Amplifier with USB input

[CarlDW]

Hi,

I am looking into amplifiers with a USB input (I'm looking for a single box solution with only a laptop to connect, but may add other sources in the future) and have found a few, but wondered if there were any others I have missed?

So far there's the Cambridge CXA80, Rotel A12 and Pioneer A50DA which have caught my eye - within a budget of around £800.

Thanks.

 

[Al ears]

Hi,

I am looking into amplifiers with a USB input (I'm looking for a single box solution with only a laptop to connect, but may add other sources in the future) and have found a few, but wondered if there were any others I have missed?

So far there's the Cambridge CXA80, Rotel A12 and Pioneer A50DA which have caught my eye - within a budget of around £800.

Thanks.

There are some by NAD, the C356 BEE and D3020 etc., and the Onkyo TX8150 comes highly recommended. I am sure there are plenty more amps with DAC available from other manufacturers too.

The very excellent Quad Vena comes into your budget as well and this is well worth an audition.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Quad Vena would be high on my list too.

 

[muljao]

I want a Quad Vena

The Marantz PM7005 is selling for way below it's release price also

 

[CarlDW]

I didn't think of the Quad Vena. Good call. Is that amplifier good at driving demanding speakers? I have also seen the new NAD amps (C368?) around budget, which I think has a USB port (or upgradable via the MDC slot).

Thoughts?

 

[rainsoothe]

I didn't think of the Quad Vena. Good call. Is that amplifier good at driving demanding speakers? I have also seen the new NAD amps (C368?) around budget, which I think has a USB port (or upgradable via the MDC slot).

Thoughts?

I like the Nad sound, so I'd wait for the new range to be available for demo. The C368 seems like a very tasty proposition, especially with the possibility of upgrading to Bluesound powered streaming.

 

[chebby]

I didn't think of the Quad Vena. Good call. Is that amplifier good at driving demanding speakers?

Driving or 'thrashing the nuts off'? If the latter then find a bigger amp.

I use 90dB speakers - with easy impedances - that perform well in corners and against a wall. I prefer to play at moderate (ish) volumes levels. (No raised voices or shouting needed to be heard over the music. Phones, doorbell etc. easily heard.)

I wouldn't try and make the Quad jump through hoops it wasn't really designed to do. (It's a 45 Watt per channel @8 Ohms device based on the same LM3886 amplifiers that are used in the Arcam A19.)

Some reading ...

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/info/hi-res-guide/quad-vena-qobuzissime-produces177369

Hi-Fi Choice review (pdf)

Hi-Fi World review (pdf)

 

[Frank Harvey]

I didn't think of the Quad Vena. Good call. Is that amplifier good at driving demanding speakers?

What are these "demanding" speakers?

 

[Al ears]

I didn't think of the Quad Vena. Good call. Is that amplifier good at driving demanding speakers?

Driving or 'thrashing the nuts off'? If the latter then find a bigger amp.

I use 90dB speakers - with easy impedances - that perform well in corners and against a wall. I prefer to play at moderate (ish) volumes levels. (No raised voices or shouting needed to be heard over the music. Phones, doorbell etc. easily heard.)

I wouldn't try and make the Quad jump through hoops it wasn't really designed to do. (It's a 45 Watt per channel @8 Ohms device based on the same LM3886 amplifiers that are used in the Arcam A19.)

Some reading ...

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/info/hi-res-guide/quad-vena-qobuzissime-produces177369

Hi-Fi Choice review (pdf)

Hi-Fi World review (pdf)

I'd agree that, good though it is, the Vena is never going to drive successfully ' demanding speakers' nor should it be asked to do so. If the OP is after a good all rounder to use with a laptop source then so called demanding speakers are pointless.

Sort your system out I say , and work out what you do actually require from it . Paired sympathetically the Vena is a revelation, as Chebby can no doubt affirm.

 

[CarlDW]

To clarify, what I think I mean is that the amp should be able to drive any speakers in the £500 range without any trouble. I plan to decide on which amplifier first and then speak to some local hi-fi shops to get recommendations for suitable speakers within budget.

Music taste is mainly rock, metal, indie with a little 'trance' thrown in so a bit of welly wouldn't go amiss...

