Amplifier recommendations

[linupingu]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to this journey and recently picked up a pair of ELAC Debut 3 DB53 for my small living room (about 8 × 10 ft).

I’m now looking for an amplifier and am debating between an all-in-one option like the Yamaha R-N600A with built-in streaming, or a more traditional integrated amp such as the Denon PMA-600NE paired with a separate streamer. In my market (Canada), the Yamaha is currently on sale for around $600, while I’ve found an open-box Denon for about $300.

I’d really appreciate any input or alternative amp/streamer pairings you’d recommend for a first setup. Thanks in advance!

 

[abacus]

You need to go to a dealer and try some out, as not all amplifiers work well with all speakers, so buying blind is a recipe for disaster. (Remember, everybody's ears and preference's are different, so what sounds great to one person, can sound poor to another)

Bill

 

[nopiano]

The Denon at 300 Canadian dollars sounds like a bargain to me. I understand Bill’s point but you really can’t go wrong there, if you have the space for it. Bluetooth built in and a phono stage if you play LPs.

Bluesound make streamers with amplifiers, but no idea what you local prices might be. I think of them as Canadian, but everything is international today!

If you want tiny and all in one, the Wiim Amp Pro or Ultra is worth a look.

 

[Rodolfo]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to this journey and recently picked up a pair of ELAC Debut 3 DB53 for my small living room (about 8 × 10 ft).

I’m now looking for an amplifier and am debating between an all-in-one option like the Yamaha R-N600A with built-in streaming, or a more traditional integrated amp such as the Denon PMA-600NE paired with a separate streamer. In my market (Canada), the Yamaha is currently on sale for around $600, while I’ve found an open-box Denon for about $300.

I’d really appreciate any input or alternative amp/streamer pairings you’d recommend for a first setup. Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum. There are many amps that will work fine with your ELACs, but not many bargains, especially on quality units: I'd grab that Denon. Streaming options are always developing and improving, and Yamaha's MusicCast may prove limited today or later. I like and respect Yamaha very much, and more so as a corporation; so this is not to degrade that option.

I've always used tablets and impressive digital audio players to connect and stream from various sources, wired and wirelessly, through/to my excellent Rotel A12 amp, as well as independently. This flexibility has served me well for years, and I'm confident that I'll be able to adapt as streaming software and services develop and multiply. I especially value the portability of these streaming methods or means. This is also to say that I don't value the "built-in streaming" feature of the Yamaha. But, then, I don't value dedicated streamers either.

Enjoy your new journey, and the music playing through your eventual selection.

 

[linupingu]

Welcome to the forum. There are many amps that will work fine with your ELACs, but not many bargains, especially on quality units: I'd grab that Denon. Streaming options are always developing and improving, and Yamaha's MusicCast may prove limited today or later. I like and respect Yamaha very much, and more so as a corporation; so this is not to degrade that option.

I've always used tablets and impressive digital audio players to connect and stream from various sources, wired and wirelessly, through/to my excellent Rotel A12 amp, as well as independently. This flexibility has served me well for years, and I'm confident that I'll be able to adapt as streaming software and services develop and multiply. I especially value the portability of these streaming methods or means. This is also to say that I don't value the "built-in streaming" feature of the Yamaha. But, then, I don't value dedicated streamers either.

Enjoy your new journey, and the music playing through your eventual selection.

You are right, the upgrade path is more straightforward with a separate amp and improved DAC if I have the budget for later on. What are your thoughts on the Rotel A8/10mkii/11mkii? I was initially looking at these too, given the reviews about their sound quality, but my understanding is that they dont have a sub out and in certain cases can run short on power on certain speakers. I loovee the looks of these though especially the silver version.

 

[Rodolfo]

You are right, the upgrade path is more straightforward with a separate amp and improved DAC if I have the budget for later on. What are your thoughts on the Rotel A8/10mkii/11mkii? I was initially looking at these too, given the reviews about their sound quality, but my understanding is that they dont have a sub out and in certain cases can run short on power on certain speakers. I loovee the looks of these though especially the silver version.

Sorry, I don't know them well enough -probably because I have been so satisfied with the A12, but I' would start with Rotel if and when required. (I'd also look into (other?) Chinese manufacturers like Fiio, or specifically Fiio.) I do recall that when I read about these newer Rotel models, and a "Tribute" model that was also issued years ago, I did not feel any temptation nor sense that I should have waited. But, I'm not an upgrader. I take my time shopping and trialing, and don't bite until I'm happy. Then, I tend to stay happy and not wonder how I can improve on joy. I used my last integrated, the original Cyrus One, happily for ~30 years, and I've kept it because it is still excellent.

As for power, I lived happily with 25wpc for those decades. Then, I more than doubled that with the A12's 60wpc!! I drive TWO sets of speakers with that because that's what the A12 is equipped to drive. Current specs can be as or more important, and some speakers are more efficient than others. The A12 has a sub out, but I've never used it. I have the black. Fiio has some very nice silver pieces, but I've only looked at their DACs/headphone amplifiers, not their integrated amps. If you have any specific questions or curiosities on any of these Rotel units, I'd be happy to read up and respond.

