Thanx Gents,
Speakers... forgot to mention.. currently running a set of Jensen QX35 6 Ohm floor standing speakers.
My A3 is having some issues, source selection buttons don't stay selected when powering up. There is an audible click & the light goes out... it's taking me 5 - 6 power cycles to get the source selection to stay connected. I've spoken to an audio technician up here & he suspects dry capacitors & believes he should be able to repair it.
It is a fantastic amp which has served me well for 22 years... I just have a hankering for that warm, analogue tube sound.. which I have experienced with guitar amps but, not hifi... The PrimaLuna amp I'm looking at seems very well regarded in it's price point & has a few features that make living with a tube amp somewhat easier such as an autobiasing function, protection circuit for the amp in case of dead tube, toroidal transformers, quality components & point to point wiring...
As JA says, the snag for me is choosing a phono preamp... I know picking the right one will be the key to the whole experience...
The turntable upgrade will come in time... & maybe if I butter the wife up enough, maybe just maybe some new speakers...
I've got another phono preamp to add to the mix.. MOFI Studiophono... reviews & opinions seem a little less mixed/controversial than others I've been looking at...