Amplifier for Celestion A Compact speakers?

[biki14]

Hi,

My old good Myst amplifier finally gave up the ghost.
So I am in search of a suitable amp to drive my Celection A Compact speakers.
They are very small, but hi quality bookshelf with sensitivity of 85 dB and Impedance of 4 ohms at best, so I need an amp with large current capability.

Your suggestions are very much appreciated

Kind regards,

 

[Rich9600]

Hi, I don't know your exact speakers. However, I have a pair of Celestion F2's that have been with me for about 15 years. They seem very neutral and have worked with amplifiers from Sherwood, Cambridge Audio, Onkyo and Marantz. Or, if your speakers are that compact take them to demos with you...

 

[biki14]

Hi Rich9600,

Thank you for your reply and advice.
I am familiar with Celection F series speakers.
A series was Celestion's premium range much more expensive and superior in every respect to F series. I have been adviced by one of Home Media reps to go for Leema Elements integrated amp that is supposed to deliver enough current to get the best out of the speakers. However it costs £1200 - £1400. He also adviced me agains Cyrus 6or 8, Rega Osiris or Naim Nait 5i amps for that reason.
However I am not sure I want to spend that sort of money.
I wonder if one of the cheaper amps would be good enough.

I have shortlisted the following 3 amps:
Pioneer A6 mk2
Marantz PM6004
Yamaha AS500.

I would value any advice on any of the above or other good amp

King regards,

 

[coruja]

Celestion used to make great speakers, it's a shame no one talks about them now.

I think you'll have to take your compacts to an understanding Hi-Fi shop and listen to some amps in your budget, which is about £300 (?)

I suggest you also try to see if you can get a Rotel amp within that budget.

Of course you can get more value for money second-hand and again you'll need to find a decent dealer and listen to some amps. Older Exposure amps are quite ugly (but I find that quite endearing) and powerful.

 

[biki14]

Hi Coruja,

Thanks for your suggestions.
Do you have a particular Rotel amp in mind?
Is Exposure 2010 amp the one you refer to, as I have seen one for sale recently?

Kind regards,

 

[Rich9600]

I don't know if you'd get all your speakers can give from one of the budget amps you suggested. I have the Marantz amp form the range above the one you suggest, the PM7003, and this was briefly connected up to my F2's and brought them to life! I only had it this way for about a week before my present speakers turned up, but I was amazed how well they worked with an amp costing more than twice as much as they did when new! Sadly now they are wasted on my old Onkyo AV-R in the conservatory.

So, if a £500 ish amp can do so much for my F series I would wonder if a inferior amp could hamper your A series speakers.

However, I think my F2's worked well with Marantz electricals. I've had them driven directly by my Marantz AV-R and also by the amp mentioned above to produce a good tone which wad pleasing to me with both. Assuming the tone characteristics of yours are similar I think Marantz is worth a look, though if you can push to a higher model I think it would certainly be worth the comparison.

 

[biki14]

Celestion used to make great speakers, it's a shame no one talks about them now.

I think you'll have to take your compacts to an understanding Hi-Fi shop and listen to some amps in your budget, which is about £300 (?)

I suggest you also try to see if you can get a Rotel amp within that budget.

Of course you can get more value for money second-hand and again you'll need to find a decent dealer and listen to some amps. Older Exposure amps are quite ugly (but I find that quite endearing) and powerful.

I had a friend who worked for KEF in Maidstone after they aquired Celestion.
Celestion's "A" series in KEF design engineers' opinion was better than anything KEF was producing at the time anywhere near this price point. However "A" series was not making hardly any money, and as soon as new Chinese owners took over they decided to concentrate on Home Cinema satellite speaker systems for Celestion. Hence the "A" series remains the last quality HI FI speaker range from Celestion until today.

