Wow! Thank you, guys! Keep going, don't stop :)
Cheers!
Mihai
Cheers!
Mihai
High quality amplifier and network player >200W <$5000
Here's a puzzle for you, Hi-Fi gear experts.
I would like an integrated amplifier or a power amplifier + network player combo that..
has the following:
- is a 2-channel Class AB amplifier
- delivers at least 100W into 8 ohms at THD+N < 0.05%
- preferably delivers at least 200W into 8 ohms at THD+N < 0.01%
- can dive down to 2 ohms for musical transients (my Canton Reference 5K speakers go down to 3 ohms)
- can play 192k FLAC files from a DLNA server or USB Hard Drive (DSD and MQA playback are a plus)
- can be controlled via a remote and a mobile app
- MSRP is below $5000 (the less, the better - I am also open to buy used)
- no need to mention I am looking for the best sound quality I can get
doesn't necessarly need to have the following:
- tone controls
- Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, Napster, etc.
- FM Radio
- internet radio
- a ton of digital and analogue inputs and outputs
- subwoofer out
- Headphones amplifier
- multiroom
- Bluetooth
- other extra features besides the ones listed above
Here are some candidates I already identified in the marketplace - with their downsides:
- The combo Cambridge Audio Azur 851N+851W: no real downsides, but I am convinced I can get better amp performance in this price range :)
- Yamaha R-N803D: has a lot of extra features I don't need and only delivers 100W at 0.019% THD; but is quite cheap @ $800
- Hegel H360: not very clear if the DLNA functionality works only with a network storage - seems that it needs an uPnP-capable media player. Price is quite high (around $6000 new; however on the used market dives down to $3000)
- Rotel RT-1570 + RB-1582 MKII: streamer is entry-level, amp doesn't have very good reviews
- NAD M32 + BluOS v2: is a class D amplifier
- Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225: has a lot of extra features I don't need (CD Player, ripper)
Notes:
- I use Canton Reference 5K speakers (https://www.canton.de/en/reference-k/reference-5-k) and I mostly listen to Jazz and Classical music with a dash of Pop from time to time.
- I would, of course, preffer a one-box solution to my puzzle :)
If you have other recommendations, please enlighten me!
Thank you very much in advance!
I would like an integrated amplifier or a power amplifier + network player combo that..
has the following:
- is a 2-channel Class AB amplifier
- delivers at least 100W into 8 ohms at THD+N < 0.05%
- preferably delivers at least 200W into 8 ohms at THD+N < 0.01%
- can dive down to 2 ohms for musical transients (my Canton Reference 5K speakers go down to 3 ohms)
- can play 192k FLAC files from a DLNA server or USB Hard Drive (DSD and MQA playback are a plus)
- can be controlled via a remote and a mobile app
- MSRP is below $5000 (the less, the better - I am also open to buy used)
- no need to mention I am looking for the best sound quality I can get
doesn't necessarly need to have the following:
- tone controls
- Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, Napster, etc.
- FM Radio
- internet radio
- a ton of digital and analogue inputs and outputs
- subwoofer out
- Headphones amplifier
- multiroom
- Bluetooth
- other extra features besides the ones listed above
Here are some candidates I already identified in the marketplace - with their downsides:
- The combo Cambridge Audio Azur 851N+851W: no real downsides, but I am convinced I can get better amp performance in this price range :)
- Yamaha R-N803D: has a lot of extra features I don't need and only delivers 100W at 0.019% THD; but is quite cheap @ $800
- Hegel H360: not very clear if the DLNA functionality works only with a network storage - seems that it needs an uPnP-capable media player. Price is quite high (around $6000 new; however on the used market dives down to $3000)
- Rotel RT-1570 + RB-1582 MKII: streamer is entry-level, amp doesn't have very good reviews
- NAD M32 + BluOS v2: is a class D amplifier
- Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225: has a lot of extra features I don't need (CD Player, ripper)
Notes:
- I use Canton Reference 5K speakers (https://www.canton.de/en/reference-k/reference-5-k) and I mostly listen to Jazz and Classical music with a dash of Pop from time to time.
- I would, of course, preffer a one-box solution to my puzzle :)
If you have other recommendations, please enlighten me!
Thank you very much in advance!
Showing 2 responses by mihai0711
To whom landed here from Google searches and might have a simmilar dillema - some explanations below. First, my rationale: I wanted clear, articluate, punchy bass. Therefore, I went for a floor-stander that goes down to 20Hz. Or at least to 25Hz. And I don't mean the 25Hz written in the spec sheet (-10dB/1m), but the one in tests, with room response at -6dB/2.5m. Further on, I looked for an amp that can sustain and control that bass. That is - at least 200W into 8 ohms which must double into 4 ohms. Also, for crystal-clear vocals and sparklinkg instruments (piano, violin, guitar), one must go for the best mid-range there is (usually only found in the reference series of speakers). Therefore, for top-notch sound in the bass and mid-range, you'd want a "flagship", "higher-end", "signature", "reference", "top of the line" amplifier and speakers, plus cabling, room treatment and good speaker positioning. Here are the finalists - partially extracted from StereoPlay's latest rank (June 2019) combined with my personal research. https://www.connect.de/filedownload/documents/118662796/610-rang-und-namen-stereoplay-2019-06.pdf Reference class A/B amps with DAC and at least 200W/8 ohm which doubles into 4 ohms (approximate MSRP prices): - Gryphon Diablo 300 (18k with DAC) - Mark Levinson Nº 585 (14k) - McIntosh MA9000 (13k) - Hegel H590 (10k) - Maranz PM10 (Class D, 10k) - Audionet DNA (10k) - Perreaux 255i (8k) - Krell Digital Vanguard (7.8k) - Anthem STR (6k) - Hegel H390 (6k) Reference Speakers that in-room go below 30Hz at -6dB/2.5m (approximate MSRP prices): - KEF Blade Two (25k) - Bowers & Wilkins 802 D3 (22k) - Canton Reference 1K (20k) - Monitor Audio Platinum PL500 II (20k) - Focal Sopra No. 3 (20k) - Audio Physic Avantera III (20k) - Dynaudio Confidence 30 (20k) - KEF Reference 5 (19k) - Sonus Faber Amati Tradition (18k) - Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 (17k) - Wilson Audio Sabrina (16k) - Focal Sopra No. 2 (14k) - Focal Kanta No. 3 (13k) - Canton Reference 3K (10k) - Dynaudio Contour 60 (10k) - Nubert nuVero 170 (9k) - Bowers & Wilkins 804 D3 (9k) I got (May 2019) a Hegel H590 + Canton Reference 3K combo for ~9k euro (MSRP 20k) and they sound heavenly The Canton Reference 3K in-room goes just a bit below 30Hz - but for lower bass I had to spend more - much more :( The Hegel H590 best matched what I was searching for because of its detailed, neutral, crystal-clear DAC/amp and bass control. Also the lack of phono amp, headphone amp, tone controls, fancy/gloomy aesthetics and other features that I don't use/need - instead, the H590 focuses only on the things that matter to me the most: detailed sound, musicality, bass control, dynamics (it can deliver up to 2.2kW per channel into 1 ohm!), noise floor, quality DAC, basic streamer, minimal design etc. Note that I listen mostly to acoustic music - jazz, ambient, chill-out, piano, instrumental and classical in a 25 square meter room. Cheers! |