Another "Best" amplifier Question.

Have you listened to a tube amp yet?  You seem hung up on watts, don't be, it's a very misleading stat, just get a quality integrated.  You've got a small 2 way bookshelf design.  It's not going to need anywhere near the power of a large tower speaker with a half dozen or so drivers.  Check out the Willsenton R8.  You can buy them through Amazon, get free shipping and a 30 day return period.  

The Shiit combos Go over budget. Gotta ask, any love for Emotiva here? The Yamaha I was eying is gone. Emotiva BasX series looks really good from where I sit. X A2 amp is 160wpc @8 and 250@4. PT2 preamp has an awful nice feature set. All in for about half my budget. Would leave me some extra for accessories and interconnects. What think you?

At bare minimum $3k is a good Starting point ,for example a parasound A21+ 

there are many others how sensitive your speakers are is important ,and you want 

overhead for dynamics 

I like crown and the xti 6002 is a great amp with loads of power and control, this amp can drive nearly any speaker as long as it’s not more than 6000 watts and 3000 watts a channel at 2 ohms and can only bridge in 4 ohms to put out 6000 watts 

@llg98ljk Wrote:

My interest is getting the most I can from my new KEF R3 Metas. My Yamaha R-N500 will certainly play loud enough but in the interest of getting the best from them in terms of what many people here talk about, ie: Presence, bass control, sound stage, etc, I think I need a higher quality amp. The Yamaha is rated at 80 wpc at 8ohms and only 105@4. I feel that’s on the low side and believe erring on the high side is better.

I get it!

Separates will give you better sound quality then any receiver. The Vidar 2 amp is 100 watts @ 8Ohm, 200 watts @ 4Ohm and the Tyr amp is 200 watts @ 8Ohm, 400 watts @ 4Ohm. The TYR are true monoblock amps. I prefer monoblock amps, they have even better sound quality then a stereo amp. Hope that helps.😎

Mike

I believe separates are the way to go. For pre I like my Topping Pre90. Power amp I would get a Purifi based amp, from either March Audio or Audiophonics. Phono pre I would go Darlington MP-7, or whatever is left in the budget but their TOTL is quite affordable. I find balanced XLR connections are a great plus and the way to go.

Don't have golden ears. Far from it (I'm 75). My interest is getting the most I can from my new KEF R3 Metas. My Yamaha R-N500 will certainly play loud enough but in the interest of getting the best from them in terms of what many people here talk about, ie: Presence, bass control, sound stage, etc, I think I need a higher quality amp. The Yamaha is rated at 80 wpc at 8ohms and only 105@4. I feel that's on the low side and believe erring on the high side is better.

What improvements are you looking for and what sound characteristics are most important to you?

@llg98ljk,

Maybe a Schiit Vidar 2 amp and a Freya S or Freya+ preamp with a Mani phono stage. I prefer separates.

Mike

To be clear, my BlueSound node will handle my digital needs. Only missing a phono amp. Streaming, Bluetooth, wi-fi and hdmi ARC so my only preference in an integrated is for a phono stage.

The Marantz Model 40N also has an HDMI in for your TV:

https://www.marantz.com/en-us/product/amplifiers/model40n

I hit the post button too soon. 

The Music Fidelity M5si also has a phonostage and USB DAC. 180wpc into 8 ohms. Audio Advisor caries it and has a silver one discounted as open box. 

I am not familiar with the Yamaha or Marantz units you are considering so can't say how they stack up against MF or Rouge units.

Good luck in your search.

No interest in a receiver. I am intrigued by the Emotiva combo. 160 into 8ohms and 250 into 4. The JBL is class G and pumps 200 watts into 4ohms. Don’t know about reliability. I am also strongly drawn to the Yamaha A-S1200. I have a long history with them going back to 1978 when I acquired my monster CR2020 receiver. The AS-1200 is only rated at 90@8 and 140@4 but it has a 624va transformer and built like a tank (48lbs). It also is Crutchfield’s pick when I talked to them. Priced at 3K but I can find it open box or refurbed for what I am willing to spend. I’m a little leery of used unless from a reputable dealer with return policy.

At your price point the best option would be an integrated amplifier. 

The Music Fidelity M5si mentioned by russ69 would be one choice. 

Another would be the Rogue Sphinx V3 which delivers 100wpc into 8ohms and 200wpc into 40hms and has a good Phonostage based on the report in Stereophile. I own one however don't use a TT with it so can't say from personal experience on the phonostage.  They sell for $1700 or $1800 depending on remote. Audio Advisor sells them, sometimes have an open box one discounted.

Separates!

nice 2 ch amp 300WPC / min.

good preamp.

keep checking the Gon! You can get a great amp and pre for just a smidge over your max, 

get a 2 ch,amp, you will be happier, receivers don’t have the hang bag or musicality   
 To power a good speaker pair. 
you can go receiver, but when you want some vol, and you will, a separate amp is miles ahead of any receiver. 
more with brand names will chime. 
 

one of my Best Buy’s was n Onkyo p-308 and a p-304 preamps, both silent, and add. Wee bit of depth in the lower frequencies, not much, but enough to take any high pitch glare away. 
sure a receiver will play fine, but in this collective, having the power and headroom available , is a look head must have, as sooner or later, upgrade will come lurking, be ready. A nice Sunfire amp will be great, send to Flannerys for update nd urged, returned perfect, sent my sig 600 to him, still flawless , will power Any speaker I can afford.

if your set on a receiver, then forget what you’ve read, and go shopping. 

Musical Fidelity M5si. Right at $2K and has a lot of power.