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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: Unitmonster on March 09, 2008, 11:33:24 AM
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Looks like I'll be getting a fairly good tax return this year and might finally get around to replacing my old NAD amp after about 4 years of putting it off.
Would be pairing the amp with a pair of B&W DM602 speakers.
Need inputs for:
- Record player (i'm accpeting that it's almost impossible to find a new amp with dedicated phono input)
- Cassette deck
- CD Player
- Computer/Mp3 aux input
Local audio shop here has the Cambridge Audio 840A for $999 but that would really be the top top end. Anything else worth a close look for a bit lower or similar price?
PS. don't be afraid to offer suggestions in the 500-600 range if they're good options either! I'm not committed to spending as close to 1k as I can or anythign. Just want quality sound and durability.
Thanks!
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Tube or solid state?
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I really do like my music hall mambo. It's pretty warm for a solid state. I bought mine used at about $600 if I remember right. No phono pre though.
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If you're looking for solid state, the Creek A50i would be a good choice and the Creek amps have an optional phono stage. That would be just over $1000 new with the optional phono but you could even get a 5350SE used with phono stage for under $1000. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time finding an integrated with phono stage for sure. There are some Rega integrated amps as well that have built in phono stage that are supposed to be quite good depending on the model.
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not too sure about tube or solid state since I've never owned a tube amp for my stereo. Though I have one for my guitar and know that the difference is night and day.
As far as the phono stage goes, it's not the highest proirity since I can get one here for about 100 bucks.
One thing to note is that I'm in canada and we don't get the full range of "boutique" amps so I might be a little more limited on the really low production models.
Thanks for the advice so far though folks!
Any thoughts on Rotel amps?
p.s. pete, I didn't even see that it was you. Maybe you have an idea on what's readily in Canada and what isn't! Blane
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Yeah, I thought it was you Blane but wasnt 100% sure. If you are shopping in the Montreal area you're all set as there is a more thriving scene for audio compared to anywhere else in Canada. I don't have a full lay of the land but Codell Audio is definitely one to check out and they always have a decent selection of demo and used items. Coup de foudre is another, Audio D'occasion looks pretty good as well.
You can also check www.canuckaudiomart.com, there is a lot of gear on that site and quite a bit of it is from the Montreal area. If you happen to be in the Ottawa area at some point, go and talk to Gunnar at Planet of Sound. That guy really seems to know his stuff. There are definitely good deals to be had if you are willing to purchase used or demo, no problem picking up a $1000+ item for around the $600 mark.
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I really do like my music hall mambo. It's pretty warm for a solid state. I bought mine used at about $600 if I remember right. No phono pre though.
I'm after an MHM myself. Hard as heck to find.
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not too sure about tube or solid state since I've never owned a tube amp for my stereo. Though I have one for my guitar and know that the difference is night and day.
As far as the phono stage goes, it's not the highest proirity since I can get one here for about 100 bucks.
One thing to note is that I'm in canada and we don't get the full range of "boutique" amps so I might be a little more limited on the really low production models.
Thanks for the advice so far though folks!
Any thoughts on Rotel amps?
p.s. pete, I didn't even see that it was you. Maybe you have an idea on what's readily in Canada and what isn't! Blane
Well, I really like my Jolida 102b. It's a nice small tube amp, for not too much money. And, I've always loved an EL84 tube sound. I don't listen too loudly, and have fairly efficient speakers, so I'm not sure if the 102b would be enough for you. Some people like the Jolidas, while others don't.
I've heard good things about the Music Hall and the Cambridge Audio amps as well. I believe you'd need a separate phono preamp for all of these, though that shouldn't be a problem.
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A couple of worries I've got about going tube (after investigating a bit) is:
- space restrictions (I've got a stand that's got a somewhat limited layout size-wise)
- maintenance costs. Having re-tubed a guitar amp before, I'm a bit worried about the frequency with which I have to change the tubes and the cost involved.
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AT853rx (c,sc,o)>Marantz ACM660
nice rig there Unimonster! I pulled a really nice 853sc->660 recording the other night...
I like to keep my rig as simple as possible, just like my playback. Solid-state for me, I have similar concerns about tube playback. (even though I love the sound)
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Might want to check out the Outlaw audio receiver:
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/rr2150.html
good reviews and measurements:
http://stereophile.com/integratedamps/306outlaw/
This list of reviews might be helpful too:
http://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/
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Thanks for those links.
Gotta say that researching this is making be both confused and skeptical.
