I run the Sony through a Naim ND5 XS2 although it sounds mighty fine on its own.

The Yammie is particularly nice though. Very natural sound, 3 turntable inputs, useful Vu meters and a very well implemented loudness adjustment. Looks the part too.

[img] [/img]

I also have a Sugden A21 - 23 watts of pure class A loveliness but going to sell that and keep the Yammie.

bob_summers

I got the 8000P off ebay three years ago. It had been in storage for over 20 yrs and was in great condition. the 8000A I got from ebay 6 years ago after my Cyrus One died. The 8000A is less forward and aggressive compared to the Cyrus but has a better sound stage I find. Adding the 8000P brought some more grip and weight to the sound - a bit closer to the Mission. I think it also opens the airiness out further.
The combo is very flexible in terms of the speaker output combinations which is interesting to experiment with. I have mine kinda bi-wired and bi-amped. The HF on the Tannoys run off the 8000A Direct speaker line, the pre-amp out on the 8000A connects to the 8000P which runs the LF on the Tannoys. I have the 8000A Switched speaker line connected to the Sub.

Meridian 207 CD player/transport into Quad 306 stereo power amp into Linn Kan speakers. I've tried a number of combinations over the years, and to my ears this is by far the best.

Don't have a CD player currently, although plan to get one again since my 2000 cds are worthless and I might as well bring them out again. System is in storage until I move, only have a Naim Qb left in the flat 🙁 New house will definitely have multiple systems in though, got a few retro speakers in the loft waiting to be paired up 🙂 🙂 🙂

Everyone is different, my main criteria when listening is can I connect emotionally. Music for me often frames experiences, so it's a trigger to memories of people and places. Fundamentally, if I'm not blubbing, laughing or lost in nostalgia, the system isn't doing it for me...

Forgot to mention my Leak 2001 Transcriptor turntable and the fabulous LNB Para Lab 20 speakers. Paid £70 for the speakers and they sound as good as anything I’ve heard the right side of £1-1500.

The turntable is very rare and has a novel suspension system seemingly modelled on breast implants. 3 sacks of silicone fluid and boy do it work in totally isolating the platter.

Another Linn Classik/Rega Planar 3 here, with Linn Kans.

Spend your money on better speakers first, then a good amp, then the source. OP amp output stages have been transparent for decades making the differences in CD players massively overstated by reviews.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable
Sony "Super Legato Linear" TA-FE230 amp
Marantz CD-50 CD player with sticky drawer
Pioneer CT-445 cassette deck
Project Phone Box V for turntable preamp and ripping LPs and cassettes to laptop
Airport Express - Cheap and effective streaming solution for Airplay 2 from phone and iPad.
Very Old Wharfedale Diamond IVs

I keep looking at other new stuff (Marantz streamers particularly) but this all just works really.

I rip vinyl and bootleg live cassettes using VinylStudio on MacBook.

I think I’ll stick with my current set-up as I’m not convinced my 51 year old ears would pick out the difference.

Don't assume anything! Years ago I struggled to convince a non-musical mate of mine that a 'basic' separates CD setup would be more enjoyable than a typical stack from Sony, Sharp or whoever. Eventually got him to the local dealer and he was shocked at the differences between similarly priced amp and speaker models with his favourite Smiths CD (not known for its sound quality) used as demo material.

I'm still running a Marantz CD bought s/h from the same shop nearly 20 years ago, Rotel tuner (ditto), Rega Planar 2 with Linn K9 cartridge through a Morgan Audio integrated amp and JC1 bookshelf speakers, designed and built by hifi guru John Chapman, who lived just up the road from me at the time. These 3 items are all at least 30 years old. It's not especially strong in the bass but is a sweet sounding setup to my fairly demanding ears.

Now my kids are older I'm hoping to retrieve the spiked speaker stands from the loft and set it up properly again (but no spikes used in the speakers, blu-tak does that job just as well).

