Upgrade for ageing Cambridge Audio A5

RobMcM

As per title! It's currently part of my modest but much-loved stereo system in my office, connected to:
A new pair of Mission LX-2 speakerA Project Primary E turntable with an attached phono pre-ampAn Oppo DVD-980h connected via analogue audio for stereo CD/SACD playbackWindows PC via an external DAC - optical out on the PC to stereo analogue input; decodes HD audio up to 192khz.Now considering upgrading the venerable old amp to something that will bring out the best in the speakers. Nice to haves would be:
Built-in phono stageHeadphone socketReally not too fussed about BT (I have an external transmitter / receiver anyway which works just fine) or Airplay for that matter, neither am I too bothered about digital inputs (though open to persuasion).

So which reasonably cheap stereo amp would be best to fit the bill? Starter for 10: Sony STR-DH190 or something in that general price ball park (really up to £250 max). Happy to consider second hand if I can find a bargain - perhaps an Onkyo A-9010 is out there somewhere?

EDIT: such as this one (Onkyo A-9110). How well would this match with the speakers?

Any thoughts anyone?

dogfonos

I'd be tempted by this:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Marantz PM6006 UK Edition (Black) Amplifier / DAC                                                                                                        Special UK Edition of the excellent Marantz PM6006.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk                                                                               
Haven't heard this amp or the Mission speakers but looking at reviews, it seems they should be a complimentary sonic match. Whilst you didn't want digital inputs, I'd suggest connecting sources with digital outs to the amp via its digital inputs - usually best to keep the signal in the digital domain for as long as possible (caveat: unless the sources' in-built DACs are vastly superior to the amps in-built DAC.

Paul7777x

Either the above Marantz, or if the budget is a squeeze then I’d seriously consider this...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Cambridge Audio Topaz SR20 Stereo Receiver (Black) - Refurbished 813371020887 | eBay                                                                                                        This is a refurbished previously owned and loved Cambridge product which has been expertly repaired. POWERFUL DIGITAL STEREO RECEIVER. RADIO FUNCTION. FM/AM (EU and US bands), 30 presets Radio Data System (RDS) for FM Stations.                                                                                                                                                                                                        www.ebay.co.uk                                                                               
An excellent bargain. Originally £400.

Has everything you need, plenty of current and will certainly get the best from your speakers and most any you might upgrade to up to around £600 or so in years to come.

The internal dac is a good one too.

Paul7777x

Ps, if you buy either of the above I’d certainly try both of the amps internal dacs for the Oppo and the laptop.

I think you’ll be surprised and pleased.

And despite the A5 being an excellent starter amp, both the Marantz and the SR20 are a comfortable league or two above it.

(I’d tend to ignore the Sony. It’s a bit of a journeyman amp. Adequate, but not more, and certainly compared to the SR20 at a similar price, utterly non competitive . Springclip speaker outputs and no power quotes for less than 6Ohms).

RobMcM

Thanks for the replies everyone. I thought the Sony might be a bit of an adequate but unspectacular option.

However - impulsive, maybe - I found a refurbished Onkyo 9110 on RS for almost half the list price so went for it. It arrived today, will set it up tonight/tomorrow and will let you know. No digital inputs so I carry on with my external DACs for the PC audio and the Oppo, but I'm happy with that as particularly the Oppo is considered to be a great DAC (I think....). Phono stage in the Onkyo is apparently very nice too.

I'm excited!