The French
Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2021
- Messages
- 39
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- 29
Good Evening or morning,
I do have a pair of 20yo bookshelf speakers (Boston VR-M50), a Klipsch subwoofer, and a 12 years old Denon Ceol all in one amplifier.
As I'll be moving in a much bigger house soon, I want to change the amplifier. to get more power, and a nice piece of equipment.
I would have probably kept my Denon amplifier it the sun hasn't turned it half yellow (it was originally white, and made of plastic)
As new house means new credit, I won't spend more than 600€/ $600 max
As a headphones guy, ASR is my reference. It's been some time since I haven't buy something without the "approval" of a good measurement.
And ASR has never failed me.
But for a speaker amplifier, the equation seems more complex. Everybody doesn't have a dedicated room to listen to music, so I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one looking for a kinda classy amplifier.
If a Topping combo may looks good on a desk, it's not that sexy in a living room, a territory shared with wife and kids.
So my new amp should have/be :
Integrated (with a DAC)
At least 40W under 8 Ohms (the room is 40m2)
A subwoofer output (or a preout so it can feed the Sub)
An optical input
Ideally silver (don't ask me...)
And here is my final list (necessarly second hand) :
Yamaha RN803D : measured by Amir, not fantastic but recommanded, with many differents features but Room EQ means noise floor which is a bummer. As Bulky as an AVR.
Rotel A12 : not measured, seems to have everything I need, not as tall as the Yamaha which is great (not as powerfull either).
Nuprime IDA8 : not measured, but I bet it would probably be the best measured of this list. But It also looks like a toy, not very sexy (to me).
Cambridge CXA60 : not measured (the CXA81 has, nothing special but an issue when the USB input is plugged), several hifi award, very sexy to me in silver, but several reports of electronic issues.
Denon PMA600NE : not measured, looks nice, not that expensive, but it leaves me totally cold.
I'm maybe too old to give up my need for a nice amplifier, and it seems there is still a huge gap between the newer cheap Class D amplifier, and the ancient world, where higher price will make the reputation.
In other word, when will the Chinese make an affordable, reliable metal made amplifier ? (unless they already do)
I'm pretty sure I'll be very happy with either 1 of the 5 listed above, but I would have loved to get that satisfaction of having a well measured device.
If you've got recommandation based on my criterias...
I do have a pair of 20yo bookshelf speakers (Boston VR-M50), a Klipsch subwoofer, and a 12 years old Denon Ceol all in one amplifier.
As I'll be moving in a much bigger house soon, I want to change the amplifier. to get more power, and a nice piece of equipment.
I would have probably kept my Denon amplifier it the sun hasn't turned it half yellow (it was originally white, and made of plastic)
As new house means new credit, I won't spend more than 600€/ $600 max
As a headphones guy, ASR is my reference. It's been some time since I haven't buy something without the "approval" of a good measurement.
And ASR has never failed me.
But for a speaker amplifier, the equation seems more complex. Everybody doesn't have a dedicated room to listen to music, so I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one looking for a kinda classy amplifier.
If a Topping combo may looks good on a desk, it's not that sexy in a living room, a territory shared with wife and kids.
So my new amp should have/be :
Integrated (with a DAC)
At least 40W under 8 Ohms (the room is 40m2)
A subwoofer output (or a preout so it can feed the Sub)
An optical input
Ideally silver (don't ask me...)
And here is my final list (necessarly second hand) :
Yamaha RN803D : measured by Amir, not fantastic but recommanded, with many differents features but Room EQ means noise floor which is a bummer. As Bulky as an AVR.
Rotel A12 : not measured, seems to have everything I need, not as tall as the Yamaha which is great (not as powerfull either).
Nuprime IDA8 : not measured, but I bet it would probably be the best measured of this list. But It also looks like a toy, not very sexy (to me).
Cambridge CXA60 : not measured (the CXA81 has, nothing special but an issue when the USB input is plugged), several hifi award, very sexy to me in silver, but several reports of electronic issues.
Denon PMA600NE : not measured, looks nice, not that expensive, but it leaves me totally cold.
I'm maybe too old to give up my need for a nice amplifier, and it seems there is still a huge gap between the newer cheap Class D amplifier, and the ancient world, where higher price will make the reputation.
In other word, when will the Chinese make an affordable, reliable metal made amplifier ? (unless they already do)
I'm pretty sure I'll be very happy with either 1 of the 5 listed above, but I would have loved to get that satisfaction of having a well measured device.
If you've got recommandation based on my criterias...
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