Best Integrated 50wpc under 600 used


I am being honest...after some recent problems...my budget's dropped from 1000 to 600....i'd rather starve than sacrifice on HiFi (I'm a student)
I wanted to know what are the best deals around
so far I've heard about 5350 by creek ($1000 +)
YPA complete
Cambridge <--- ??
has anyone heard the creek 4340?
isn't there anyone out there like outlawaudio.com that has low profit margins for 2-channel amps
I want really clean sound. I am not choosey about ss or tube....I have home made high efficiency speakers.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
subdoofus
I don't believe there is a "best." There are a few well built solid state integrated amps in that price range and they will vary more in power rating and features than in sound, (to me.) I own and have enjoyed 3 of them: Creek 4330R, Audio Refinement Complete, and Creek 5350SE. The 5350SE is beyond the price range. The ARC by YBA is wonderful as well and will be just barely at your price, used, if you are lucky. (I paid $850 for a demo.) The Creek 4330R is remote controlled, has a pre-out if you want to add a subwoofer later, and is much more powerful than its 35W rating. I have never heard the 4340. Look at the 4330. Save some dough and buy some more music. Study hard. Charlie
I just downsized my main system from a separate preamp and tube monoblock amps which retailed for about $4K to an Audio Refinement Complete integrated. While the ARC has not burned in yet, I am very impressed with it. The sonic differences between it and my old gear have no relationship to the difference in cost and would not be obvious unless you have very revealing speakers. However, if you are a student and listen mainly to rock, you may want to consider an NAD integrated. Not as refined as the ARC, but much cheaper.
I have owned Creek 4330R integrated amp.
It uses passive preamplifier part which has only attenuator, tape monitor and component switch. For the bucks this amp does more than you'll pay for it. You should probably have to have a good quality source with stable output voltage of about 2...3volts preferably with no negative feedback for its best performance. I've had it with Arcam Alpha 8 CD-player and I loved it. The better source you'll hook up the better sound you'll get -- no bounds!
I'd buy a Linn Majik integrated amp - compact, flexible and great sounding - you can definitely find one used for $500-550. -Kirk