LF pretty amp with VU meters and plenty of power and good value

[mbphotox]

I only have my Pioneer AV-R to drive the B&W N803 at the moment. There's also my EL34 tube amp, but I'd rather not damage that baby, I guess (through using it constantly, I mean).

Also, there's a little minime on the way, so the tube amp will likely have to disappear into storage for a couple of years

The EL34 has 40-50 wpc into 8 Ohms and easily drives my large speakers, so 100wpc RMS (8 Ohms) should be plenty enough.

I'm lusting for nostalgia and a great looking amplifier that simply amplifies the signal.



At a friend's place, I recently saw the Yamaha A-S3200 in action and I really liked that thing. Looking in the interwebs, I found the A-S1100 and A-S2100 that are far more affordable older generation amplifiers.

The A-S1100, appears to be crazy rare.. not a single offer on ebay, aside from people selling the manuals, lol


The A-S2100 (got one used for 1'000 bucks, but that looks like it's been through a lot.. banged up and all.. and with cyrillic writing on the back panel?! and another one at around 2'000 USD equivalent, barely used)


right.. they look basically the same

The new A-S1200 is the same price as the A-S2100... why is that? Shouldn't the 2100 still be a class above the 1200?




I also quite like the look of the Vincent SV-228, available at roughly 2 grand as well. (upside: has a built-in DAC for my WiiM pro streamer that really needs a DAC to work properly)



The Technics SU-G700 looks.. uh.. like an acquired taste is necessary.. but it has the fascinating technology of adapting to impedance curves of speakers. and a built-in DAC




There's a well-used Accuphase E-305 for sale at 2'400 USD equiv. here


I've always loved the design of accuphase, but I'm afraid the gold wouldn't fit with any of my other things.






Enough of the pretty pictures.

I guess you get what I'm looking for here. (Although I'm not 100% sure if I should look for an integrated amp with DAC)

Doesn't need a phono stage, but a headphone amp would be highly appreciated




P.S.: the guy I've got my 803s from is also selling a stack of Vincent stuff
namely this pair of SP-332 and SA-32 with the DAC 1MK could probably barter the set down to 2.5k


the color of the VU meters can be changed to white, green, blue, or red, iirc

 

[mbphotox]

Nobody got any experience?
I'm especially interested in the differences between the Yamaha and Vincent, I suppose.

The Accuphase is still available.. From what I've learned so far, it's grossly overpriced at 2'400 USD since it has sold for half as much 10 years ago.
I do think it's a good amp, but looking at the guts, the Yamaha looks to be a lot better. (separate power cable and proper speaker connectors, for one)

 

[hugo454]

Mitsubishi for consideration

 

[mbphotox]

I'm in a bit of a clinch, here.

On one hand, I want symmetrical input for my phono box s3b
only the Yamaha offers that (and the Accuphase)

on the other, having a good DAC and even streaming capabilities would be really nice, too.
the Technics appears to be very good in that regard, but it's a digital amp with switching PSU

I think there's a DAC module for the Accuphase, but that's probably super expensive and rare. ?



The NAD C-3050 is only available in black, but it has got very nice modern features, streaming, and all.



I suppose, the Yamaha is still the way to go, since a separate DAC is easier to find.

 

[jayvis]

Unless you have an overwhelming fetish for silver faces, look for one of these. No digital inputs or DAC, but man it's nice. Still wish I would have kept mine.

 

[orsen]

Mitsubishi for considerationView attachment 2928701

i had/have that combo. the amp died, but the meters will work on any amp. just use rca cables and a wall wart to power the lights.




.

 

[mbphotox]

Unless you have an overwhelming fetish for silver faces, look for one of these. No digital inputs or DAC, but man it's nice. Still wish I would have kept mine.

View attachment 2929867

I want silver, yeah.

and, even if not, McIntosh are by far the ugliest amps I have ever seen!
(the font of the logo, the alien green on glossy black, the blue VU meters...)

I get that taste is subjective and that they have a huge fanbase...
but I'd rather get a pretentious Burmester before I'd want to put that thing in my house.

(no offense, I'm sure they are great amps!)

