As I said in the post, for tv and movies. Speakers may change, but now are Monitor Audio Silver 6.
Smooth sounding integrated
I’m looking for a smooth sounding solid state integrated amp that is not muffled sounding for less the $1000. Is there anything like this? Years ago I had a Denon stereo receiver that sounded pleasant for tv and movies in our lively family room. A lot has changed since then and would like to try going down this road again, but with a better integrated amp for the family room.
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The Yamaha R-N803 receiver is an excellent choice. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_022RN803/Yamaha-R-N803.html?awcr=77515597474161&awdv=t&awkw=Ya... |
If you get a chance, try Yamaha 501/701/801 amplifiers. I have listened to 701 a lot and often and, surprise, with Monitor Audio Silver speakers (200? floorstanding, around $1500-2000?). In my opinion, much more detailed and overall better than Marantz amplifer from a few years prior to that. Not that it means anything. |
The PS Audio Sprout 100 is rated at 100 watts per channel and has a small footprint Sprout100 | PS Audio https://www.psaudio.com/sprout100/ |
Look for a used Arcam SA20. About 80 watts/channel , good phono stage and some digital inputs. I had the FMJ 19 with no digital inputs, but a really nice phono stage and 50 watts/channel. It was about a grand new. If you can find any NIB Cambridge Audio CX80's at 80 watts/channel. They're discontinued and can be had for $799. Punchier than the Arcams. |
Rogue Sphinx was my second choice but I went with Bel canto C5i first because I wanted to give the latest and greatest modern digital amp technology a shot before relying on more tubes (and less flexibility with digital sources) and have never looked back. That was in my second system. In my main system, bigger Rogue Pharoah is one I would strongly consider there still these days when the time comes. When looking at integrated amps it is a good idea to know what kinds of inputs you will want or need when deciding. There are many very good sounding choices otherwise. |
+1 for a Peachtree (try used!). Good DAC to send audio out via Optical from TV. Comes with a remote (necessary for a TV integrated). Probably the best looking integrated to tick the WAF box. You’ll have to use the TV as the hub, and you can have a very minimal setup with your preferred streaming stick/puck. Throw in an iFi Spidf reclocker for $150 to help correct the noise your TV will introduce. |
...a little above your budget - but easily one of the nicest sounding Vintage amps (IMHO !) is the McIntosh MC-2105 ( or its non-metered brother the MC-2100): the MC-2105 was their 1st SS amp way back in ’67 ( produced thru '77). SMOOTH SOUNDING, good bass; 105w/CH, Dual Volume Controls and those Meters scream WATCH ME! Can be used directly without a preamp... Wish I’d kept the one I had... |
You might want to check out the Audiolab 6000A. It can be used as an integrated, or a dedicated preamp or power amp. It has very good specs, nice build quality, and a very good built in DAC plus bluetooth streaming and a phono input. It’s right at the $950-$1000 price point. I have been happy with mine. |