Hello fellow HiFi geeks!

Hi and welcome to the forum. I like Audiolab kit and used to have an Audiolab 8000a integrated amplifier.

From my memory, the Audiolab 8000c and I think 8000a had excellent Class A headphones amps in them too which was a bonus.

Hi @evo

Welcome to the forum!

Feel free to dive right in and participate.

As for phonostages, you're at the right place! I have tagged you in the brief overview in my blog, of all the phonostages i have heard and built.

If you want to have a listen to a Bigbottle MK2, let me know. you are more than welcome to visit and bring any phonostage you would like to compare it to. If you aren't a million miles away, i may also bring it to you!

As for preamps...If you dont need gain, you will struggle to find a more transparent PCB to work into a preamp, than the Neurochrome universal buffer. There won't be anything off the shelf even close to competing.

Other than that, a DCB1 can be magical but i had varying results when used with certain Valve amplifiers.


Oliver

Thanks Oliver,
I will read that thread with interest and I am interested in a visit to your neck of the woods. I live on the Wirral which I think is a good distance from you. I will do a little research on Neurochrome as I have no knowledge of it. Am I right in thinking you own an SP10 and kontrapunct B? I think we may have spoken on elsewhere albeit briefly.
Thanks for the warm welcome
Chris

Hi Chris, my thoughts on the RR-STA25 below.



RADFORD REVIVAL STA-25 (mk5) Review.

(Currently used in conjunction with)
Marantz CD-73 player / Rothwell Indus passive preamp / Falcon Acoustics LS3/5A speakers.

(Why)?
I have always hankered after a Radford - STA since first hearing my uncles one way back in 1976. Now I can't be sure if it was a 15 or 25 to be honest, but one thing I can still remember was the magical sound it produced and the good times we spent listening to his album collection, It was this experience that piqued my interest and set me on the twisty HiFi road.

(Build Quality)
"Good things come to those who wait" So the saying goes, and I can confirm with regard to the arrival of my new RR STA-25 this is indeed the case.....It's been a long (43 year) wait.
Attention to detail / Fit and finish / Meticulous build quality - Would put a Fabergé Egg to shame !!
Words simply don't do it justice, this amplifier really has to be seen in the flesh (so to speak) to truly appreciate the work that "Will & Steve" have put into it's production.
Radford's original amplifiers have an enviable reputation for outstanding reliability, (of which a quick search of the web will testify) and im quite sure judging by the build and superior components used, the RR's new one's will undoubtedly carry on this enviable tradition.

(Sound Quality 1)
This amp is special, it's right. And this rightness (for want of a better word) is immediately obvious from the opening bars of any track you care to throw at it.
There is no woolyness or warmth (common to a lot of valve amps) present here, instead it portrays the music faithfully, with tremendous grip and superb clarity.
I've had more power amplifiers (both Valve and Transistor) than I care to remember over the last 40 years, but musically none have come remotely close to the sound that the STA produces.
Put simply this is the finest sounding amplifier I have heard to date by a considerable margin.
My one regret is the fact that I never discovered the existence of Radford Revival sooner.

(Sound Quality 2)
I will try my best to avoid the usual hifi cliché's and superlatives, and instead try and give you some insight into a few of the STA's many virtues and strengths via few of my favourite albums.
First up "Kate Bush - The Sensual World" the track "This Woman's Work" we have never heard it sound so hauntingly beautiful, had me and the better half reaching for the tissues.
Next "Tori Amos - Under the Pink" play the track "Cornflake Girl" and one could be forgiven for thinking Tori has wheeled her Bosendorfer in, and is playing live in your listening room.
Now apparently my LS3/5As don't do Bass and can't Rock, right ?....Wrong, (it only takes an amp of the STA's calibre and ability to make them do so) try "Grace Jones - Warm Leatherette" album, "Sly & Robbies" rhythm section is so tight and infectious I defy anyone with toes not to tap them.
Whilst "Black Sabbath's - Heaven and Hell" album would have a nun headbanging...!!!
Play "Tim Buckley - Letters Live" or "John Martyn - No Little Boy" albums and the STA will leave you in no doubt of its finesse and minute detail retrieval abilities. Tim's walk on introduction to raptuous applause is startlingly realistic, you can even hear the turning of sheet music..!!
Whilst John's Sax player "Tony Coe" can easily be distinguished licking his lips prior to playing..!!
(Thing's in the mix I've never heard before despite numerous listens via lesser amps)
Well I could go on but had best stop there, and alas unless you have an STA (or it's equal) handy you may not be able to hear these things, but hopefully you get the picture.

(Value for Money)
Firstly this is not a factory mass produced amp churned out in the hundreds....No no no.
In the grand scheme of things audio, this is a rather rare beast indeed.
If one stops a moment and considers the fact that the Radford Revival STA is an iconic British amplifier, meticulously hand built, (with finer components and technology, not currently available to the original amps) hand wired in very small numbers to order, by a small team of dedicated and passionate audiophiles....Not to mention the man hours involved in such an undertaking.
Figure in the fact that when it comes to making music, it makes the (so called) hi-end big boys costing X times the price sound bland and quite obviously flawed and lacking by comparison.

I suggest that if the Radford Revival STA was double it's current price, it would be a great bargain (and still have a lengthy waiting list). As it stands, priced at £2800 it is an absolute bloody steal.

Build quality..............10 /10
Sound quality............10 /10
Value for money........10 /10

For...............Everything.
Against........Nothing. (waiting list aside)

I would now like to close with a BIG thank you to Steve & Will Moores and all associated with Radford Revival, who's dedication and passion continue to bring Arthur Radford & John Widgery's classic amplifiers to a new generation of music lovers worldwide.

THANK YOU.
A.J.W.R. (2019).

Chris I've had a Rothwell Indus Passive Pre since it's inception, I'm on the Mk3 version now.

(superb).....Match made in heaven with the Radford.

Welcome Evo, already looking forward to your future threads.

I have Radford Revival coming to my bakeoff on Saturday so I am really looking forward to hearing some of the goodies being brought along.  Should be very interesting.

Great, I hope you are going to post the results! It will be interesting to read your views on the Radford and other kit.