Integrated Amp Bargains with good balanced sound?

Three questions to start... 1) do you need remote, 2) do you need to fill a large room or drive inefficient speakers and 3) do you need onboard phono - if so, MM or MC or both?

Your answer to these will immediately cull your list to a select few choices.

Without knowing the answers, here are a few integrated amps I've heard that you might consider.

Musical Fidelity A220
Musical Fidelity A2
Naim NAIT 1
Rega Brio
Audio Refinement Complete (Alpha)
NAD c320bee
Jolida 302b
Cambridge Audio Azur 540A v2

There are lots of choices in that price range - be patient and you should be able to find any of the recommendations and resell with little or no loss until you find one you like.

Good luck!

Dkzzz--exactly the opposite on the NAD. I own the C325BEE and like it a lot. It has a warmer tonal balance than the Rotel. It's a great amp for the price, but you will need a phono stage.

Happy hunting!

Thank you for your help Soulbrass.
"Three questions to start... 1) do you need remote, 2) do you need to fill a large room or drive inefficient speakers and 3) do you need onboard phono - if so, MM or MC or both?
"
To answer your Qs:
1.Don't care either way about remote.
2.No large room, 12x24 feet.
3.Sonus Faber Concertino spkrs: Large Bookshelves.
4.On board Phono is a must, MM is fine.
No tubes! Solid Integrated Amp.

I guess that knocks out Jolida right away.

I have had an Audio Refinement Complete so count me in as another supporter. In reply to Karelfd, it does not have a phono stage. Alternatively if you stretched a little you could also get a Naim Nait.

Cheers

I gotta tell you - I love my denon pma-2000IVR and I can't belive the bargain agnitude on that one (600USD or so used)...GREAT phono stage as well (MC/MM)! One thing with this one - experiment with 'higher-end' power cords as the one that it comes with can easily be improved upon...I used a Denon DL 304 (0.18mV) phono cart and man it sounded good IMHO! try it!