Amp recomendations

[spiro2903]

Hi all, I am looking for a different amp but unfortunately I can't listen to many amps where I live, and ordering and returning them is somewhat expensive as I need to pay for return shipping. So I figured someone might give me some ideas/pointers online.

Anyway, my setup is this: I have Wharfedale Evo 4.2 speakers (with matching stands) and Audiolab 8300 amp. Also CA 200m DAC and Rega Planar 1 turntable. I am 90% happy with my setup, especially considering the money I paid for the Amp, speakers and DAC. I play music (flac, dsd) from a linux computer running bit perfect into the DAC and the into the amp. Unfortunately, my living room isn't that big, and it seems to resonate at around 40Hz, and there is probably a harmonic at 80 (I did some basic spectral analysis). Here lies my problem, there is a bass hump (or 2) at 40 and 80Hz that is very audible, and often tireing. I have configured an EQ on the computer to cut the bass and that improved the response significantly, and got rid of the bass hump. There is some loss of audio quality (as now it isn't bit perfect anymore) but it is subtle. This unfortunately affects only music played from the computer, not from the turntable, or the TV. So I would like to get an amp that has an EQ, with a bypass option, as well as DAC built in.

Now, my REAL problem is that I don't have a lot of money so realisticaly I can get an amp at around 1500€. The amp should have an EQ (with a bypass option), usb DAC built in (to act as a sound card for my computer), have a phono preamp, be able to drive my Wharfedale Evos (not the easiest speaker to drive) and ofcourse, have the sound that I like. A remote and black color would be nice to have, but not a requirement.

I have looked online, and it looks like the only amp with my requirements and in that price range is Denon PMA1700NE. There aren't that many reviews on that amp (some japanese which I don' speak), and more imporatntly, even less comparisons to setups similar to mine. What I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these amps (Audiolab and Denon) and especially with Denon/Wharfedale pairing. Both Audiolab 8300 and Wharfedale Evos are great pieces of equipment but I don't think they match well. Maybe it's just my room, but both seem to lean on the warmer and bassier side. I like warm, but this is a bit much, and that bass hump is really annoying. Do you think Denon (around 1500-1600€) would be a good replacement? Having an eq to just shave off some of that bass might be just what I need, and the amp has a built in DAC which I would like to have anyway.

Bit of a long post, but do you think should I just buy the Denon or do you guys have any other recomendations?

 

[Fandango Andy]

You have a good amp, you are going to have to spend a significant amount to upgrade. Other the the EQ (which may or may not help) you probably aren't going to get much of an upgrade for the price you are talking about.

Are you confident you speakers are as well placed as the can be? Are they on good solid stands? If so, you could try playing a little with the position, including: distance apart, distance from listener, distance from the rear and side walls, and the amount of "toe in".

Finally could you benefit from some room treatment?

 

[spiro2903]

I have speakers on Wharfedale Evo stands, there is some to in, and distance is adjusted as best as possible, as it is a small room (some 20cm from the wall and 40cm from a corner). The speakers are bottom ported so distance from wall is not as significant in rear ported speakers (one of the reasons I got them). Also room treatment is next to impossible. One is just the lack of space, money I would rather spend on equipment, and the fact that I would need to treat for 40Hz bass which means BIG foams etc.
When adding EQ I get the sound that I want, unfortunately Audiolab does not have an EQ, Denon does, and it seems to be very well regarded as an amp in general. I would just like to know if anyone had any experiences with it, and especially with Wharfedale Evo speakers.

 

[RoA]

Your amplifier is unlikely the problem. Your room and the speakers are. I would be inclined to look at Dirac or similar first, then speakers and room treatment unless you just fancy an amplifier change.

 

[spiro2903]

I would like an amp change just to have a built in DAC, more for convenience and some space saving. I never said that the amplifier is the issue, my room is. But my amp is on the warmer side, and my speakers are as well. They both also like to accentuate the bass just a little bit. On their own, or in in another room, that combo is really good, unfortunately not in my room. So I am going to change of of them, the amp just makes more sense as it is easier to choose, and I get the benefit of a built in DAC which I want anyway. Another thing is an EQ, I really like amps with an EQ, unfortunately few companies in my price range make it. Some songs benefit from some EQ, either due to the gear you have or the way they are recorder. There are some great pieces of music recorded by seemingly deaf people. As for dirac, I am setting up bluetooth streaming on my computer (Linux server running MPD) and doing a room correction analysis using an iphone. Apparently it works really well, and even some amp companies use it as part of their room correction features. Anyway, using just the EQ of my computer to lower the bass corrects it just fine, so I am inclined to believe that EQ in an amp would work just as well.