 

[Electro58]

The Harmon Kardon HK 980 integrated should drive your Celestions easily with a very large 80 amp current delivery and large dynamic power output into 4,2,and 1 ohms ,and it can be bought for £299 new with warranty, it should sound pretty good too .

http://www.harmankardon.com/resources/Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/om_hk980_English.pdf

Superfi - HARMAN KARDON HK980 AMPLIFIER

 

[ukaudiophile]

Hello,

WOW! You're still running the A series. I remember hearing those many years ago at a Hi Fi show (the A3's) and they simply destroyed everything else Celestion were demonstrating at the time, to me the A series were the finest speakers Celestion ever made, the only speakers they ever made to compare were their ribbon speakers, the 3000, 5000 & 7000. I had the good fortune to hear the A series again at the home of a friend who picked some up on a closeout deal (the A2's). I take it you're running the A1's? You're not kidding about current, these speakers need a firm hand and a load tolerant amp which is crystal clear and fast to make the best of them.

I would be looking at the Audiolab amps, the new 8200A is a lot of amp for the money, but don't discount the previous generation of 8000 amps, especially if you can find a used pre / power combo, which I think will suit the A's. The advice about Leema is also excellent, maybe a used Tucana MK.1 would make those A series speakers sing, I remember reviewing a Tucana MK.1 a few years ago and was surprised at just how good is was with speakers as difficult as my Martin Logan's. As trick as the A series are, they are nowhere near as bad as the ML's.

I'd also keep an eye out for a Bryston B60, which has the speed and current delivery you need, and the grip to really get some bass drive out of those speakers.

Hope there are a few new ideas for you to consider here, glad to hear a few people are still using these excellent speakers, just a pity Celestion got took over by KEF and their name was associated with cheap home cinema packages until the end of their life.

Regards,

Dave

 

[biki14]

Thank you for your advice.
Completely agreed about Celestion A series , still going strong.
I'll check out that Bryston amp. I do have an AV power amp and processor from TAG McLaren (Audiolab) in my other set-up. They are doing a good job too.

Do you have an opinion on Naim Nait 5i-2 or Exposure 2010s amps?

Kind regards,

 

[biki14]

Hi everyone,

I've settled on a 2nd hand Exposure 2010S amp.
First impressions are good.
I think I need to give some time my brand new Peerless Sigma interconnects to break before getting the best results.

BTW: Is anybody using these cables?
What is opinion?
I used to buy Stereovox cables but they are no longer around as far as I can tell.

Regards,

 

[lazarus]

Im still running my a3's with arcam amplification and currently have 2 pairs of p1's and a c31 pre.

previous to that i had the older 10 and 10p amps from the alpha range. in my experience arcam is a very good match.

ive a feeling the a3's will be with me long after i upgrade the p1/c31 setup as they are breathtaking to listen to. No idea what my next upgrade will be mind as its a few years away yet.

 

[biki14]

Im still running my a3's with arcam amplification and currently have 2 pairs of p1's and a c31 pre.

previous to that i had the older 10 and 10p amps from the alpha range. in my experience arcam is a very good match.

ive a feeling the a3's will be with me long after i upgrade the p1/c31 setup as they are breathtaking to listen to. No idea what my next upgrade will be mind as its a few years away yet.

Yeah, Celestion "A " series is addictive

 

[coruja]

Hi everyone,

I've settled on a 2nd hand Exposure 2010S amp.

Oh, nice!

Exposure 2010S integrated amplifier | Stereophile.com

I only know the sound of the old Exposures, and I prefer them, Naim and Roksan as far as Brit Fi amps go.

What a lovely bit of kit! What are your sources, are you using a turntable?

 

[biki14]

Oh, nice!

Exposure 2010S integrated amplifier | Stereophile.com

I only know the sound of the old Exposures, and I prefer them, Naim and Roksan as far as Brit Fi amps go.

What a lovely bit of kit! What are your sources, are you using a turntable?

No turntable unfortunately, wife would not like it
I also got Exposure's 2010S cd player for this setup. They work well together along with Celestion A compacts
The other source is TechniSat freesat tuner, definitely not quite as nice sound as Exposures.

There are some very fine small British hifi manufacturers.
A few years ago I was very impressed with Sonneteer Alabaster and Sugden amps at the London Hifi show.

 

[Ditton works]

Ahhh!! Love the A series!! Apart from the A2 I have the full set (all different finishes unfortunately) glad others are enjoying them. Compacts are my fav, amazing little speakers. Any one had any experience with the 3000/5000 or 7000 ribbons?

 

[Celestion]

URRGH... i havent signed into this forum for years but as this thread is the first result on the mighty google for "Celestion A Compact" i thought i should correct some of the very dodgy opinions on Celestion's history here. Apologies for resurrecting this from the dead but i have to make some corrections...

