New amp or receiver suggestions???

mjennens

mjennens

Old Guys Rule!!!
I'm thinking of moving from vintage equipment (Pioneer SX-950, among others) to more current equipment. I'd like to find something with a remote, of better than average quality, less than $1000, and two channel. I'm thinking along the lines of Outlaw Audio or Cambridge Audio.
The speakers I'll be running are Dynaco A25s, JBL L40s, or a pair of DIY Dynaudio speakers. I have a wide range of musical tastes, and the room is a 16x20 family room. I probably won't be using this for home theater.
Any suggestions/experiences?
Thanks, Mike
 
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Does it have to be brand new? There are a lot of good deals on used but nearly new gear, and just like vintage you can get a lot more for you money without the huge initial purchase depreciation. Also, some places like Music Direct or actual physical stores will have demos that are good deals.

The Marantz PM-5003 looks interesting to me, and I've been thinking about it for a second system but I haven't had a chance to hear it...but I love my other modern Marantz gear.

I've heard the Peachtree Audio Nova, it was very very nice and has a very nice built in DAC. I've seen used Creek 5350s in your price range as well as the Krell 300si integrated (which I liked but found to be too analytical but I lean away from that sound). The NAD 375BEE might be found in that budget, too, especially used. I thought it sounded really nice, too.

I haven't investigated much in that level of integrateds, but I've been trying to keep an eye open as I need one for one of my systems. There's a lot more to choose from than what I've heard. The Cambridge gear looks nice, too. I haven't heard the Outlaw but people speak highly of them.

EDIT: I just ran across the price for the Krell and it's much more expensive than what I thought. The one I was looking at must have been used or a demo...I don't think it's worth the new cost.
 
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This got me poking around at integrateds for my second system and the Marantz PM-8003 is on sale at Music Direct for $599, down from $999 list. They're good folks to deal with, if it was something you were interested in. Specs and Pics are on their site and elsewhere. I'm actually really thinking about this deal myself..doesn't hurt that they're local to me.

Here's a review:
http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-p...iers/marantz-pm8003-integrated-amplifier.html

And stuff from Marantz:
http://us.marantz.com/Products/2570.asp

Again, I haven't heard it but I am very happy with the Marantz gear I own, one of which is mentioned in the review I linked to (sc-11s1 preamp) and am looking forward to trying to hear this one myself. I crossed over from vintage and have maybe a bit of leftover bias towards a certain sound, and I find some modern gear to be overly analytical or biased towards detail instead of the overall musical flow, and my Marantz gear has none of those problems.
 
Less than $1000 in the new market pretty much means Made in China. Depending on which Chinese manufacturer builds it and what compromises he makes in specifying parts, the product you end up with may be less reliable than your vintage gear.
 
A used Musical Fidelity A-3 might be had in your budget as well...just trying to throw out suggestions of things to look into since there doesn't seem to be a lot of folks around here who've had a chance to hear this stuff. It's a very sweet sounding amplifier. There's a demo of the newest version of this at Music Direct but it's still $1299....but there are older versions of this amp that would be cheaper.

This one is upfront about being Chinese...the ShengYa gear, available through Ak Sponsor Grant Fidelity. They're made in the same factory as Vincent gear, which is highly regarded. A friend of mine has one of their integrated amps and swears by it.

http://grantfidelity.com/site/Shengya_A17_hybrid_amp

You can ask Grant on their forum here for recommendations if you wanted that route.

Good luck with your search, that about does it for the new gear I know about.
 
Thanks for the suggestions JohnVF. If you think of more, keep 'em coming. I'm just starting my search, so the more info I get, the better!
Mike
 
Chinese does not automatically mean it's bad, and these days it usually means quite the opposite, actually.

I second John's suggestion that you look at used amps, especially because it's an amp you're buying, which in theory should have a longer life than other types of audio equipment, like CD players.

