A little help choosing an amp

[Williham]

Hi again guys,
Im looking into an amp to replace my Cambridge Azur 340A, its not a bad amp, the mids and highs are good but the bass is lacking and the thing runs out of power too easily...
Im using a pair of Q Acoustic 1050, floorstanding speakers and a Wharfedale Diamond SW150 Subwoofer, so basicly I want an amp to give the 1050's a bit more grunt, and as Im planning on selling the sub it has to produce a respectable amount of bass.
Im not at all afraid of mods, I still am a bit of building from scratch but im good with replacing caps, diodes etc.
I was thinking of a Pioneer A400, with mods, or a Rotel or something. Anybody know a good, moddable amp for up to £300ish? Preferably £200ish if possible.
Also like the look of the Marantz PM7200, as it can operate in class a mode, and is powerful.
Cheers,
Will

[tmort]

What about building a kit? If your 340 has pre-outs you could get a complete power amp kit. For example www.ska-audio.com makes a complete kit with a nice looking case, and they have excellent support. Not too far out of your price range I don't think either and not all that hard to build if you can solder.

[Williham]

The Azur 340 only has a record out; plus I was kinda thinking about condensing my sound system in the long run as next September (Not this sept but one after, gap year!!) Im heading to uni . Infact there is one thing I have to bragg about quickly on this forum:
I have a friend who's father is Mark Dodd, head of research at Kef/Celestion in Ipswich; and Im totally getting work experience there!!! =D
Back to the point, I basicly want to cut my floorstanders, sub, amp into a smaller package, aka a pair of b&w 685's and an amp, or something like that. So Id rather an integrated amplifer to save space and cash.
But I do like the sound of those kit amps... Could they out do the marrantz?

[Williham]

Was just thinking actually, I do a bit of Dj-ing Drum N Bass and Dubstep (Heavily bassy music). So would it be possible to use my mixer for my turntables as a pre-amp?
I know to sound good it would have to be good (current mixer is awefull... :/), but if I shelled out a bit more on a very good mixer would this be a feasible/ advisable plan?

[AndrewT]

The reduced bass is simply the result of compromises to reduce cost.

It is easily sorted.

Look at the earlier threads on improving the Cambridge.

[Williham]

Improving the Cambridge eh? I like that.

[duekfx]

There is nothing wrong with using your mixer as a preamp but don't complain about sound quality afterwards.

[Williham]

Mate, if its not how I like it, then I'll do something about it!
Im just wondering, would it be worth modding the 340A, spending lots of time and money, or would it be better to buy a marrantz PM7200 and then modify that? As I have a gap year, so plenty of time to raise funds and mod, as well as teaching myself to mod; as its gonna take a lot! :P
I tell ya... The Art of Electronics is bloody hard reading!!!

[Bigun]

my 2c: if you really want to learn about the amps, build one from scratch, a relatively simple ClassAB. You can save some hassle by buying an old stereo amp to get the chasis, power supply and connectors etc. then just make up the amp. Modifying somebody else's work can be frustrating as you have to get inside their thoughts and ideas. If you carry out modifications on an existing amp by following instructions on the internet you have less risk but then you learn next to nothing. Just my 2c. Mate ;-)

[destroyer X]

come alive.

Are you interested?

I can search for the part number into the manual.

Carlos