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First Post Looking for Integrated Amplifier

Hello Forum!

My name is Justin and I am a newcomer to the forum (recommended by a friend). I'm looking for help on choosing an amp,integrated amp, or receiver. Currently, I have an older receiver that works great for TV, DVD and video games but lacks when I play my albums through it (there is not phono input). I have a preamp which helps but I still have to turn the volume up to about 90%. I would say that my primary focus is to get a receiver or amplifier that is more well rounded - especially for my vinyl.

I'm budgeting about $300 and something middle-of-the-road. If that budget is a bit low I would love some insight.

For speakers, I have two Sony SSF-5000s (150-watt, 8 ohms). I have to admit that I'm not too sure on what the impedance is.

Any help, recommendation, knowledge is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
jharris89
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
The Onkyo integrated that Chayro proposed looks to be a very fine unit indeed! For $399 brand new, that's the way I would go...

-RW-
priptonite
9 posts
 
Hi all,

In a similar boat to OP. Just got a Pro-ject Debut Carbon for Christmas but am buying the speakers and amp for myself. I nabbed some Klipsch RB-81s off eBay so all that's left is the amp. I've read that the Rega Fono Mini was pretty much the best budget phono stage for MM cartridges and was planning on getting it + an amp w/o a phono stage. How would the Marantz 6004 compare to the Rega Fono Mini + ~$300 amp?
tortilladc
121 posts
 
+1 on the Music Hall. It's a great little performer with a good feature set. If something goes wrong, you can get Roy Hall on email for help (it's happened to me with a headphone amp of theirs).

Otherwise, keep an eye out for used gear in the price range and looks for reviews on them as they come up.
doug99
288 posts
 
Jharris89 just go to your local Hi Fi store and you'll see 2 channel receivers for the price you mentioned from Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Sony and Harmon Kardon.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,107 posts
 
Pick up a NAD integrated amp or receiver with MM and MC phono inputs either here or on ebay. That should get you squared away pretty well.

What model phono cartridge is being used? IS it MM, MC or something else?

Phono level issues might be related to cartridge type, especially if using a lower output Moving Coil (MC) type cartridge. You need a phone pre-amp designed for a MC cart in order to get the proper gain out of the box if the cart is MC. MM (Moving magnet)type carts are typically higher level output than MC but still require a special phono pre-amp in order to get proper gain.
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