If it were me, I'd be looking for a used Naim Nait5i integrated amp, which is supposed to be one of the best deals in the world of "budget" hi-fi amps. Should be about $800, used.
 
For $1000, you might consider the new line from Yamaha, the RX-A1000 would be in that range. I know you said "two-channel", but it's not like you have to hook up all the other speakers, just use the mains and the direct audio pass-through...

105 watts per channel @ 0.04% THD, Burr-Brown DACs, assignable speaker outputs - bi-ampable, phono input...

And it has analogue multi-channel inputs, for SACD, if you ever dabble in that kind of stuff - just saying.

1281492418.jpg


(my RX-V995 is in the shop, can you tell that I've been browsing?)
 
Emotiva USP 1 ($399) preamp and UPA 2 ($349) power amp. I have the Usp 1 and the UPA 1 monoblock driving Magneplanar MMG's which at 4 ohms require a lot of current to sound right and tend to expose wimpy amps rather quickly and have been absolutely astonished at the quality, drive an sheer musical value. Highly recommended http://emotiva.com/upa2.shtm
 
Mr. Lin said:
Chinese does not automatically mean it's bad, and these days it usually means quite the opposite, actually.

I second John's suggestion that you look at used amps, especially because it's an amp you're buying, which in theory should have a longer life than other types of audio equipment, like CD players.

If it were me, I'd be looking for a used Naim Nait5i integrated amp, which is supposed to be one of the best deals in the world of "budget" hi-fi amps. Should be about $800, used.
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I'll concede the point that a made-in-China label is no longer a guarantee of poor quality, though I can't agree with your contention that the opposite is generally true. There's still enough junk coming out of the PRC that I evaluate Chinese products on a case-by-case basis.

I'll also agree with you and John that the OP should look at used gear, especially if remote control isn't an absolute must for him.
 
jimfet said:
Check out the Audio Advisor sight. They are having a great sale this month.
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Yes they are....:yes: I just bought a pair of Energy RC 30's for a second system. Normally $1,100.00 a pair got them shipped to the house for $430.00. Not bad speakers for less than 5 bills. Next is some Parasound gear.
 
gatorvrx said:
Yes they are....:yes: I just bought a pair of Energy RC 30's for a second system. Normally $1,100.00 a pair got them shipped to the house for $430.00. Not bad speakers for less than 5 bills. Next is some Parasound gear.
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I have these for my second system also. Great for the price!
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. After quite a bit of searching and reading and some talking with folks, I decided to get a Marantz PM8003 integrated amp. Musicdirect had it on sale for 40% off. It was the most bang for my buck. I ordered it Tuesday and it got here today (Friday), regular ground shipping! Double boxed and in great shape.
I'm stoked!!!
 
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When you get a chance, would you mind filling us in on how it sounds? I've been looking at that one myself. Music Direct is actually down the street..I could go get it right now if I wasn't so comfortable on the couch!

Oh..by the way...CONGRATS! I'm very happy with my new Marantz gear and hope that the 8003 is built just as well..it looks to be in pictures.
 
JohnVF said:
When you get a chance, would you mind filling us in on how it sounds? I've been looking at that one myself. Music Direct is actually down the street..I could go get it right now if I wasn't so comfortable on the couch!

Oh..by the way...CONGRATS! I'm very happy with my new Marantz gear and hope that the 8003 is built just as well..it looks to be in pictures.
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John,
I'll definitely do that. I'm going to be gone all of next week, and my wife is home all weekend, so listening at the levels I prefer will be limited. Plus, I've read that amps need a "burn-in" period.
As soon as I have a chance to really give it a test, I'll let you know my feelings. I have a Yamaha RX-V2400, in addition to my vintage gear, that I'll compare it to. The Yamaha, in direct stereo mode is VERY nice; the Marantz will have to prove itself. :thmbsp:
Mike
 
I look forward to any impressions of it, good or bad. I hope they're all good of course. It should be a really interesting comparison when you get to it.
 
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