I’m looking to use a digital amplifier with a Marantz 2226. Not looking to break the bank, maybe in the $50 range. I have several different vintage speakers that are four and 6 ohm, and a couple other that would just need more power. Just something to tinker around with. There’s a bunch out there, don’t need any bells or whistles, sound quality would be my main concern. Any recommendations or opinions would be appreciated, thanks!
When you say "use a digital amp with a Marantz" -- do you mean using the Marantz as a preamp (e.g. breaking or splitting the pre-out/main in to feed the amp)?
If so, technically, you'd want a "power amp" without a volume control -- but Fosi, for example only, makes monoblock power amps (
https://www.amazon.com/Fosi-Audio-V3-Mono-Amplifier/dp/B0D31M3DXY).
There's no harm in using one with a volume control of course, and that would give you the flexibility to also use the amp standalone alongside your Marantz if you wanted to use it in another room for example. The Fosi's integrated amps (with volume control) are available with or without tone controls -- you wouldn't need tone controls if the Marantz is acting as the preamp -- but if you decide to also use the small amp standalone, I've found it better to have tone controls on these types of amps (Fosi, Nobsound, Douk, etc.)
It would help to be crystal clear how you plan to use the amp with the Marantz.
As goods as Fosi's are, I think the Marantz will sound better if it is in good shape. 26 "vintage Marantz watts" per channel is a lot of watts for most traditional speakers unless you are really cranking it. Which speakers do you have that you don't think the Marantz can drive?
The mini amps -- while quite good -- seldom put out the power they say they do. They are highly efficient, so the best way to get a rough estimate of the actual power output is to look at the volt and amp output of the power supply. A 24-volt 4.5-amp power supply should yield around 48.6 wpc (24-volt * 4.5 amp * 0.9 efficiency) / 2.
