What medium priced amplifier is best with vinyl?

Name your price range. I have a Cambridge 640P feeding an Onkyo A-9555 integrated and like it a lot. I prefer its balls and bass extension over the sub $1K British integrateds. It sounds like a much bigger amp while retaining the speed and transparency.

But that's not to say it's better than a SimAudio. I just think it should be on the short list of sub $1K candidates.

Johnnyb53 - I fully agree about the Cambridge 640P going into an Onkyo A-9555. I also use this setup and feel it's very hard to beat for the money.

I had not considered the Onkyo, but I will have to put it on my list. Thanks Johnnyb53 adn Bobgates!

Johnnyb53 and Bobgates - I'm wondering if you saw much improvement with the Cambridge 640P as compared to the phono stage of the Onkyo A-9555. I have the A-9555 and have found the phone stage to be pretty good so I am wonder how much of a differnce you noticed? Thanks.

02-11-09: Dlclevo
Johnnyb53 and Bobgates - I'm wondering if you saw much improvement with the Cambridge 640P as compared to the phono stage of the Onkyo A-9555. I have the A-9555 and have found the phone stage to be pretty good so I am wonder how much of a differnce you noticed? Thanks.

I had the 640P before I got the Onkyo, so when I first set up the Onkyo I started using the 640P with it from the beginning. After a few weeks I decided to try out the Onkyo's phono stage. It sounded pretty good, and its tonal balance was about the same as the Cambridge, but I didn't want to go through yet another component evaluation so I simply switched back to the Cambridge.

I don't know if the Onkyo phono stage has its own need to break in by running signal through it, so I may never have heard the Onkyo phono stage at its ideal. Worst case, the Onkyo seems to be pretty close, but I think over time the Cambridge would prove itself to be the more resolving.