Enjoy your patient shopping and especially your music.

 

[matthewpianist]

The Mission 778X and Audiolab 6000A MkII (or the original 6000A if you can pick up a remaining stock or second hand example) are excellent options, and you would need to go some way to improve on them. Nicely balanced sound, decent power, well built and plenty of connectivity. I've owned all three, so I'm qualified to comment.

Rotel is always a safe bet also. I've owned a A11 Tribute, and it was a fine amp, though not as balanced as the above overall.

 

[gasolin]

wiim amp ultra or vibelink + ultra streamer

 

[gasolin]

The Denon at 300 Canadian dollars sounds like a bargain to me. I understand Bill’s point but you really can’t go wrong there, if you have the space for it. Bluetooth built in and a phono stage if you play LPs.

Bluesound make streamers with amplifiers, but no idea what you local prices might be. I think of them as Canadian, but everything is international today!

If you want tiny and all in one, the Wiim Amp Pro or Ultra is worth a look.

phono stage isn't good

 

[matthewpianist]

phono stage isn't good

The op hasn't identified vinyl usage, but the phono stage isn't good on the WiiM Ultra, which digitises the signal (and everything that goes through it). The Denon phono stage isn't great, but it is marginally better than the WiiM one. Either would benefit from an external phono pre-amp if vinyl is a requirement, but then there's the option of buying a better amplifier.

 

[gasolin]

Get a tt with built in phono stage, if you wanna have a tt + a wiim amp or ultra streamer.

You do wann run all in to the streamer to have gain adjustmenst for each input, roiom correction, eg and peq + what you can use to adjust the sound with

 

[Al ears]

Get a tt with built in phono stage, if you wanna have a tt + a wiim amp or ultra streamer.

You do wann run all in to the streamer to have gain adjustmenst for each input, roiom correction, eg and peq + what you can use to adjust the sound with

Not sure why all this is necessary, at no point has the OP mentioned a turntable.
It's great when someone actually attempts to answer the initial question....
😎

 

[RTHerringbone]

The open-box Denon plus a WiiM Mini would suffice for a low cost streaming solution. It looks like you can get Mini's for around $120 in Canada.

 

[Entrigo]

U don't know the Yamaha but the Denon is a pretty capable amp - and as others have said, a bargain at $300. I'd buy that and a separate streaming unit, like the Wiim Pro/Pro Plus - the latter has a better DAC and can be found relatively cheap. Even at full price is good VfM.

 

[matthewpianist]

I have owned the Yamaha, and I can say, it's excellent in all respects. It will grip the ELACs nicely and the MusicCast streaming is rock solid. Personally, I think it's a better amp than the Denon, and certainly the one I would choose out of the two. It's only weakness is the phono stage - IF that's something that remotely interests you.

 

[gasolin]

Why do you think the denon amp is good ?

Denon PMA-600NE Integrated Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Denon PMA-600NE integrated amplifier with Bluetooth support and DAC. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $499. I like the look of the unit especially for the price. Somewhat dismayed though that the input selector is not lined up with...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[linupingu]

Thank you everyone for your advice, I will look into the options you recommended. I currently don't plan to get a turntable and I want to try out class A/B amplifier first, though I know getting something like the Wiim Amp Pro is so tempting for its convenience.

After looking more closely at the two options I mentioned and listening to a few sound demos, the Denon came across as slightly muffled to me (though that could be due to other variables in the setup). I am also a bit unsure about the quality of the Yamaha R-N’s built-in DAC. For built in streaming, I am considering an option like the Marantz PM7000N which i can get B-stock for around $1,000. However, I can't help but feel like having a separate streamer is better in the long run so I don't have to depend on all these streaming ecosystem updates. As such, I think I am leaning more towards getting an amp and a seperate streamer.

I have also been recommended the Yamaha AS301/501 but a bit concerned if these should pair well with the Elac or would make things a bit too bright. I saw an option for an used Audiolab 6000a for around $850 cad as well. Ideally I would like to stay around $1,000 cad with streaming included, but I’m open to spending a bit more if it means getting a system I won’t feel the need to upgrade anytime soon. I’m sure all the recommendations here are solid, and at some point I probably just need to pick one and figure out what I like. It’s just so hard to make the final call 😭

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Options are all a bit generic and perhaps considered limited at that price, but Audiolab 6000 IS a solid choice….As would be any of the Japanese options…..
Note that the amplifier and speaker interface (ie. The ability to grip the speaker) is critical to unleash the full speaker performance and is not dependent on the published power figures alone…
Listen at home if possible..good luck…

 

[gasolin]

wiim streamer with room correction, audiolab 6000a or vibelink,rega, fosi audio mono v3 amp or what ever you can find for the price

I don't have much bass compared to having room correction, thats why i recommend room correction with a good mic

Mabye thats why most speakers feel like they lack bass

Yamaha amp is smooth sounding but at my end lacks bass, maby it won't at your end,place