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First Post Looking for Integrated Amplifier

Hello Forum!

My name is Justin and I am a newcomer to the forum (recommended by a friend). I'm looking for help on choosing an amp,integrated amp, or receiver. Currently, I have an older receiver that works great for TV, DVD and video games but lacks when I play my albums through it (there is not phono input). I have a preamp which helps but I still have to turn the volume up to about 90%. I would say that my primary focus is to get a receiver or amplifier that is more well rounded - especially for my vinyl.

I'm budgeting about $300 and something middle-of-the-road. If that budget is a bit low I would love some insight.

For speakers, I have two Sony SSF-5000s (150-watt, 8 ohms). I have to admit that I'm not too sure on what the impedance is.

Any help, recommendation, knowledge is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
jharris89
jharris89 OP
4 posts
 
Sorry for my late response and thanks for all your help! I wasn't expecting all these responses so quickly! To answer some of your inquiries:

- My turntable is a Miida T3115 (not sure of the cartridge - just found it in my local vinyl store and it sounded good compared to what I originally had)

- My preamp is a TCC TC750 and it has a MM cartridge

Seems like general consensus is a NAD integrated amplifier will satisfy my needs. Any model recommendations? I run two tower speakers and a subwoofer through my existing set up and would want to keep it the same. Also have my TV and an aux cord for when I plug in my MP3 player to it.

Thanks!
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
You will need a pre-amp out rca's w/you're int. amp. I know the Nad 326BEE has them but the 316BEE does not. I'm running a small NAD 302 which is rated 20w per ch. and does a fine job w/my bookshelf spks. I'm using a Definitive Tech sub w/this system. On my 302 I internally connected the pre-amp out to pre-amp in w/a cooper wire. This leaves me without having to use jumpers AND I now have a set of pre-amp out jacks to run a set of interconnect cables to my sub. You could also do this w/two sets of y-rca cables. One rca in...two rca out. (I hope I'm not too confusing in my description.) I will say this little 302 is a very nice int. amp. There's also the Nad 312. I owned the big brother of these two, the Nad 314 (35w per ch.) and IMO the 302 sounds better. So, under $150 you're set. And if you decide to go w/an NAD 302/312, most likely you will keep it for a very, very long time. Hope this helps, Bill.
jharris89 OP
4 posts
 
Kotta,

Thanks for your response. Let me know if i'm following this correctly. If there are pre-amp outs on a NAD or any other integrated amp, that's what I should be hooking my subwoofer to? I apologize for my lack of knowledge, but I'm used to receivers that have a "subwoofer" output labeled already.
jharris89 OP
4 posts
 
NAD 320BEE

Does anyone recommend this? I found one locally on CL and it's listed for $180.
doug99
288 posts
 
Jharris, someone who owns the NAD320BEE integrated amp did a review on it 10 years ago.
http://www.audioasylum.com/reviews/Integrated-Amplifier-SS/NAD/320BEE/amp/48695.html
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