KEF did not buy Celestion, a Hong Kong company owns both. Legend has it the CEO had Celestion and KEF present their respective best at the time for his evaluation and he the decided on which would survive. At the time KEF had the Reference series and R109 Maidstone, Celestion had the A series. 6 years earlier Celestion could have wheeled out the SL700SE, the Kingston and Ditton 66 Series II and would have monstered KEF. Anyway that is the legend, the truth as i see it is different, the Celestion Foxhall Rd factory was by this point 40years old and required complete refurbishment. Celestion also had a very respected name in pro audio thanks largely to their guitar speakers which KEF simply did not have. So the logical decision would have been to allow Celestion a new facility and to concentrate on Pro Audio and while it hurts as a Celestion collector that they no longer do Home Audio they are now the biggest pro audio manufacturer in the world while KEF go from strength to strength.

The general advice that the A Compacts need an amp with a good transformer is correct, you do not have to spend megabucks and some of the 90's amp make a superb match. Cheap as chips is the Sony TA F540E, these seem to go for 50-100quid on the bay and has the muscle required. If anyone happens to read this and has the A3 floorstanders then it is a must to at least bi amp them, it makes the beast a beauty!

The A series went off on a different direction from Celestions previous TOTL offerings, firstly legend has it Richard Allen had a hand in the design, secondly in came Titanium for the tweeter (previously Aluminium, copper silk and plastics had all previously been used). Celestion had been using exotic materials for cabinet construction, such as Metal Aerolam Cabinets for the SL600/600si/700/700si and 'Alpha Crystal' for the Kingston; for the A series it is all veneered MDF. The biggest problem with the A series overall is that they all make use of ports. Previously, apart from cheaper models, Celestion had always opted for infinite baffle designs or PBRs. Celestion had made a name for itself since the late 1970s for their domestic reference monitors and so to go to a more conventional lineup was a minor departure; yes they still made large floorstanders, the Ditton 88, the enormous 662 (seriously until you see one in the flesh you cant appreciate their sheer bulk!) and the Ditton 66 Series II but it was the SL600 and SL700 standmounts which were gaining international acclaim.
It is true to say the A series was Celestions last Hurrah in the domestic sphere, after the A series came the pricey, gawd aweful but modern looking C series and the pretty but hilariously overpriced AVF range. The A6S subwoofer had originally been designed as an integral stand for the A1 a bit like the System 6000 behaved for the SL600. Obviously this was abandoned and i cant help but feel the A1 design was compromised to make it a more full range design; what may have been if they continued with that concept!
When i was a 16yr old just finishing my GCSEs I got to spend a few weeks in the Celestion R&D dept on Foxhall Rd in Ipswich at the time the A compacts had been finalized - I know just how proud that department was of the design. The mids are truly excellent, superb imaging due to their small size and while the tweeter is a good design it is a shame they were ported, if anything the bass does slightly let the side down even if it is better than the LS3/5A which sells for 4x the price. I suppose more importantly they are cute, not may designs will endear themselves to the wife and sound half as good. The A compacts are definitely the models to have from the A series; it is odd how often the cheapest model ends up being the classic design...

...and breath, rant over.

 

[Ditton works]

Good Rant buddy
The part about Kef engineers being blown away by the little A compact is true.
I worked for Celestion while the A series was in development and I've had the opportunity to speak to Celestion designers (Graham Bank) and chief engineer (Bob Smith) and several Kef employees regarding that.

I have to agree with the comments above (Celestion) the ports on the A compact can be a little blowy when driven hard.
I've had all the A Series and still have A1's, A compacts and A4c, I sold my A3's as I couldn't ever get the same finishes.
Gold peak was the company that bought out Kef and Celestion.
Seeing what Kef make now Blade, Muon etc. I would love to have seen what could have been from Celestion.

 

[biki14]

URRGH... i havent signed into this forum for years but as this thread is the first result on the mighty google for "Celestion A Compact" i thought i should correct some of the very dodgy opinions on Celestion's history here. Apologies for resurrecting this from the dead but i have to make some corrections...

