Good 2-channel amp or integrated for $1000 to $1500?

geowak · « **on:** 20 Jun 2008, 09:25 pm »

What are you audiophiles using for a decent 2 channel amp or integerated amp?
Need a good 2-channel amp or integrated for $1000 to $1500? Hopefully with alot of digital and analog inputs. One that is quiet.
Recommendations welcome! (Also, will be driving 4 ohm speakers rated at 300 wpc max)

doug s. · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 09:45 pm »

what is the efficiency of your speakers? i'd need to know before recommending any tube amps.

for solid state, i would recommend electrocompaniet amps, or sansui, if you want to go vintage. a vintage sansui integrated is amazingly good, flexible, & will be competitive w/any current gear at twice whatever you pay for it, or more, imo... like tu-719, tu-919, au-9900, au-11000, au-20000...

doug s.

geowak · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 09:55 pm »

90db sensitivity on the speakers

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Jun 2008, 11:51 pm »

What kind of speakers are they? What types of music do you listen to? Do you need a phono stage?

I'm a big proponent of the used market, particularly Audiogon.

For $1500 you should be able to find a pre/power combo or a very nice integrated.

I've always felt that NAD offered good value for the money, and if you shop used, you could get set up for far less than your budget.

A quick search of Audiogon:
Here's a classic Luxman http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?intatran&1218764167

This one should drive your speakers fine, especially if they are a classic 2-way tower (Brit style)...... http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?intatran&1217277638

If you wanna do a tube amp (this one's $1750) http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/clt.pl?intatran&1209356459&clout&3&4&

Anywhoo, just throwing options out there. IMO alot depends on the style of speaker and the impedence curve, plus the type of music you listen to.

Have FUN!
Michael

TRADERXFAN · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 12:32 am »

I highly recommend the ice powered wyred4sound stereo amp ~800. Not sure if they have any left because they are going to a newer, better version that is going to be a bit more money. But these should be out soon. I personally use the ps audio c-100 modded by Cullen circuits, which is an integrated, but they say the wyred4sound amps are definitely going to be better quality than that. -Dan wright at modwright loves his, check out what he has to say. You would need a preamp though.

This c-100 amp made a world of difference to my system, but if I had to do over again I would get the wyred4sound stereo amp instead and use a passive preamp. Not sure how that would work for you if you need so many inputs though.

good luck
Tony

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 01:17 am »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=55016.0

NewBuyer · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 01:29 am »

Quote from: Canyoneagle on 20 Jun 2008, 11:51 pm

...This one should drive your speakers fine, especially if they are a classic 2-way tower (Brit style)......

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?intatran&1217277638 ...

Nice find! If you can perhaps talk that seller down to under $1000, I'd say that's definitely your baby...

doug s. · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 03:24 am »

this is a killer tube amp that will drive anything. at its asking price of $1050, it's a steal, imo... if i didn't awreddy have too many amps, i wouldn't be letting you know about it!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1219196873

doug s.

sturgus · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 03:41 am »

And if you don't go for that great buy on the Melos, you could also get a great deal on this set up.
Sturgus
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1218284519

JLM · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 09:33 am »

Typical of many tube amps don't react well with lower impedance loads, like a speake at 4 ohms (which is no doubt a "nominal" rating, meaning that the actual impedance varies with frequency and probably ranges from 2 ohms on up.). Also typical of tube amps is their poor damping factor, meaning that bass is uncontrolled and so sounding "loose" and "flabby". The deeper/stronger the bass that your speakers are capable of, the worse the effect. Keep in mind too that the sound of a tube piece changes as the tubes age. Power amp tubes last a year or less and most should be replaced in pairs.

Frank Van Alstine offers a 90 wpc OmegaStar EX integrated for $1500. He is a highly opinionated old fart who knows his stuff and takes no bull: wttp://www.avahifi.com/root/equipment/control_amplifier/index.htm

Arcam Diva A85: http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/arcam_a85.htm

A good piece of British pie.

Cambridge Audio Azur 740A: http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2007/cambridge_740a.shtml

Cambridge Audio has really been coming on with advanced designs.

Emotiva pre/power amps ($1428 for both): http://emotiva.com/

This is the value/power leader of the pack.

Musical Fidelity A3.2 (used): http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/musicalfidelity_a32.htm

Tons of awards, but in the U.S. is sold through musicdirect.com (no auditions).

Unison Unico (used) or Unico P: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/unison2/unico.html

This review indicates that the amp can be modded and links back to a stock unit review. The "P" is a lower powered version. The Unico was the darling of the professional reviews in its day. It uses tubes in the pre-amp section. A classy Italian piece.

denjo · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 10:04 am »

JLM

That's a very promising list!

I would add the Rega Mira integrated - no nonsense British amplifier that sounds very musical.

Best Regards
Dennis

cornelius · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 01:20 pm »

Never heard one, but maybe:
http://www.psaudio.com/products/trio_c100.asp

mfsoa · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 01:53 pm »

Geo,
If your intent was to solicit things that we would part with, I have a Forte Model 40 preamp that I'd sell for a few hundred bucks. Forte was Threshold's "budget" line a while back.

It has phono stage if that's a help. About 15 years old, I think it was $1100 new.

Spend maybe $300 on it, couple it with any number of amps like a $700 Rotel and you have a great setup for a grand!

Fully 87.3% of the performance of any gear ever made that sold for $3577.18 to $5432.99. Oops, wrong thread!

