Budget speakers and stereo amp

[AndrewF]

I picked up a pair of Triangle Borrea BR3's for $250. They're awfully nice standmounts, even for twice that price. I have them paired with an Onkyo integrated amp and a Wiim Mini, in a very competent secondary system. With speakers stands and a bag of river rocks, the whole system (including decent generic cables) is around $700.

 

[Al ears]

You can't connect a turntable directly to a RCA unless you use a separate phono stage. In your situation I would look at a amp with a built-in phono stage, such as Marantz, Rotel, Yamaha, older Arcams, older Roksan Kandys or Rega.

True.
He hasn't actually stated what his turntable is though, it may well have a built -in phono preamp.

 

[armondo666]

Do any of you have any recommendations for a budget stereo amp ($100-300) that sounds good and likewise ($200-400) for a pair of bookshelf speakers? Currently I have more of a movie setup that has some small surround sound speakers that don't sound great for music. I want to upgrade, but not jump into something super high end or expensive yet.
Thanks!

both a bit over $$$, NAD 3020 and PSB speakers in Absolute Sound recommended components

amp ... NAD316 $399 with an MM phono stage

NAD C 316BEE V2 Integrated Amp Phono Included

<p>This latest version of NAD's feature-packed, entry level integrated amp includes a built in MM phono preamp, allowing you to connect your turntable directly to the NAD C 316.</p>

www.audioadvisor.com

amd ... NAD Electronics D 3020 V2 $499

https://www.amazon.com/NAD-Hybrid-Digital-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B07992VZ6L

speakers ... PSB Alpha 5 $399/pair

https://www.amazon.com/PSB-Alpha-P5-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B07MMFPKL3

 

[harpoonk31]

You can't connect a turntable directly to a RCA unless you use a separate phono stage. In your situation I would look at a amp with a built-in phono stage, such as Marantz, Rotel, Yamaha, older Arcams, older Roksan Kandys or Rega.

The Dayton does have a phono stage

 

[harpoonk31]

True.
He hasn't actually stated what his turntable is though, it may well have a built -in phono preamp.

It is a Fluance RT81, which does have a built in preamp. The Dayton one does have a phono stage as well though.

 

[Al ears]

It is a Fluance RT81, which does have a built in preamp. The Dayton one does have a phono stage as well though.

Indeed.
You only need one but I guess you can work out which is best whenever you get the amp.
I would avoid the Dayton personally if only because, if anything goes wrong, it's going to cost an awful lot to ship it off for rep and if you are on a limited budget that's the last thing you want to be doing

 

[harpoonk31]

Indeed.
You only need one but I guess you can work out which is best whenever you get the amp.
I would avoid the Dayton personally if only because, if anything goes wrong, it's going to cost an awful lot to ship it off for rep and if you are on a limited budget that's the last thing you want to be doing

If something goes wrong, would the 5 year warranty cover it?

 

[Al ears]

If something goes wrong, would the 5 year warranty cover it?

no idea. I don't see the tubes lasting 5 years and have no idea where you would send it to get it repaired if it did fail.
Little information about that amp here in the UK as there is no importer or dealers by the look of things

 

[plastic penguin]

The Dayton does have a phono stage

Can't comment on the sound quality of the Dayton. Not sure if any dealer sells them in the UK.

 

[nopiano]

Can't comment on the sound quality of the Dayton. Not sure if any dealer sells them in the UK.

I was curious too, and there is one UK dealer listed on Dayton Audio’s website:-

Wall Of Sound

http://www.wallofsound.co.uk/
+44 (0)1904 704107

32 Sim Balk La
Bishopthorpe, York
YO23 2QQ UK

That link didn’t work for me, but this does…https://wallofsound.co.uk/

 

[Al ears]

I was curious too, and there is one UK dealer listed on Dayton Audio’s website:-

Wall Of Sound

http://www.wallofsound.co.uk/
+44 (0)1904 704107

32 Sim Balk La
Bishopthorpe, York
YO23 2QQ UK

That link didn’t work for me, but this does…https://wallofsound.co.uk/

Yes, the original link didn't work for me either.
Still don't think I would touch it with a bargepole

 

[plastic penguin]

Yes, the original link didn't work for me either.
Still don't think I would touch it with a bargepole

Well, you know my thoughts on tube amps...

