Best used amp for around 500

Dklap, I'm also using a Denon receiver (AVR-3801) as a pre-amp for two channel music. I recently bought an Acurus A150 ($340 used here) to bypass the Denon's internal amps. I highly recommend doing this. The sound is much more dynamic and detailed. I also use an AudioPrism WaveGuide on the power cord to the receiver. This is a nice tweak in lieu of replacing the captive power cord. Highly recommended by a SoundStage reviewer for just this application.http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/audioprism_waveguide.htm.

The Audiogon member I bought the A150 from has another one for sale. If you're interested, email me and I can put you in touch with him. Whether you chose this amp or one of the others recommended here you won't be disappointed.

I say go integated so when you want nice 2 channel music you gain the advantage of a better quality preamp. I'm starting like you but the other way around. I bought a bryston integrated here on audiogon recently as my entry into high end and was going to get a Denon receiver to have surround sound, and IMHO, the B60 sounded better in 2 channel form than the Denon AVR5800. good luck

i ended up buying a used ODL (same as original odyssey stratos - long story, check the web). anyway, i'm having it upgraded and tweaked by klaus, the owner of odyssey. it sounds wonderful, and will sound even better when i get it back. it did hum a bit, but we'll see what odyssey can do in their transformation of the amp into a true stratos.

now i'm looking for a good multichannel so when i ditch the receiver and buy a new home theater processor (unfortunately, the system needs to perform both duties) i'll still have power. any suggestions here? better to go the 3 channel route? or a bridgeabel 4, 5, or 6 channel so i can add speakers later?

there's a parasound hca-806 for sale, but it only bridges 4 of the 6 channels. if i go that route, i'll bridge one set for the center, and have two dormant channels waiting around for a a couple rear center speakers....options, options.

You can probably find a used McCormack DNA-0.5 for around that price, and you have the flexibility to have it modded through SMcAudio by Steve McCormack in the future if you want to turn it into a real killer amp. Best of luck.

Tim

For quite awhile I went with a Sim I-5080 integrated and Denon 1801 combo. I'd recommend using the approach defined above if you want an integrated system .. using an IC from the receiver pre-outs to an input on the integrated. I'd also suggest you get an integrated that has an HT through-put input .. it worked very well for me (I've since moved on to tubes/separates).

steve