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[Dragonsword]

deleted

 

[muljao]

I have the Q Acoustics 2010i speakers paired with a Dynavox CS-PA1 amplifier, but I get distortion quite often and I think it's caused by my amplifier. The amplifier was only 50 euro and it's a mini amplifier. I'm also wondering how much better my sound quality is gonna be when I buy a new amplifier. I can spend around €200 for an amplifier and I live in The Netherlands.

Whathifi gives the Onkyo A-9010 a good rating, so I'm leaning towards getting that one but I'm not sure whether it's the best choice and whether it's the best match for my speakers. Somewhere on the internet I've read that you need to have an amplifier with 50% more watts than your speakers, but that's hard to believe when the speakers I own say you need to have a 15 - 75 watt amplifier. So is it true that your amplifier needs 50% more watts than your speakers? I have 75watts speakers and a 50 watt amplifier, the Onkyo A9010 only has 44 watts, but it's a small difference and my speakers can definitely go loud enough with 50 watts. Another issue which is probably caused by my amplifier is that I hear a buzzing noise when I play certain games and in some music I hear a clicking/hissing noise.

I mainly listen to House and Rock. (Electro house from 2001 - 2009, Hardhouse from the 90s - 2009, Rock from the 70s, 80s, 90s and modern Hardrock/altrock. I also listen to EDM house and trance some times.)

What I've found myself:

http://www.denon-hifi.nl/nl/product/hifi/amplifier/pma720ae

http://www.whathifi.com/onkyo/9010/review

http://www.homecinemacenter.nl/product/201907/pioneer-a-10-zwart.html?re...

https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/361993/pioneer-a-10-k.html

What would be the best amplifier for my budget?

All I will say is I've heard the Denon and it is great, and everyone who reviews or most user reviews really rate the Onkyo. I'd say you cant go wrong with either. I'd be doubtful that anyone has really tried all of your examples but likely they'd all improve on existing kit

 

[Dragonsword]

I just realised the Denon 720AE is above my budget, but the 520AE might be an option.

https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/339786/denon-pma-520ae-zwart.html

 

[insider9]

European version of the Onkyo A9010 has an inbuilt dac and is said to sound not as good as the British model depicted as A9010(B) on the box. The WHF review is of the latter UK version. I've not heard the European version so can't recommend it.

I used to own A9010 and I wholeheartedly agree with WHF award though it's definitely best budget amp.

Not to say that budget permitting you can't get something cheaper that will still sound OK like the Denon. It also doesn't mean you will enjoy the Onkyo, we all hear thing differently. For example I didn't like a single one of award winning Q-Acoustic speakers I've heard.

If at all possible demo the amp with at least similar QA speakers to know if you will like the sound. Both Onkyo and Denon will have more than enough power.

 

[drummerman]

Never heard the plonkyo but I do rate NAD's tiny but cute 316. (My opinion is based on its predecessor but I take a wild guess it sounds just as decent). As a side note, Ken Kessler of HifiNews loved it and an (ex) Hifi store manager I frequent with said it's all most people would ever need. Quite a statement considering what else they stocked.

Things have happened since but a good recent amp is still a good amp.

If you go s/h it's an easy call for me (and my taste); Sony STR DB930. Superb imho.

 

[insider9]

If you go s/h it's an easy call for me (and my taste); Sony STR DB930. Superb imho.

Ah, so you edited your post to correct the spelling error

Shame as they keep going up in price every time you recommend one I've been looking to get one for a while now as heard unreal comments liking them to valve like sound etc. Considering they go for so little wanted to listen for myself what the fuss is all about.

To OP for under 200EUR second hand there's way better amps then any of the new ones you mentioned as long as you know what to look for.

 

[Al ears]

If you go s/h it's an easy call for me (and my taste); Sony STR DB930. Superb imho.

Ah, so you edited your post to correct the spelling error

Shame as they keep going up in price every time you recommend one I've been looking to get one for a while now as heard unreal comments liking them to valve like sound etc. Considering they go for so little wanted to listen for myself what the fuss is all about.

To OP for under 200EUR second hand there's way better amps then any of the new ones you mentioned as long as you know what to look for.

For what it's worth the B in brackets after the 9010 refers only to the fact it is black... as far as I am aware.

 

[drummerman]

If you go s/h it's an easy call for me (and my taste); Sony STR DB930. Superb imho.

Ah, so you edited your post to correct the spelling error

Shame as they keep going up in price every time you recommend one I've been looking to get one for a while now as heard unreal comments liking them to valve like sound etc. Considering they go for so little wanted to listen for myself what the fuss is all about.

To OP for under 200EUR second hand there's way better amps then any of the new ones you mentioned as long as you know what to look for.

Yes, it's a good'n

 

[insider9]

If you go s/h it's an easy call for me (and my taste); Sony STR DB930. Superb imho.

