A Good Match?

Thanks everyone! Helpful responses.

Stanwal.... You're over my head with your impedance curve question. Heres some info on the Hales:http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/weaver16.htm

Arni: Any suggestions? Did I mention I'm on a budget?

Frogman: Good point... with my limited and layman's level of experience I could not have known that.

Rich: Ahhh! Some concrete recommendations. The Cambridge sounds good but no phono input....That can be added separately later... no? The Music Hall is also real straight forward and that appeals to me (and has phono). The NAD.... folks seem to complain about the exterior build & quality on this one. Any preference among the Cambridge or Music Hall? Thanks. Mike

I owned the NAD C320BEE and really liked it. See my comments . At this level, it is OK in terms of fit and finish, but just ok.

I like both the Cambridge Audio and the Music Hall, as well and have owned products from both. If phono needs to be considered, go with the Music Hall.

Rich

I looked at the review and impedance was not mentioned. The problem is this, a transistor amp attempts to double its power when you halve the impedance. A speaker with a low impedence minimum [ say 3 ohms or lower] may well try to draw more power from the amp than it can supply. My Gamut speakers have a low of 3 ohms and I cannot drive them with my Meridian amps, which drive my Spendors, which are 6 ohms minimum, with no trouble. Since these are speakers designed for HT they are unlikely to have a low impedance curve as HT amplifiers are not generally known as being especially powerful. But ?

Thanks Stanwal... I'm learning a lot here. So what you describe generally is a factual problem... but we're not sure if it applies with the Hales. Does anyone else know what the impedance minimum on the Hale's might be? An internet search on that is not revealing much to me.

Frogman: what do you think of pairing the Hales with the above mentioned Cambridge or Music Hall

Consider a used NAD 270 or 272. Affordable and good power w/some meat on the bones.