2. amps-preamps
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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
13 responses Add your response
zd542
5,339 posts
 
What kind of preamp are you going to use?
bondmanp
1,804 posts
 
You refer to a budget without disclosing it. But, I would think the Odyssey Audio Khartago would meet your requirements.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Are tube amps a possibility, can it be used?? If so you may want to look at Rogue or a new company, albeit Chinese, with fabulous looks and great reveiws, called Line Magnetic.
soix
9,417 posts
 
B&W speakers are frequently paired with Classe electronics, and they may give you the sonic characteristics you're looking for. McIntosh may also be a good option. For a turntable I'd look at something like a VPI Traveler with something like a Bellari phono preamp assuming you need one and maybe an Ortofon or Grado cartridge. As Zd542 mentioned above your preamplifier will be critical as well, and as Bondmanp mentioned a budget would be helpful in making recommendations here.

As for your DAC, it may sound fine now but once you upgrade your other stuff you'll probably want to upgrade that too (and cables/interconnects too -- it never ends). Given your tastes maybe a Metrum Octave or Wavelength Proton would be good choices. Best of luck.
steuspeed's avatar
steuspeed
501 posts
 
Skimming the classifieds. There is a nice Forte 5 for $400.
yahoochaz
67 posts
 
Would help to know your price range, but assuming it's somewhere in the middle, I'd look at Marantz offerings for an integrated and Parasound for separates. I've had good luck and good sound with both.
vladsky OP
5 posts
 
Thanks to everyone for the great advice! I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear - I want to get an integrated amp. My budget is under a thousand, maybe a little more for the amp and the turntable. I've used DJ turntables in the past and know a few things about cartridges (I'm an Ortofon fan, personally). I want to update my system with a newer stereo integrated amp, add Sonos (or similar, if there are better options), and add the turntable. The music I would most listen to on vinyl would be classical, jazz, classic rock; lots of piano, violin, sax and guitar. So the question remains, what's the best integrated I should look for?
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,641 posts
 
Check out Rogue Audio Sphinx,it has all the options you want.
truemaineiac's avatar
truemaineiac
249 posts
 
$1K for amp and turntable? So the integrated amp has to have a phono stage too?
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)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004KSN0ZU/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=1368992163&sr=1-8
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
185 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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