2. amps-preamps
  3. 1367852224

Advice for a two channel amp

I would like to upgrade my amp. The one I have now is a Marantz SR5400, it's a 6.1 channel setup and the only great thing about it is the built-in DAC, which renders pretty great sound. What's not changing is the speaker set - Bowers & Wilkins 602 S3 - love the sound of these speakers. I want to upgrade to a two-channel amp and add a turntable to my set up. So, in essence, I'll be playing music mostly from my iPad 2 or my iPhone when it's just for background noise. And when I really want to tune everything out and put on a great record, I'll use the turntable. The speakers are rated at 85W, so anything from 100/ch is good. So far, I've only found the Nad amps to be quite good in my price range, but they are rather dull-looking and the sound is not quite as natural as I'd like. I am a big fan of the mid-heavy, natural-sounding setups - not too crisp, not too muffled. I wouldn't use an equalizer, or anything, just want a simple setup - amp, speakers, turntable and probably Sonos. That's it for now. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I'm still a bit of a novice in this whole thing :)
vladsky
liquid-smooth
48 posts
 
You can get a used adcom pre and power - make sure it's the later model with 4 no.s GFA-5400 power amp, as the earlier had problems of blowing up speakers when they fail.

Their pre amps have Phono stage - just make sure the model no. supports it just in case.

You can pick them up for less than $500, and you can get Rega RP-1 turntable with performance pack for $449 on amazon now (used white one)
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"$1K for amp and turntable? So the integrated amp has to have a phono stage too?"

A couple of things to keep in mind if you are approaching TT's from the perspective of a DJ. I believe most DJ style turntables take a different kind of cart. They don't get mounted to the headshell like most "non-pro" TT's. Also, I know some DJ TT's have a built in phono preamp. If so, you need to know if you can bypass it. If not, you'll be forced to use the internal one on the TT.
go4vinyl
192 posts
 
Try a Denon PMA2000IVR - probably around 500 USD used and has built in MM/MC phono...fantastic value for money.
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