-Mike

giantsteps · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 05:30 pm »

Quote from: mfsoa on 21 Jun 2008, 01:53 pm

Geo,
If your intent was to solicit things that we would part with, I have a Forte Model 40 preamp that I'd sell for a few hundred bucks. Forte was Threshold's "budget" line a while back.

It has phono stage if that's a help. About 15 years old, I think it was $1100 new.

Spend maybe $300 on it, couple it with any number of amps like a $700 Rotel and you have a great setup for a grand!

Fully 87.3% of the performance of any gear ever made that sold for $3577.18 to $5432.99. Oops, wrong thread!

-Mike

Thanks! I needed a good laugh to kick off the weekend.

Frank

Turnandcough · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 06:37 pm »

Quote from: JLM on 21 Jun 2008, 09:33 am

...Cambridge Audio Azur 740A: http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2007/cambridge_740a.shtml

Cambridge Audio has really been coming on with advanced designs.

Musical Fidelity A3.2 (used): http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/musicalfidelity_a32.htm

Tons of awards, but in the U.S. is sold through musicdirect.com (no auditions).

Unison Unico (used) or Unico P: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/unison2/unico.html

This review indicates that the amp can be modded and links back to a stock unit review. The "P" is a lower powered version. The Unico was the darling of the professional reviews in its day. It uses tubes in the pre-amp section. A classy Italian piece.

I own a Cambridge 640A V2 and, for the price, am quite satisfied. I would seriously consider upgrading to a 740A or 840A V2 except I don't particularly like the look of those two models(how un-audiophile). Musical Fidelity generally sound pretty nice but I own an X-Can V3 head amp and find the quality of a some of the parts to be kind of cheap. I've heard of a lot of reliability issues with MF products also and our local distributor has dropped the line completely because of that(apparently). I also auditioned the Unico which, if my memory is good, sounded pretty decent but scratched it from my list because the RF remote was not compatible with my Harmony universal(how un-audiophile) So if I were to upgrade in that price range I would probably go for a Naim Nait 5i or maybe just go with a 740 or 840 and try and live with the ho-hum looks. NAD also offer good bang for the buck in that price range and the Moon i-1 ain't too bad either. Oh yeah and I've heard a lot of good things about Exposure although I've yet to audition. At the Montréal FSI a lot of people were quite impressed by the Exposure integrated and Neat Motive 2 speakers combo.

hdspeakerman · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 08:25 pm »

You might want to try a McIntosh Mc2100 or 2105. I would call it laid back but I tried others and came back to an MC7300.

doug s. · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Jun 2008, 08:33 pm »

if we're trying to sell stuff here, i have a nice home-brew hypex ucd 180 amp that is taking up space... Fully 91.6% of the performance of any gear ever made that sold for $3577.18 to $5432.99.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=56789.msg500848#msg500848

doug s.

Turnandcough · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 03:39 pm »

Quote from: doug s. on 21 Jun 2008, 03:24 am

this is a killer tube amp that will drive anything. at its asking price of $1050, it's a steal, imo... if i didn't awreddy have too many amps, i wouldn't be letting you know about it!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1219196873

doug s.

Why don't you tell me which one you're keeping and I'll go out and audition one instead of buying the least favorite of your many amps?

doug s. · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Jun 2008, 05:00 pm »

Quote from: Turnandcough on 22 Jun 2008, 03:39 pm

Quote from: doug s. on 21 Jun 2008, 03:24 am
this is a killer tube amp that will drive anything. at its asking price of $1050, it's a steal, imo... if i didn't awreddy have too many amps, i wouldn't be letting you know about it!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1219196873

doug s.

Why don't you tell me which one you're keeping and I'll go out and audition one instead of buying the least favorite of your many amps?

huh?

if you wanna know what other amps i have, here's the list - go audition to your heart's intent, but none of these meet the original poster's intent, except the electrocompaniet amps, which i mentioned, & mine are driving my subs, therefore not for sale. of the others, some may be for sale, it depends on how i feel when i wake up on any given day.

and, quality of sonics isn't always the sole determinant of what i might sell - whether i think it might actually be able to sell, also plays a part...

original adcom gfa555
mesa baron
2-electrocompaniet aw75 dmb's
modded almarro a205a mkll
pair of akai m8 tapedeck set monoblock tube amps
low power rawsonte gainclone chip amp
refurb'd electrohome 6aq5 tube amp
custom german-made 6bq5 set tube amp
custom australian made 6v6 set tube amp
audio mirror 6c33c tube monoblocks

the amp i am selling is not the least favorite of several amps i own. or maybe it is. in fact, maybe it's the best sounding amp i have, & i am making a huge mistake selling it - i have no idea. i have never even plugged it in, as i took it in trade along w/some cash, for a speaker deal i consummated a while back. my present speakers i have don't need a powerful class d amp. many people really like these amps, as they feel it offers the best of tubes & solid state. personally, i prefer tubes, as i bi-amp or tri-amp, & already have my solid state amps set, for the low end, & don't wanna replace them. you shouldn't make comments when you have no idea what you are talking about.

doug s., edited to include amps i forgot.

geowak · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Jun 2008, 04:52 pm »

thanks for the recommendations and sale offers

BUT- I was looking for an amp or intergrated that someone has used and has reallly liked. If you own one you really like, you are most likely NOT trying to sell it. If you saw one that looked really nice. but you never owned one in your own rig....... well I just am not interested in those.

Also leaning more towards SS, since I had a tube setup and it had low level noise that I cound never pin down.