Question Budget stereo hifi amplifier

[notcricri]

Hello all,

Hope you are going well.

I am looking for a budget stereo hifi amplifier (around 600$/600€).
I need your help

My listening room is 161ft² (15m²) .
My configuration is simple:

• Speakers: Cabasse MT22 Antigua (75W, 8 ohms)
• Turntable: Technics SL-1700
• Need to connect a TV (RCA is fine)

I have made a short list of amplifiers, and would like to have your advice/feedback if you own one please 🤗:

AUDIOLAB 6000A
CAMBRIDGE AX A35
DENON PMA-800NE
MARANTZ PM6007
NAD C 338

If the amplifier does not supply it, I will certainly invest in an external DAC (Justboom/Hifiberry) to add decoding and streaming capabilities (using Volumio).

Can you please help me decide which one would be the best for me?

Thank you!

Christophe

 

[matthewpiano]

I'm not familiar with your Cabasse speakers - they're a good manufacturer but they don't get much attention here in the UK.

Looking at the amplifiers you've listed I'd veer towards the Marantz, Denon and Audiolab options, though if your speakers are on the bright side you may find the warmth of the NAD works quite well with them. It's well worth considering the Rotel A11 Tribute - an extremely capable amplifier.

 

[iMark]

In this day and age I would try to future proof equipment as much as possible. You may not be thinking of streaming options now but it's nice to know that you could do it without buying a new box. Network receivers are very good value for money and offer any analogue and digital inputs you could possibly need. They also have good phono stages and DACs.

 

[rainsoothe]

I'm not familiar with your speakers either, and could only find reviews of the MT32 - which say they need some "agility", so try to audition the Rotel. I'm a big Marantz fan as well, so give that a go too.

 

[Surly Sid]

NAD has reliability problems. I suggest the Cambridge or the Marantz. If you could stretch your budget a little further, I would suggest the Rega io.

 

[notcricri]

In this day and age I would try to future proof equipment as much as possible. You may not be thinking of streaming options now but it's nice to know that you could do it without buying a new box. Network receivers are very good value for money and offer any analogue and digital inputs you could possibly need. They also have good phono stages and DACs.

You're right! I also had a look at this one (Marantz NR-1200), less audiophile but more versatile:

Marantz NR1200 Stereo Receiver Review

The NR1200 is a stereo amp that does more. A lot more. Is this the perfect piece of affordable two channel or just a little too complex for its own good?

www.avforums.com

 

[rainsoothe]

You're right! I also had a look at this one (Marantz NR-1200), less audiophile but more versatile:

Marantz NR1200 Stereo Receiver Review

The NR1200 is a stereo amp that does more. A lot more. Is this the perfect piece of affordable two channel or just a little too complex for its own good?

www.avforums.com

I think that your initial idea of keeping the source and amplification separate is better, and something like a Volumio or HiFi Berry would be very versatile. Because the streaming technology changes pretty fast, so with an integrated solution you will be stuck with the 2020 technology. But a good amp can last decades and never be out of date, and you can just change or upgrade your streamer.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I'm wary about statements that suggest a given manufacturer should be dismissed because of 'reliability issues', as few of us have experience of a large enough sample to be representative. And amps have almost no moving parts, which means they tend to be among the most long-lived of separates.

But then I remembered that the only amp I know of which failed was a NAD...

 

[rainsoothe]

But then I remembered that the only amp I know of which failed was a NAD...

Same here, lol. And 2 members on a small forum could be considered a relevant sample.

 

[notcricri]

Thank you for your responses!
I think I will go with Marantz then, Denon seems more balanced but less tone coloured.
And model PM6007 recently received an award from What Hi-fi