 

[jayvis]

I want silver, yeah.

and, even if not, McIntosh are by far the ugliest amps I have ever seen!
(the font of the logo, the alien green on glossy black, the blue VU meters...)

I get that taste is subjective and that they have a huge fanbase...
but I'd rather get a pretentious Burmester before I'd want to put that thing in my house.

(no offense, I'm sure they are great amps!)

That's OK. I realize that there are some people in this hobby who place aesthetic preferences above performance. Some prefer to use an audio component, and some prefer to just look at it. It's the same as with automobiles.

 

[DeadRock]

That's OK. I realize that there are some people in this hobby who place aesthetic preferences above performance. Some prefer to use an audio component, and some prefer to just look at it. It's the same as with automobiles.

I understand your point and I don't disagree, except...I don't feel it's a zero sum game...one does not exclude the other, especially given that aesthetics is almost entirely subjective...in audio terms...it can't be measured. For me...if I don't find some kind or sense of aesthetic beauty in a thing (any thing)...it ain't gonna share my space...

Cheers!

David

 

[mbphotox]

it's not like McIntosh were the only good amplifiers out there.

afaik, they have a similar price-performance ratio to Accuphase. (meaning: rather overpriced luxury goods with a big famous name)


I don't believe in "amplifier sound", so I don't need a crazy expensive esoteric brand.

I buy features, solid quality (amp meeting minimum quality standards for clipping, distortion, stability so as not to "colour the sound" through deficiencies), and looks, since I'm fully confident in the fact that my transducers are responsible for 99.9% of the sound.
And my room isn't even optimised, so I don't bother with microscopic effects that only a trained listener in a rapid A/B-test might find...

 

[jayvis]

it's not like McIntosh were the only good amplifiers out there.

Never said that they were. Have you ever heard a McIntosh system or are your opinions based on preconceived notions from audio forums?

I buy features, solid quality (amp meeting minimum quality standards for clipping, distortion, stability so as not to "colour the sound" through deficiencies

There should be no dispute that McIntosh and Accuphase are at the top of the ladder in those areas.

I don't believe in "amplifier sound", so I don't need a crazy expensive esoteric brand.

Yes, it's a bit more expensive than the items you listed, but the total cost of ownership will probably be lower over time. There's a robust used McIntosh market for very good reasons. And McIntosh should not be categorized as an esoteric brand. Esoteric items are built in very small volumes which leads to their exorbitant prices. Regardless of your perception of what "crazy expensive" means, McIntosh continues to be one of the best values in high end audio.

 

[mbphotox]

I have heard them at highend audio shows...
with "heard" implying that I didn't hear anything, to be honest.

Didn't sound any different from Rotel or Classé, Marantz, or Denon.

So, for me, they are overpriced but solid amplifiers that look hideous and I wouldn't want one, ever.

But I'm not one blessed with golden ears and, at my age (36), my hearing is already so far degraded, I cannot even hear a difference between 16bit and 24bit audio...



Leica also has a solid used market... just goes to further my point: expensive luxury brand name!
(I have both film and digital Leicas, but I would never claim that they are worth their money from a technical point of view!)



Edit: I didn't mean McIntosh as an esoteric brand. They are, like Accuphase, in my opinion, just overpriced luxury items, like Apple devices.
Burmester is an esoteric brand

 

[jayvis]

I have heard them at highend audio shows...
with "heard" implying that I didn't hear anything, to be honest.

Didn't sound any different from Rotel or Classé, Marantz, or Denon.

So, for me, they are overpriced but solid amplifiers that look hideous and I wouldn't want one, ever.

But I'm not one blessed with golden ears and, at my age (36), my hearing is already so far degraded, I cannot even hear a difference between 16bit and 24bit audio...



Leica also has a solid used market... just goes to further my point: expensive luxury brand name!
(I have both film and digital Leicas, but I would never claim that they are worth their money from a technical point of view!)



Edit: I didn't mean McIntosh as an esoteric brand. They are, like Accuphase, in my opinion, just overpriced luxury items, like Apple devices.
Burmester is an esoteric brand

Don't take this as an insult, but if your hearing is that degraded, how can you make an evaluation that you feel really confident in? Or are you basing it mainly on cost vs. what you can actually hear?

