college kid needs help with budget amps

If you end up with seperates, watch for a superphon preamp to go with your adcom. When in college I used a NAD integrated ... gobs of power for not alot of money. A dorm room is sure to present a host of problems that will more than likely overshadow all but the largest of differences between components. Integrateds will allow you to skip one set of high quality interconnects (more money for beer and dates). Thin resonant walls and hard, reflective floors and ceilings ... cover everything with rugs, wall hangings and shelves! Hope this helps.

I think a NAD integrated makes a lot of sense, used with more power if your speakers are inefficent, or new C350 if efficient, and you should have enough left over for a pair of headphones, say the Grado 150 (I think) for about $125. Headphones are the way to go if you'r ein a dorm and/or have roommates. And the NAD for the money is very good. I dont think you can find a preamp and amp for less than $500 that will be any better. I cant even think of a preamp under $500 that's any good at all, except for maybe a Creek passive or that passive preamp "Sam Tellig" has talked about. But then you dont get a headphone amp. And that is essential in close quarters, I think.

Cambridge Audio A3i is a great integrated used around $225 to 250; has decent phono stage. The new A300 version 2 is about the same power. Both have two sets of speaker terminals to make biwiring easy and cheap (don't need special cables). Also for used around $650 the Audio Refinement Complete is very very nice. These are all 50 watt amps.

For a great cheap pre-amp, look for a Superphon (used only). You should be able to find them from $150 to $300 depending on model and age. There are a couple listed on Audiogon now.

i have to echo praise for NAD. i'm a college student myself and got a used c340 for $300 about a month ago. it's all i could've asked for for the money