$2000 Budget for a speaker + integrated amplifier

There's no way that the Nuforce Icon2 is going to be able to drive the 87db rated Gallo Reference Strada's. I have a pair of Strada's in my small office and they need a minimum of 25W RMS. The Icon2 is rated at 18W at 1khz with 1% distortion which makes it like a 4-5w RMS amp. BTW, the Strada's are a very nice speaker. I find myself almost listening to them more than my Martin Logan Summits.

Pre owned Rogue Cronus Tube integrated with Remote, phono able as well as Headphone out and a pair of Vandersteen 1Cs.
well supported and all made in USA....

James63 i am sure you were well intended
Having an AVR with an internal Micro processor causes hash
= harshness in a high quality 2 ch music system.
That is why most folks are not biting on them and are available so cheap.
Best Johnnyr

Audioconnection,

Yes I am aware of it (I have own both receivers and good separates) but I think we lose prospective here. His friend is clearly new to all of this and what we consider bad will most likely be the best system he as ever had at home. Many of the receivers processors can be bypassed, Arcam being one of them. But your point is justified and true. But really an integrated that is better than the receivers I listed will be as much as most of his budget (even used). Also I am assuming he needs the DAC that the NuForce icon 2 has.

If my budget was $2000 I would spend all most all of it on used speakers. Electronics are cheap until you get in the highend but they are all wasted if the speakers are the weakest link. Lets be honest at these price levels the speakers have far more problems than the electronics.

I can't think if a single pair of speakers that sell for under $1000 used that I would want to own. But $1500 on the used market opens up a lot of other options for speakers.

But that is what these forums are for, if we all agreed we would not need the forums.

I was under the impression that he's looking for something small and compact for a bedroom.

BTW: the amphions and John Blues are 86db - good luck driving them to anything but background levels with the nuforce.

The John Blue JB3's are absolutely remarkable speakers and very well suited for an office or bedroom system. I'm extremely happy with them in an office system driven by a Jolida FX-10 tube integrated that's rated at 10 watts. It has more than enough power for the JB3's in a 10"x10" space.