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Need an integrated amp that sounds engaging at lower volume

May I please have any recommendations for an integrated streaming amp to match with Sonus Faber bookshelf speakers? My best friend wants help picking out a stereo, he's no audiophile, but he loves and collects music and he can afford a decent stereo. He wants the Sonus Fabers, so the speakers are fairly settled.

I don't stream music much but that's all he does. I have a Hegel H200 which I love but my concern is that this amp seems kind of laid back at low volume, and this guy listens to music at fairly low volume, otherwise I'd recommend a Hegel H360/390.

So I'm thinking something with a little kick and nice midrange at lower volumes would be perfect, but I would appreciate suggestions very much b/c I never had bookshelves and I like music fairly loud. If there's an amp that fits the bill under $4,000 all the better.

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

sloane27
auroravengeance's avatar
auroravengeance
134 posts
 

If you still can find one, I think Sony TA-A1ES would be perfect. I am using one now and first 15 watts as Class A is enough for most bookshelves. 

I think Denon PMA-A110 is also a highly biased design so should be good too. I’ve heard this once paired to Q Concept 300 and it sounded pretty good. 

Yamaha AS-1200 or AS-2200 is a safe bet as well.
 

 

jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 

If you still can find one, I think Sony TA-A1ES would be perfect. I am using one now and first 15 watts as Class A is enough for most bookshelves. 

while i heartily also endorse the ta1 1es - what a spectacular amp and wonderful value it is, i think what will suit the op best is a unit with a loudness feature - i think the yamaha's still have them right?

auroravengeance's avatar
auroravengeance
134 posts
 

I don’t think any of those I listed above have ‘loudness’ button. I was looking at Luxman’s website and it seems their current integrated do not have ‘loudness’ button too. Seems like this feature has gone the way of dinosaur?

wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 

Every good amp sounds weak at low volume, and if it doesn't it's gonna sound awful at higher levels...boosted bass and treble...no no no (like classic 70's JBL speakers with a response curve like a smile). If you gotta have that "smile" at low levels maybe get a Schiit Loki EQ and you can deal with ol' Fletcher Munson readily. 

itsjustme
681 posts
 

Most electronics work fine at low volumes.  Its your ears that don't. Its called the fletcher-munson curve and is why stuff used to have "loudness" buttons or knobs to compensate.  Mechanical things like speakers have a larger variation at low volume, but its still small. So its likely irrelevant.  I know of very few good quality amps with loudness.  with the advent of DSP (for example in ROON) it may be possible to replicate though, with some research and programming.

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