Better Integrated Amp?

IF you can find Speakers, local pick up, and can listen at seller’s, and get right to return, you will know condition, sound quality, and option of easy return without packaging/shipping.

Only 30 wpc, buy speakers later? Hmmmmm

That presumes you eventually buy efficient speakers, I would want more like 92 db/1w/1m. Often more efficient speakers are large, and big cabinets get expensive, as well as hard to fit.

I think it is best to concentrate on what speakers will fit/perform well in your listening space, always preferring higher efficiency, and once speakers are solved, then how much power is needed?

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I read somewhere recently that low bass is about 65% of the work an amp has to do. I want to retrace my steps to find it again.

Sooo, if you go first to a self powered sub (or two), then to your amp (after bass has been taken out of the signal), the amp will have a much easier job to do, AND, the mains will also do a better job with highs, mids, upper bass, not trying to make low bass.

Thus: buying a 30wpc amp may be enough, if you get efficient mains for highs and mids, and self powered sub-woofer(s) for low bass.
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However, that presumes you have a preamp out to the sub, then from sub to amp. Keep that in mind when choosing your integrated amp.

At that budget, I am going to suggest Vintage Receiver with Vintage Speakers (or used newer speakers) to start, and upgrade in the future.

Vintage Receiver will give you several inputs, volume and balance, and MM phono built in. I also suggest getting one with ’loudness’ built in IF you listen at low volume at times. Get one with preamp out, or a tape loop, so you have the option of going out to self powered sub and back into receiver for mains.

Speakers: Vintage or Newer Used have two advantages:

1. less cost
2. buy local pickup and listen at sellers before committing, and get right to return

Speaker Type:

1. Efficient. Start trying to find higher sensitivity higher ___ db/1 watt/ 1 meter for a few reasons.

a. they need less power, saves money now and future upgrades
b. less needed power = smaller amp, lighter, less heat, greater flexibility of location
c. when you try tubes, higher efficiency speakers will keep you in the category of less watts per channel, thus more affordable, smaller, lighter, less heat, flexibility of location

2. Avoid ports, if port, front facing, to avoid muddy reflections from sides, rear surfaces.

3. remember idea of out to self powered sub then sub to amp (or back to receiver) then to main speakers, gives advantages to both amp (or receiver) and advantages to main speakers.

4. IF trying 3 above, I recommend a pair of self-powered subs, front firing, adjacent to mains, to preserve stereo location of bass player. Bass fundamentals and the related overtones give directionality.