2. amps-preamps
  3. 191756-1541

Budget integrated amp?

Friend's amp is having issues and he asked me what was "good...for around $1000 new". Like me he is deep in the middle of the Pacific, actually deeper than me because he is on the Big Island of Hawaii, out in the desert/volcano area. I suggested the Schiit Ragnarok 2 which I have only read about but is on sale and has both good writeups and a 5 year warranty and is American made. Also, the Marantz PM6007, a few Rotel amps I read about that are on deal at Crutchfield (which ships to Hawaii free) and the Outlaw RR2160, which I have heard at another friend's. He is an older boomer like me and wants something like his old Marantz 2252B. I told him that those dont exist anymore. For those of you who might have head some of these am I giving him good ideas and have I missed anything substantive. He is not oriented to used and is on a tight budget. He is running both a CDP and an iFi streamer. Suggestions?

joekapahulu
gano
141 posts
 

it's not fun when poster disappears. 

helomech
1,673 posts
 

To me Yamaha makes some of the worst sounding amplifiers I've ever listened to.

I like the NAD C316BEE V2.  Class A/B analog integrated at 40 watts/channel that can hold its own against 100 watts/channel units.
 

 

Funny enough, I have had that thought about some of the NAD amps, but I’ve enjoyed most Yamaha integrateds.

 

Now if we were talking Yamaha’s AVRs, that’d be a different discussion altogether. 

vitussl101's avatar
vitussl101
172 posts
 

 Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier.  Retains the original esthetic and wonderfully musical without the overheating issues the original had at a price below the inflation rate with what the original went for.

emann50
14 posts
 

I’ve really enjoyed the Quad Vena 2 through Quad S1 speakers in a smallish room. Great sound to my pro musician ears. 

https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/amplification/integrated-amp/quad-vena-ii-integrated-amplifier/

jasonnewell's avatar
jasonnewell
13 posts
 

I have the Rotel RA-1592 and cannot say enough great things about it.  I'm no golden ear, but to me it sounds better than integrateds costing twice or thrice as much!

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