 

[muljao]

To be fair, as said, the Quad should be able to do most requirements if paired correctly. I have an old Marantz that is 30 wpc, driving a set of Cambridege audio sx50 that are small and rated at 87db sensitivity and 8 Ohms. By the 10 o 'clock position on the volume dial I have to take the neighbours into consideratioin, especially if i am listening to Rock or anything with a heavy beat.

45 wpc, put through some of the great speakers available at 500, especially some of the higher sensitivity floor standers as an example, should pose no issues for power I would imagine

 

[Al ears]

To clarify, what I think I mean is that the amp should be able to drive any speakers in the £500 range without any trouble. I plan to decide on which amplifier first and then speak to some local hi-fi shops to get recommendations for suitable speakers within budget.

Music taste is mainly rock, metal, indie with a little 'trance' thrown in so a bit of welly wouldn't go amiss...

You should be just fine with any speakers in that price bracket

 

[Barbapapa]

I also have a Quad Vena and use it with Amphion Ion, which are rated 86 dB sensitivity. Also no problem at all for driving them to louder levels than I care for (classical symphonic crescendi). Bear in mind the 45 Watt rating is for continuous power; the measurements chebby linked to show that it can provide up to 100 W peak power (or in that order), which should suffice for short dynamic peaks.

Admittedly if you want to use a speaker that goes below 4 Ohm impedance I don't know whether it would work, but then, such difficult speakers will be a challenge for a lot of cheaper amps. In that case I would frankly rather choose different speakers. I'm of the opinion that such extreme impedance dips make it very hard to get satisfactory behaviour, so why bother if there are better options available?

 

[CarlDW]

Thanks for the comments.

I will try and audition the Quad, I'm also interested in the Rotel and NAD (although I've since discovered that the USB input is through a cost-option MDC upgrade, which adds to the budget). If only one local dealer stocked all of them...!

I like the look of the Dynaudio Emit M10's but may stretch the speaker budget slightly as £700-£800 brings some interesting options into play.

 

[muljao]

You may be able to open your options if you bought seperate amp and dac

There are also amps with digital inputs, without usb connections, but usb converters are available, rather inexpensively, that allow pass through via optical or coaxial

 

[drummerman]

Elac's new and very sexy DA101EQ seems very interesting.

Analogue & digital ins, BT, dedicated sub out (read up), room correction DSP and a good amount of power.

 

[CarlDW]

The ELAC amplifier looks really interesting - any idea of the price and release date? The room correction software and subwoofer matching is novel...

 

[drummerman]

The ELAC amplifier looks really interesting - any idea of the price and release date? The room correction software and subwoofer matching is novel...

Autumn. Should'nt be long.

Peachtree also do integrated products with digital ins and Audiolab has the new M-One. Nuforce has the DDA120 integrated and there are others.

Big Choice.

 

[CarlDW]

Thanks, there is quite a choice out there. This month's WHSAV has the NAD C638 and higher-spec Rotel A14 in for review and neither seem class-leading (the Rotel in particular) however I think I will pay a visit to my local Sevenoaks and listen to them both in any event, you can't always trust the reviews.

I'm not a huge fan of the Audiolab, but I will listen to the Quad Vena (based on the positive reviews from forum members) and I really want to take a look at the ELAC amplifier when that is finally released, so it looks like I will have to wait a little longer before pulling the trigger on this purchase.

 

[drummerman]

Cool. Report back with your findings.

Is this going to be a headphone only system?

 

[CarlDW]

No, I will be using my headphones for late-late night listening, but I will be asking for suitable speakers to match once I have settled on the amplifier. Not sure how far I can stretch the budget on speakers - it will be a case of seeing what the dealer recommends when I go to audition the amps.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Thanks, there is quite a choice out there. This month's WHSAV has the NAD C638 and higher-spec Rotel A14 in for review and neither seem class-leading (the Rotel in particular) however I think I will pay a visit to my local Sevenoaks and listen to them both in any event, you can't always trust the reviews.

I'm not a huge fan of the Audiolab, but I will listen to the Quad Vena (based on the positive reviews from forum members) and I really want to take a look at the ELAC amplifier when that is finally released, so it looks like I will have to wait a little longer before pulling the trigger on this purchase. 

Ask them to swap for the whathifi 5 star amps and i bet youll struggle to hear clear difference

 

[Reijer]

Long time away fro the forum, so not up to date entirely.

In my new home, the TEAC AI 501DA does a great job with the 685 S2. It has a USB input with good results. It's a great amplifier.

Try to test it.