[Bigfishhk]

Looking for suggestions. used or new, if anything new fits this micro budget!

looking for INT amp for bedroom. Speakers are Totem Rainmakers.

volume playback will be low to medium.

AMp should have tone controls.

According t stereophile review a ' good 4 ohm rated amp' works best with the Totems.

Not looking for tubes, I don't want to worry too much about ieaving the amp powered on for long periods.

Must have remote control with good volume control.

Source is Squeezebox touch.

Specs for speakers-
Two-way, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted speaker. Drive-units: 1" aluminum-dome tweeter; 5½" four-layer paper-cone woofer. Crossover frequency and slope: 2.3kHz, second-order. Frequency response: 42Hz–20kHz, ±3dB. Minimum impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 86.5dB/m.

Thanks in advance for your feedback

Tom

[Letitroll98]

For new you might have to go with a receiver:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/stereoreceivers/home-audio/receivers-amps/stereo-receivers/1.html

[rif]

I really like my nad c350.  Not sure of the used price, but I'd bet it's well within your budget.

[mcgsxr]

If you can find a Yamaha A-S500 that would be a great use for it.

I keep one around as my "sanity check" for amplification.

I bought mine right around the $ point you are talking about, though up in Canada.

[Letitroll98]

They have the Yamaha in factory reverb condition at accessories for less, it was a little over the op's price range, not by much.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamas500bl/yamaha-a-s500-integrated-stereo-amplifier/1.html

[cujobob]

Onkyo A 9010 was around $250 with a code on Ebay, ebay throws out codes quite regularly. I would look for a deal on one of those or a refurb. Yamaha makes great integrated amplifiers but I don't think their cheapest model is quite as good.

[Bigfishhk]

If you can find a Yamaha A-S500 that would be a great use for it.

I keep one around as my "sanity check" for amplification.

I bought mine right around the $ point you are talking about, though up in Canada.

Thanks.. can these handle 4ohm load well enough?

[Bigfishhk]

Onkyo A 9010 was around $250 with a code on Ebay, ebay throws out codes quite regularly. I would look for a deal on one of those or a refurb. Yamaha makes great integrated amplifiers but I don't think their cheapest model is quite as good.

This also sounds good. I didn't know there were eBay coupons but will look for them.
I read the U.K. version of this amp is a great buy.
They only rate for 8ohms. Will it handle 4 ohms load ok?

[srb]

Thanks.. can these handle 4ohm load well enough?

"Well enough" is hard to quantify, but when an amplifier has an impedance switch (in this case, Low = 4Ω Minimum / High = 6Ω Minimum) it usually indicates that there is some kind of current limiting circuitry switched in at the low impedance setting.

I would prefer not to see this employed or needed at all on an amplifier, but it's possible that for your low/mid volume intended use and this particular speaker (4Ω is specified as minimum and not nominal impedance) it may be a non-issue (?).

Steve

[asliarun]

A forum member is selling their NAD D3020 for $275. I've always thought this would be a great little bedroom amp.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=149631.0

Then again, there is the R-S201 selling for the ridiculously low price of $100. It seems to have decent specs - 100W at 8ohms and 140W at 4 ohms. Especially for the price! And it has tone controls and a remote.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrs201bl/yamaha-r-s201-2-ch-x-100-watts-natural-sound-stereo-receiver/1.html#!more

[srb]

Then again, there is the R-S201 selling for the ridiculously low price of $100. It seems to have decent specs - 100W at 8ohms and 140W at 4 ohms. Especially for the price! And it has tone controls and a remote.

Here, I think you're getting what you pay for.

The 100W/Ch 8Ω rating is at 1 kHz and 10% THD!  The 140W/Ch @ 4Ω rating is also only at 1 kHz (for Europe).  Not sure why they would even post a 4Ω spec, as the rear of the amplifier clearly states "8Ω Minimum", not to mention the cheesy spring-loaded speaker terminal clips.

I think you would be better served with one of the budget integrated amplifiers (vs. budget receiver) mentioned, or one of the smaller used NAD, Cambridge Audio or Marantz integrated amplifiers.

Steve

[kclark0395]

I have a "vintage" NAD 7240PE receiver which sounds really nice. It's in a second system and was recently used to drive some Wharfedale Denton's. At low volumes the loudness button really helped keep the sound balanced and there was plenty of power to get the speakers moving. The tuner section is also surprisingly good and I paid something like $100 on eBay for it. Something like this might fit the bill perfectly.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Onkyo makes a high current receiver-

http://www.onkyousa.com/Products/model.php?m=TX-8020&class=Receiver&source=prodClass

Emotiva has a cheap integrated-

https://emotiva.com/products/amplifiers/100

Both of these are $230 or less.

[srb]

Emotiva has a cheap integrated
https://emotiva.com/products/amplifiers/100

While the Emotiva BASX A-100 is a 4Ω capable amplifier, it is a single input amplifier that lacks two of the required features - remote control and tone controls.

Steve

[mcgsxr]

I ran 4ohm Totem Model 1's with the Yamaha.  No issue.  I ignore any impedance switch.

Just don't try to run more than 2 speakers at a time. 

[Norman Tracy]

TEAC AI-101DA Integrated Amplifier is $199 on Massdrop. Missing the tone controls from the poster's wish list trading that for a very bedroom friendly form factor and 192k DAC.

[srb]

TEAC AI-101DA Integrated Amplifier is $199 on Massdrop. Missing the tone controls from the poster's wish list trading that for a very bedroom friendly form factor and 192k DAC.

Yes, if you can do without tone controls, there are a few more possibilities for remote controlled amplifiers at that budget.  The Teac AI-101DA at $200 is a good deal for something that sells for $300 at most vendors.

Music Direct has the Pro-Ject Stereo Box integrated amp (B Stock, remote, no DAC) @ 50% off for $200.

Steve

[Doublej]

How about this HK Receiver at $145?

https://www.harmanaudio.com/harman-kardon/HK+3700.html?dwvar_HK%203700_color=Black-Z&CJPID=CJ#start=1

[Bigfishhk]

Yes, if you can do without tone controls, there are a few more possibilities for remote controlled amplifiers at that budget.  The Teac AI-101DA at $200 is a good deal for something that sells for $300 at most vendors.

Music Direct has the Pro-Ject Stereo Box integrated amp (B Stock, remote, no DAC) @ 50% off for $200.

Steve

that TEAC is a deal, I think I'll try and get tone controls as well as more power than 26w p channel however. Power will come in handy at some stage!

[Bigfishhk]

I really like my nad c350.  Not sure of the used price, but I'd bet it's well within your budget.

does it have a remote and is the remote sensitive- ie good at small steps?

tx

TB