KEF did not buy Celestion, a Hong Kong company owns both. Legend has it the CEO had Celestion and KEF present their respective best at the time for his evaluation and he the decided on which would survive. At the time KEF had the Reference series and R109 Maidstone, Celestion had the A series. 6 years earlier Celestion could have wheeled out the SL700SE, the Kingston and Ditton 66 Series II and would have monstered KEF. Anyway that is the legend, the truth as i see it is different, the Celestion Foxhall Rd factory was by this point 40years old and required complete refurbishment. Celestion also had a very respected name in pro audio thanks largely to their guitar speakers which KEF simply did not have. So the logical decision would have been to allow Celestion a new facility and to concentrate on Pro Audio and while it hurts as a Celestion collector that they no longer do Home Audio they are now the biggest pro audio manufacturer in the world while KEF go from strength to strength.

The general advice that the A Compacts need an amp with a good transformer is correct, you do not have to spend megabucks and some of the 90's amp make a superb match. Cheap as chips is the Sony TA F540E, these seem to go for 50-100quid on the bay and has the muscle required. If anyone happens to read this and has the A3 floorstanders then it is a must to at least bi amp them, it makes the beast a beauty!

The A series went off on a different direction from Celestions previous TOTL offerings, firstly legend has it Richard Allen had a hand in the design, secondly in came Titanium for the tweeter (previously Aluminium, copper silk and plastics had all previously been used). Celestion had been using exotic materials for cabinet construction, such as Metal Aerolam Cabinets for the SL600/600si/700/700si and 'Alpha Crystal' for the Kingston; for the A series it is all veneered MDF. The biggest problem with the A series overall is that they all make use of ports. Previously, apart from cheaper models, Celestion had always opted for infinite baffle designs or PBRs. Celestion had made a name for itself since the late 1970s for their domestic reference monitors and so to go to a more conventional lineup was a minor departure; yes they still made large floorstanders, the Ditton 88, the enormous 662 (seriously until you see one in the flesh you cant appreciate their sheer bulk!) and the Ditton 66 Series II but it was the SL600 and SL700 standmounts which were gaining international acclaim.
It is true to say the A series was Celestions last Hurrah in the domestic sphere, after the A series came the pricey, gawd aweful but modern looking C series and the pretty but hilariously overpriced AVF range. The A6S subwoofer had originally been designed as an integral stand for the A1 a bit like the System 6000 behaved for the SL600. Obviously this was abandoned and i cant help but feel the A1 design was compromised to make it a more full range design; what may have been if they continued with that concept!
When i was a 16yr old just finishing my GCSEs I got to spend a few weeks in the Celestion R&D dept on Foxhall Rd in Ipswich at the time the A compacts had been finalized - I know just how proud that department was of the design. The mids are truly excellent, superb imaging due to their small size and while the tweeter is a good design it is a shame they were ported, if anything the bass does slightly let the side down even if it is better than the LS3/5A which sells for 4x the price. I suppose more importantly they are cute, not may designs will endear themselves to the wife and sound half as good. The A compacts are definitely the models to have from the A series; it is odd how often the cheapest model ends up being the classic design...

...and breath, rant over.

Hi Celestion,

Thank you very much for your insight.
IT has been a while since your post, however I decided to rebuild my stereo system for my home office. Both Exposure (amp &cd layer) are long gone. They both broke, were repaired by EXposure and then broke again while Celestion A compacts are still going strong!
I am currently running them with a vintage sansui amp but will look to upgrade. I read good reviews on Hegel and Primare amps.
I wonder if it is worth adding a subwoofer to the setup .
CHeers,
Andy

 

[biki14]

Good Rant buddy
The part about Kef engineers being blown away by the little A compact is true.
I worked for Celestion while the A series was in development and I've had the opportunity to speak to Celestion designers (Graham Bank) and chief engineer (Bob Smith) and several Kef employees regarding that.

I have to agree with the comments above (Celestion) the ports on the A compact can be a little blowy when driven hard.
I've had all the A Series and still have A1's, A compacts and A4c, I sold my A3's as I couldn't ever get the same finishes.
Gold peak was the company that bought out Kef and Celestion.
Seeing what Kef make now Blade, Muon etc. I would love to have seen what could have been from Celestion.

Hi Ditton works,

THank you very much for your reflections.

Regards,
Andy