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Integrated amplifier recommendations, Please

Hello everybody. I am new to your board but have browsed the site countless times and from what I have read, I will value your input greatly. I have gotten the kids through college and now it's my time to play. I am a music enthusiast and have had and still do have a bunch of equipment that I use. It's not bottom of the line stuff by my standards, but it's time to move up.
I have never owned a dedicated amp/pre-amp or an integrated amp and I would like to start out by getting a decent used integrated, middle of the road, under $500.00 if possible. I have been doing a lot of looking on the web and it seems like NAD or Adcom might be a safe bet.
Am I on the wrong track?
Music interests are Jazz, Classical, Knopfler, Ambient and Floyd.
Speakers: Infinity Ref Five, Pinnacle, DIY..Looking to upgrade here too.
I thank you all very much in advance!
mtpockets1311
zmanastronomy's avatar
zmanastronomy
738 posts
 
I love my Almarro A318B amp. Here is a 6moons review on it.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/almarro5/318.html
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Almarro A318B is a very nice amp, but I would not recommend it to someone just breaking out of a receiver. Those tubes run hot, and the wattage is just too low without already having made a call on the speakers down the road, choosing an Almarro will really narrow speaker choices down the road and I'm not sure OP is there yet.
mtpockets1311 OP
2 posts
 
This is exactly what I expected when I signed up on your site. Very informative and well read advice. I am soaking it all in and just trying to sort it out.
I felt compelled to thank all of you before too long for fear of appearing ungrateful.
I am going to a local shop tomorrow to audition some B&W's and PSB's along with Onkyo, Mac and Marantz amps.
I'm gettin' there.
Thank you all again! And more suugestions are welcome of course.
Keep you posted to let you know how well I have been schooled.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Good, listen to complete systems. That's the best (better) way.
Others have said that simply choosing an amp without knowing at least something about proposed speakers is not a good idea are 100%.


I wouldn't recommend B&W with the Marantz, however. PSB? They make a bunch of different lines, right? and at competing price points?
I personally like simpler. At least the B&W makes sense of the lines they make.

Try to find a more ....upscale....store to listen to stuff and continue to try to hear complete systems. Start with a good SOURCE.
mtpockets1311 OP
2 posts
 
He said it was in his way in his woodshop, and if I wanted it, come and get it. I was surprised to see that it was in mint condition, wrapped in a box. It is a Nad 216 THX. I know I mentioned I wanted an integrated amp, but geeez!
This complicates things, (not complaining). My question is.......should I get a pre-amp and move on or go back to plan A. Is this amp worth a go in your opinion. If it is worth keeping, would I be best suited to match it with a Nad pre-amp? BTW I'm gonna give him one of my plunge routers in trade.
Thanks again!
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