Best $600 integrated for Monitor Audio RX-2?


Hello Audiogoners,
I just acquired a pair of Monitor Audio RX-2 from a fellow Audiogoner and now I am looking for a ~$600 (used/new) integrated to drive them. Most stuff I read comes from home theater forums (my setup is stereo), and I could not find many options within my price range

One caveat: the amp needs to be 50/60 Hz (220v selectable even better!), since I am taking it with me to Argentina by the end of this year.

Room: approx 16 x 13 ft.

What do you guys think I should get within that price range? I read Marantz, Rega, NAD, and Arcam pair well with the Monitor Audio RX series("neutral toward bright" speakers?), but sound varies from model to model, both within and between brands. Thus, I need your advise!

Thanks a lot in advance

Luciano
128x128luciano33
Bo, your back! How's the audio sales business? I see your still promoting the brands you sell and trashing everything else as 2D.

In this case though, I am confused. Per your above post...
"Onkyo is the only brand who can give depth and wide in the lower price ranges. All other brands are almost 2D."
But then you suggest Primare and I quote you...
"Gives a 3 D stage with your speakers. Is a good combination for sound as well."

So there is something else beside Onkyo that is 3D? I guess you must sell Primare too.
I narrowed down to the Arcam FMJ-A18 and the Rega Brio-R. Now I need to decided which one I should get? Any suggestions? Thanks again in advance!
It is not about trashing. Every single person needs to get as many options as possible. It is a free world!!

It is only about letting people hear the options between different amps.

When you also do highend audio, it is special to give the same way of image for a lot less money.

I send my clients to other shops as well. Audio is all about comparing and listening.

The older primare like the I30 is a stunning integrated for the money you can get it. I Always look what a person wants and how much money they want to spend.

For 1500 dollar you can get a used I30.

The Arcam ( What I Sold far over 8 years of time) is in his price range one of the best sounding amps. Very involving. But it lacks the 3 D image.

I did run a shop for 2 years were I also sold Arcam. Primare is a higher price range. So for new amps you cannot compare.

I did do thousends of tests in audio for almost 16 years of time. I test every single amp of it is 2 or 3 dimensional.

I sold a lot Arcam in the lower price range in the past. That time I did not sell Onkyo.

When client buy Monitor Audio speakers with their amp they own. In the Neterlands it is often a Denon or Marantz.

I bring in a Onkyo as well. Then you understand what a much wider and deeper stage does with your music.

So they start saving money for an Onkyo. Audio can be very simple and convincing!

Cheers
I have to agree with the Onkyo(Integra) thing and it's 3D capabilities. I have a vintage pair of Klipsch Heresys(updated crossovers, tweeter) and the Integra DTM-40.4 stereo receiver driving them. This may sound crazy but before the Integra, I had a wonderful Luxman R-117 receiver and it was without a doubt the best sounding single piece of gear I had ever owned. It was powerful, warmish but with incredible detail, and the imaging/soundstage was unbelievable.

I found the DTM-40.4 on C-list and picked it up for a secondary system but demoed it with the Heresys. I could not believe my ears, it had about 80% the bass drive of the R-117, but trumped it in all other catagories, 3D imaging and detail.

I agonized for over a week between which would drive the Heresys and the Integra won out. Who would have thought? One fact that helped my decision to keep the Integra in it's place was it's network capabilities(wired and wireless) with Spotify and Pandora tuners on board, and it's ability to play music files from my PC.

The Onkyo TX-8050 is the Onkyo model of the Integra DTM-40.4

Bill