If you don't even need the Denon for surround sound, and you want it under a grand, under seven hundred, you could get a sealelectronics.com amplifier kit which either of the two top of the line models would cost you less than $500 in parts and from there find a nice preamplifier at a good used price (or build one too) and sell the denon to help fund it all. The designer of the kits, Randy Slone, has a book on amplifier design which is good and full of other "state-of-the-art" designs. (I own a copy). If comparisons are important, on another site, which had a never ending thread on these amps (it went way off topic is why, funny that) one individual built two of his opti-mos kits and said they bettered his $3,500 Naim by far. But that would give you really nice sound for "pennies." The Van Alstine gear is good too, but you'll have to shell out $1,000 for one of their amps avahifi.com (built of course). I've heard Randy Slone is rather friendly so you could drop him a line and he could tell you alot.
Amp using a receiver as a pre or integrated?
I have a pair of Dynaudio 1.8 MK II's that I bought prior to the arrival of our baby boy. My wife has become a stay home mom, which has limited my potential for amplification upgrades.
I currently have a Denon AVR-85 that isn't designed to handle the 4 ohm loads of the Danes, but I could use the pre-outs and hook up an amplifier (e.g., Linn LK85), or I could tie in an integrated to the system (e.g., Audio Refinement Complete or NAD 370). I want to know which would sound better for 2-channel listening. I want to spend less than $700 if possible and will purchase good used equipment.
Room is about 12 x 16 with 8' ceilings. I don't listen loud, so I am looking for quality, not quantity of amplification. I listen to Jazz, classical, classic rock, and southern gospel music.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I currently have a Denon AVR-85 that isn't designed to handle the 4 ohm loads of the Danes, but I could use the pre-outs and hook up an amplifier (e.g., Linn LK85), or I could tie in an integrated to the system (e.g., Audio Refinement Complete or NAD 370). I want to know which would sound better for 2-channel listening. I want to spend less than $700 if possible and will purchase good used equipment.
Room is about 12 x 16 with 8' ceilings. I don't listen loud, so I am looking for quality, not quantity of amplification. I listen to Jazz, classical, classic rock, and southern gospel music.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
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- 5 posts total
- 5 posts total