IMO you need to spend far more than the OP's budget for a half decent tube sound. And the tubes have limited life span....

 

[plastic penguin]

I was curious too, and there is one UK dealer listed on Dayton Audio’s website:-

Wall Of Sound

http://www.wallofsound.co.uk/
+44 (0)1904 704107

32 Sim Balk La
Bishopthorpe, York
YO23 2QQ UK

That link didn’t work for me, but this does…https://wallofsound.co.uk/

Saw that after my previous post. Not exactly overflowing with dealerships.

 

[nopiano]

Saw that after my previous post. Not exactly overflowing with dealerships.

Not here in the UK, for sure. I thought the name rang a bell, and they’ve been in business over twenty years, majoring on speakers and components. Then coincidentally, I was reading a Stereophile magazine review, and they used a Dayton Audio product to measure the speaker impedance.

 

[harpoonk31]

Well, you know my thoughts on tube amps...

What are they?

 

[plastic penguin]

What are they?

The tubes have limited lifespan, throw out a lot of heat, the sound on many tube amps is too soft and rolled off. That's is just a few examples of more expensive valve or tube amps. If you can buy a Dayton valve amp for 300 Dollars, avoid like the plague. They cost a lot more to produce that a SS amp.

 

[plastic penguin]

Not here in the UK, for sure. I thought the name rang a bell, and they’ve been in business over twenty years, majoring on speakers and components. Then coincidentally, I was reading a Stereophile magazine review, and they used a Dayton Audio product to measure the speaker impedance.

Good luck for Stereophile.

 

[My2Cents]

The tubes have limited lifespan, throw out a lot of heat, the sound on many tube amps is too soft and rolled off. That's is just a few examples of more expensive valve or tube amps. If you can buy a Dayton valve amp for 300 Dollars, avoid like the plague. They cost a lot more to produce that a SS amp.

Fabulous for guitar amplification though! Harmonic distortion to die for and the tubes keep the poor working musician warm in the winter.

 

[harpoonk31]

It's not super easy to find something that meets all of my wants in my budget it seems.

 

[plastic penguin]

It's not super easy to find something that meets all of my wants in my budget it seems.

So in the US they don't sell Marantz, Arcam, Yamaha or Rotel?

 

[harpoonk31]

So in the US they don't sell Marantz, Arcam, Yamaha or Rotel?

Those unfortunately aren't within my budget.

 

[plastic penguin]

Those unfortunately aren't within my budget.

Don't know the solution, but I would give the Dayton a wide birth.

Need to save up your money.

 

[harpoonk31]

Some of your recommendations have been smaller amps like WiiM and Fosi amps, but is there anything you guys can tell me about the Arylic B50? It is within my budget and has the features I am looking for, as well as not being a tube amp.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Some of your recommendations have been smaller amps like WiiM and Fosi amps, but is there anything you guys can tell me about the Arylic B50? It is within my budget and has the features I am looking for, as well as not being a tube amp.

There is no definitive answer to the question. Many of these recommendations are Chinese built clas D amps based on the same Texas Instruments chip. They may all be great and the future of budget hifi, but they are all too new to be sure.

As someone who has been using the same budget Marantz for over 20 years, I still lean towards the modern equivalent to what I have, the Marantz PM6007.

 

[nopiano]

There is no definitive answer to the question. Many of these recommendations are Chinese built clas D amps based on the same Texas Instruments chip. They may all be great and the future of budget hifi, but they are all too new to be sure.

As someone who has been using the same budget Marantz for over 20 years, I still lean towards the modern equivalent to what I have, the Marantz PM6007.

Unfortunately the Arylic seems to be unusually poor in many respects despite having heaps of inputs and options. And I’m sure it uses inferior chip amps too judging my the spec. Versatile maybe, but I’m with you in that a Marantz PM600x of any generation is a safer bet, especially for sound quality.