Came across this article in Stereomojo:
http://www.stereomojo.com/SHOOTOUT2007INTEGRATEDS.htm
Where a $129 10w amp beat out $2000+ amps in blind screening with 5 listeners.
Makes me 1/2 want to disbelieve the brand hype and get something cheaper and functional like the Onkyo A-9555 or the Outlaw linked above with USB ins wireless interface etc.
I guess the best thing will be to sit down in a listening room and go through a bunch of them, though it's tough to find a place that sells the high end stuff and the consumer models .
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Thanks for those links.
Gotta say that researching this is making be both confused and skeptical.
Came across this article in Stereomojo:
http://www.stereomojo.com/SHOOTOUT2007INTEGRATEDS.htm
Where a $129 10w amp beat out $2000+ amps in blind screening with 5 listeners.
Makes me 1/2 want to disbelieve the brand hype and get something cheaper and functional like the Onkyo A-9555 or the Outlaw linked above with USB ins wireless interface etc.
I guess the best thing will be to sit down in a listening room and go through a bunch of them, though it's tough to find a place that sells the high end stuff and the consumer models .
well, I guess this shows that you don't have to go broke to get a good integrated amp/receiver. Good news for those of us that don't have deep pockets. ;D
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lots of good recommendations in here. The Pliniius would be killer if you could swing it, the MHM gets a lot of good press as well.
this little tube integrated has me very intrigued
http://www.listenup.com/PEACHTREE+AUDIO+DECCO-p-DECCO-p-DigitalMusicSystems.html
A couple of worries I've got about going tube (after investigating a bit) is:
- space restrictions (I've got a stand that's got a somewhat limited layout size-wise)
- maintenance costs. Having re-tubed a guitar amp before, I'm a bit worried about the frequency with which I have to change the tubes and the cost involved.
You can find tube amps that are not much bigger than your NAD. I had an NAD and my current tube amp (ASL aq1003dt) is about the same size
tube costs are pretty minimal. You don't need to change very often. I roll in new tubes about once a year but you could probably go twice that long. I spend about $100 total for all 8 tubes.
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You hit the nail right on the head, you really need to sit down and have a listen and make your own conclusions. The internet has a lot of wonderful information but it's hard to separate the fluff from reality. I spend way too much time online reading up and researching all of the gear but when it's time to make a major purchase out with the demo disc and into the real world.
The Trends is a great little amp if you have an efficient speaker but if you don't it's useless. I'm using one on my computer and it does a great job in that environment or a hotel room but you'd have to have a really high efficiency speaker to get it working well in a living room type environment. Not to go on and on but this is where component matching and system synergy come into play. A bright speaker and a bright solid state amp are going to wear on the ears after a period of time for sure.
Regarding tubes, my only real issue with the hybrid integrated(ss amp, tube preamp) that I have is that it took forever to get a quiet, non-microphonic pair of tubes for it. They shouldn't need to be replaced too often but finding ones that weren't noisy was a hassle for me.
Something else that didn't come to mind earlier is that Marantz have an integrated that's not too outrageously priced and would likely fit the bill. PM-7001, $650 Canadian new. Seems to be well liked overall.
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Mambo ! or maybe an a25.2 ?
used Sony receiver ?
Dared Integrated ?
I've not had one in my house, but the Cambridge Audio 740a sounded *damn'd* good at tweeter driving a pair of Martin Logan Vantages.
happy hunting: http://buy0.audiogon.com/cgia/fsb.pl?inta&1&ctg&st1
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You might want to check out this Consoance A120. I've not heard it personally, but read great reviews about it. This is a solid price as well. Probably worth giving a listen.
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/clt.pl?intatube&1199114694&clout&3&4&
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Newbie question: I know integrated means it has both tube and solid state parts inside, but how does it work? Does the signal travel through both, or do different inputs go to different amps?
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integrated means it's both an amp and a preamp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_amplifier
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integrated means it's both a power amp and a preamp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_amplifier
And generally the hybrid integrated amps use tubes for the preamp section and solid state for the power amp section.
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integrated means it's both a power amp and a preamp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_amplifier
And generally the hybrid integrated amps use tubes for the preamp section and solid state for the power amp section.
correct, "hybrid" means tube + SS.
Integrated amp is basically a 2-channel stereo "receiver" but without video functions or a tuner.
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Thanks guys. I'm saving up for a real playback system in a few years.
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http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100973.0.html
;) :)
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check out the Dared vp-16. great little integrated. ed