Getting Started

That PSB Image T65 has to be a serious contender at $799. If I went with that speaker, would a 50wpc amp such as the Peachtree Decco or NAD C326BEE be sufficient? Or should I stick with something more stout (such as the C355BEE mentioned earlier)?

The Peachtree stuff have a great DAC going for them (Sabre), but their amps are not the best, IMO. This from my own impressions at RMAF, as well as from a good Audiophile friend's impressions of the more powerful version in the Nova while trying to help another friend buy a modest system (he did not feel it was living up to its rated power nor doing very well overall). I would look elsewhere for an amp, especially if you are depending on it for classic rock. I would push for something with more cojones than those choices myself, the NAD being a better choice, though my experience is very limited with that amp. A used Portal Panache would be great if you don't mind the lack of a remote.

Jax2

PT Nova amps not too good?

That's curious, though I don't doubt your aprasal. One review did say it wasn't the strongest point of the Nova or Decco, as Nu Force amps were used predominately for testing all the other aspects of the PT int (s)... which, BTW are considerable for an int, IMO.

I figured though in terms of bang for the buck, the overall feature story outweighed the usual suspects in the int. category. HP amp, DAC, iPod dock (with lower powered Decco), sub out, pre & amp flexibility... etc.

I have been considering something along this line as another option for myself, due in part to the notes on the HP side of the Decco & Nova, and for another rooms outfit... but I'd wait for a used model personally as I certainly have no need for one immediately.

Adding to that, many here are predisposed to adding onto ints. and receivers shortly after getting them, I didn't see a decent, though not incredible, onboard amp as a big issue... New $1000 ints all have shortcomings, somewhere.

Good point, though.

Hi,

If you haven't already, read John Mark's Fifth Element columns in Stereophile over the last 18 months or so on his search for a music lover's system in or around the price range you are considering (easy to find on the website). I can vouch for his advice, because he helped me buy my first system when I was a newbie five years back, and all his recommendations were on the mark,

Good luck,

David

I will do so. Thanks!

I figured though in terms of bang for the buck, the overall feature story outweighed the usual suspects in the int. category. HP amp, DAC, iPod dock (with lower powered Decco), sub out, pre & amp flexibility... etc.

Since the OP is looking for an amp + speaker combo, I would advise to focus on getting the best for the $ rather than trying to add more bells and whistles to the request. Upgrade the front end at a later date - the speaker>amp interface is best addressed together.

My impressions of the Decco at one of the RMAF shows were not that it was a bad piece, per se, just that as an amp it lacked some punch and dynamics, and was certainly not the last word in imaging or low level definition and control. Overall it sounded pretty nice with Era Design speakers, but wouldn't be my choice of an amp - you could do much better with a separate amp + DAC IMO. OTOH the DAC was very resolving and musical without any typical digital gremlins. My (audiophile) friend assisted his friend in buying a system right around the price range the OP is asking about. They went around and listened to a handful of options including the Nova, which I think the guy actually bought in spite of my friends advice that he could do better buying a separate amp. I think the Peachtrees actually offers a digital output or a pre out if I'm not mistaken - I have another friend who told me he was very impressed hearing the Maggie 1.7's at a recent show (Music Matters - Definitive, Seattle). He reported they were being pushed by a Decco, which I found astonishing and asked him if he was sure about that. He clarified that the Decco was outputting the signal to, I think a Rotel amp at 100wpc. So obviously they liked the Decco's DAC but not the amp for pushing the Maggies (understandable given the demands of those speakers). For a limited budget, and to save on shelf-space, it's a pretty good deal. But none of that was a concern of the OP so I'd suggest optimizing the amp investment myself. Certainly if he's using a computer or a blu-ray player as a front end (BDP-93SE notwithstanding), there's probably a whole lot of room for improvement in that front end too, which would be a pretty good argument for a Peachtree - but I'd bet long term satisfaction might be lacking in the amp section. Blindjim - If you're thinking of using one for a HP amp; I can't say I have direct experience with the HP section of the PT offerings, but I will guess, based on experience, that you can do a whole lot better with a good dedicated HP amp. "Compromise" is definitely not a word I like to use often in my vocabulary, as you might have guessed.