Have a Denon AVR-X3000 re-purposed for 2-channel music listening and looking to upgrade into a 2-channel integrated to:
- Drive 2-ohm loads (electrostats)
- A/B A+B output (for demo'ing)
- Sub pre-out(s)
- Typical inputs plus...
- Phono input (MM is fine)
- DAC for...
- Bluetooth AptX (for Prime Music from tablet)
- Wifi (for NAS FLAC library and Tidal streaming)
- USB would be nice too (never have enough connectivity)
- Prefer full 17-1/8" component size
- On-screen menu (HDMI output)
- Would be great if it had some room correction mic/software
The closest I'm finding is NAD C368 or C388 with MDC DD-BluOS card added (for wifi), nothing fits the bill from Yamaha, Denon or Marantz. Those MDC cards are expensive, and don't think room correction/mic software is included.
After reading this list, seems I'm basically looking for a Denon/Marantz AVR stripped of surround channels and beefed-up to push 2-ohm loads. And why don't they make that - especially Marantz?
Amazing how fast one can become accustomed to a feature set (Denon), then you go looking for one change (push 2-ohms) and realize almost no-one (except sister Marantz) has caught up with them on usability/connectivity/features.
Maybe they figure for the price of NAD C388 with a couple expansion modules (BluOS and HDM-1 or 2) you could just buy the AVR-X8500H flagship and that probably solves the 2-ohm problem too - especially if you're only running 2 of 13 channels. With that many channels you could probably bi-amp A+B and run different sources in two other rooms at the same time.
Is there any other model (old or new) to consider that checks all the boxes?
What's really outrageous about that is you could probably also run separate video streams to those other rooms too.
Please help, think I just sold myself an X8500 - and I don't need 75% of what it can do.