 

[Bob in WI]

Don't take this as an insult,

As you insult the OP. What a hoot.

You really need to let it go.
The OP doesn't like MaCs, they are not for everyone.

 

[mbphotox]

I was just taking the mickey... out of people who cannot hear anything in the frequencies where differences between 16bit and 24bit could exist.. and that starts at age 25, already...

and out of people who believe that two solid amps sound any different. (solid as in "solid state, good design, meeting specs")

I don't take it as an insult, but you really should try to convince someone else...

 

[jayvis]

I was just taking the mickey... out of people who cannot hear anything in the frequencies where differences between 16bit and 24bit could exist.. and that starts at age 25, already...

and out of people who believe that two solid amps sound any different. (solid as in "solid state, good design, meeting specs")

I don't take it as an insult, but you really should try to convince someone else...

OK, sorry for wasting your time. You probably shouldn't ask for component suggestions on audio forums if you're going to dog some of the suggestions. Maybe just state that you don't want any other suggestions beyond the items on your wish list. Good luck with the new baby.

As you insult the OP. What a hoot.

My wife used to listen to music with me all of the time until her hearing started going south about 10 years ago. When I ask her how something sounds to her now (with hearing aids), she says that her opinion wouldn't mean much because things don't sound the same to her anymore. It made me wonder if or how audio enthusiasts with failing hearing evaluate any potential purchases. Just noticed that this particular forum is supposed to be for NEW gear only. I got thrown off when the OP only mentioned a few new items on the bottom of his list. The others are discontinued items.

 

[jayvis]

You really need to let it go.
The OP doesn't like MaCs, they are not for everyone.

Never said that they were. Just made a suggestion and the OP replied with post #7, which could also be considered to be insulting, instead of just saying what you just did. When you reply with some attitude, you should expect to get a little back.

 

[mbphotox]

Never said that they were. Just made a suggestion and the OP replied with post #7, which could also be considered to be insulting, instead of just saying what you just did. When you reply with some attitude, you should expect to get a little back.

I didn't insult you... sure, I called McIntosh ugly amplifiers and explained why I, the guy asking for suggestions, did not like nor want any of their amps.

That's when you insulted me and kept pressing on about how great they are.


Sorry for your wife.

As a matter of fact, my hearing is still pretty good.
I can hear frequencies ranging a lot higher than the average person my age. Still cannot claim to have absolute pitch, nor sinesthesia, nor the ability to hear cables and DACs "sound".

(people just don't realise how their hearing has degraded, until kids scream in pain when the cat shoo tweeter goes off and you cannot hear a thing)

 

[mbphotox]

OK, sorry for wasting your time. You probably shouldn't ask for component suggestions on audio forums if you're going to dog some of the suggestions. Maybe just state that you don't want any other suggestions beyond the items on your wish list. Good luck with the new baby.

My wife used to listen to music with me all of the time until her hearing started going south about 10 years ago. When I ask her how something sounds to her now (with hearing aids), she says that her opinion wouldn't mean much because things don't sound the same to her anymore. It made me wonder if or how audio enthusiasts with failing hearing evaluate any potential purchases. Just noticed that this particular forum is supposed to be for NEW gear only. I got thrown off when the OP only mentioned a few new items on the bottom of his list. The others are discontinued items.

Also, this forum is for modern amps, not "2023 gear only"

as far as I understood, it's about gear we wouldn't consider "vintage" yet, because that one's the only other forum about good value gear.
And a 2014 Yamaha should hardly be considered "vintage".
(Although, the Accuphase certainly is more of a vintage one.. I just listed it because it's in my budget and it's pretty)



Now, can we go back, then?


Pretty, silver, stereo amplifier (integrated) with balanced inputs and VU meters around 1000-2500 USD

Any suggestions?

 

[jayvis]

That's when you insulted me and kept pressing on about how great they are.

So, offering a suggestion after you asked for some insulted you? You better save your amp search till after that little one comes. I can understand the stress that comes with that.