I know this is old, but I just acquired a Marantz 2226B, and have it pushing my Klipsch Heresy IIs, and it sounds very nice, IMO. I also have a old Pioneer amp (don't know the model, can look it up) - and it sounds nice, but I bet the Marantz would smoke it. The Marantz was the best $70 I've spent in a long time.