Stick your cd discs in the freezer, I've never tried it but in the '90s someone suggested it. Might be better getting the ears syringed as we get older , remember hearing Bowie drag on a fag and the creaky chair at the start of Bewlay Brothers

I have a general question;

Assuming you’re using digital connections, why would the CD player/source make a blind bit of difference. The “work” will be going on in the DAC of the amp would it not?

ditched CD a few years ago but until i did i was running a meridian 200 series.

switched to an arcam irDAC and FLAC files now, but the business end is still an Audiolab 8000C/P pre-power combo driving a set of Linn Ninkas

i used to have an 8000A a few years back - ran that with older Linn Index 2's I briefly ran the Index 2's with the C/P combo and it wasnt really necessary for those. I'm not sure the A would be able to drive the ninkas properly though, they need plenty of juice

1986 NAD 3130 amp and 1986 Dual 505-2 turntable - bought in my first couple of months working. My NAD c521i packed up last year and I replaced it with a Marantz 6006 UK Edition cd player, which is fantastic. I got the NAD s/h to replace a Mission PDM cd player from about 1987 which looked the dog's but didn't actually sound that great but the NAD was also basic. Still got the Mission in the loft along with a nice Kenwood cassette player. System plays through B&W 601s which I bought off here to replace the original 110s when the tweeters packed up.

Assuming you’re using digital connections, why would the CD player/source make a blind bit of difference. The “work” will be going on in the DAC of the amp would it not?

Not if it hasn't got one. My Cyrus One hasn't. The quality of sound from your CD player in those days depended on the DAC

As an aside, for those interested in vintage / otherwise good value hifi have a look at the Audioshite Facebook group. Top group of people very much in the mould of STW and you’ll get plenty of good ideas on what’s shit (awful) and what’s proper shite (good).

Plenty of buying and goes on too and plenty of folk who know of the more obscure stuff.

Must be said the older stuff can sound very good. Wouldn’t part with the amp for any money and you’d have to make a serious offer for the CD player.

If you ever see a pair of the LNB ParaLab 20’s in good nick just buy them. Interesting design philosophy, hugely detailed and they can drop the bass too.

That amp is dial-tastic, Danny.

I've had a 8000A, and a 8000C+8000P combo in the past. Well made but a cold sound to me, IMO. Although the 8000P has some grunt.

I'm on a Sonneteer Byron CD and a Densen Beat pre/power, with Dynaudio 52s and a REL Strata3. One day in the future, when the kids give me some peace, if my faculties are still in tact, I may get chance to listen to it.

I worked in a hifi shop for a time, in another life, and this was the best I could put together at the time. Lovely clean sound.

[stock photos]

I may be after a power amp only to use streaming with existing speakers (Ruarks).

What's good/retro for £200 or less?

@reggiegasket - it is indeed and they all are properly implemented. One of the dials is even to select the loading for MM cartridges on Phono 1 or to select Phono’s 2 or 3 (3 being a really good MC stage. So good I sold my Rega Aria).

Superb amp which I paid £250 for but are rapidly going north in price. I know of people running them as Pre-Amps only feeding £10k power amps it’s that capable :).

8000P on ebay for £265?

or Musical Fidelity P140 for £250? I had one of them too. Warm sounding and warm to the touch too...

In the living room I have an Arcam A85 amp with DV88 on disc spinning duties. Driving some monitor audio bronze speakers which are a bit newer.

Don't listen to CDs that much any more, mostly Spotify and streaming via the smart TV plugged into the amp.

Up in the loft is my original hi-fi. Marantz cd63 se cd player, aura 80 amp and Musical Technology Kestrel Speakers.

Another Arcam amp here, an Alpha3 with AIWA XC700 CD player and some German KH502 floorstanders in the living room. Upstairs is a Yamaha Natural Sound amp, with a remote which actually spins the volume dial when you adjust it, with a Sony DVD playing CDs nicely enough through Acoustic Energy AE100 speakers.

I've just inherited my dad's Denon M39DAB cd/dab/amp box and am on the lookout for some small bookshelf speakers to go with it. I may rig a bluetooth receiver to the aux too, any suggestions as to best bang per buck/convenience?

Cheers Reggie, not a fan of Audiolab after my 8000A, somewhere in between that and the Mf (A-class sound?).

DNM, Crimson was my sound when I thought I knew what I was talking about.