Ah, so you edited your post to correct the spelling error

Shame as they keep going up in price every time you recommend one I've been looking to get one for a while now as heard unreal comments liking them to valve like sound etc. Considering they go for so little wanted to listen for myself what the fuss is all about.

To OP for under 200EUR second hand there's way better amps then any of the new ones you mentioned as long as you know what to look for.

For what it's worth the B in brackets after the 9010 refers only to the fact it is black... as far as I am aware.

I stand corrected. I though 'B' was for British such as on Panasonic plasma models.

 

[Dragonsword]

European version of the Onkyo A9010 has an inbuilt dac and is said to sound not as good as the British model depicted as A9010(B) on the box. The WHF review is of the latter UK version. I've not heard the European version so can't recommend it.

I used to own A9010 and I wholeheartedly agree with WHF award though it's definitely best budget amp.

Not to say that budget permitting you can't get something cheaper that will still sound OK like the Denon. It also doesn't mean you will enjoy the Onkyo, we all hear thing differently. For example I didn't like a single one of award winning Q-Acoustic speakers I've heard.

If at all possible demo the amp with at least similar QA speakers to know if you will like the sound. Both Onkyo and Denon will have more than enough power.

It might be possible to demo the amp with the Q Acoustics 2020i, but it's gonna sound worse when I use my own speakers.

 

[muljao]

European version of the Onkyo A9010 has an inbuilt dac and is said to sound not as good as the British model depicted as A9010(B) on the box. The WHF review is of the latter UK version. I've not heard the European version so can't recommend it.

I used to own A9010 and I wholeheartedly agree with WHF award though it's definitely best budget amp.

Not to say that budget permitting you can't get something cheaper that will still sound OK like the Denon. It also doesn't mean you will enjoy the Onkyo, we all hear thing differently. For example I didn't like a single one of award winning Q-Acoustic speakers I've heard.

If at all possible demo the amp with at least similar QA speakers to know if you will like the sound. Both Onkyo and Denon will have more than enough power.

It might be possible to demo the amp with the Q Acoustics 2020i, but it's gonna sound worse when I use my own speakers.

Worse is relative. The q 2020i will give you a very good idea how the 2010i will sound. Grant it the 2020 have a slightly bigger sound but still close. I recently set up a pioneer a400 with 2010i speakers and it sounds excellent. I was in a similar situation to you buying an amp not so long ago and a member said in their opinion the Onkyo A9010 is better than the A400 (which implies to me that its pretty good, opinions on better will differ).. All this is relative, but if you step up from your current set up you with one of these amps you mention, you will likely be very happy

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi Dragonsword

On the used market the discontinued NAD C352 is also worth bearing in mind.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[kukulec]

In my expericence both the Denon PMA-720 and the Nad 316 were emotionless amps. The Denon simply has less resolution that you could expect, the Nad 316 gives the impression that there is a filter before the speakers. I'm not a huge fan of Marantz, but if you can save more, I would go for a 5005/6005. Personally I really enjoy the Pioneer A-30, but with some records it can be bright.

 

[Dragonsword]

Someone who works at a local hifi shop near me said the Onkyo-A9010 has shrill lows and he also said that I should buy this amplifier instead:

http://hificorner.nl/hifi/stereo/stereo-versterkers/yamaha/yamaha-a-s301-zilver

Do you think this would be a good choice and is it really gonna be that much better than cheaper amplifiers like the one I mentioned before and the one below?

http://hificorner.nl/hifi/stereo/stereo-versterkers/yamaha/yamaha-a-s201-zwart

 

[insider9]

Someone who works at a local hifi shop near me said the Onkyo-A9010 has shrill lows and he also said that I should buy this amplifier instead:

http://hificorner.nl/hifi/stereo/stereo-versterkers/yamaha/yamaha-a-s301...

Do you think this would be a good choice and is it really gonna be that much better than cheaper amplifiers like the one I mentioned before and the one below?

http://hificorner.nl/hifi/stereo/stereo-versterkers/yamaha/yamaha-a-s201...

Ok, this is why we could discuss this all day. One thing to consider, unless you know the shop and the person I'd take their advice with a grain of salt. Not saying they're will ill-advise but they've got comission and targets to meet which can vary with different products. Onkyo at the price point is really difficult to beat but granted not everyone will like it as just about any other bit of kit.

The fact of the matter is that either Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, NAD or other manufacturers make decent amps at entry level. It's you who will decide with your wallet and your ears. All the above amps suggested above are decent budget amps. You're just going to need to go out and listen to something before you get more and more confused. The more posters the more suggestions there will be.

 

[Dragonsword]

Someone who works at a local hifi shop near me said the Onkyo-A9010 has shrill lows and he also said that I should buy this amplifier instead:

http://hificorner.nl/hifi/stereo/stereo-versterkers/yamaha/yamaha-a-s301...

Do you think this would be a good choice and is it really gonna be that much better than cheaper amplifiers like the one I mentioned before and the one below?

http://hificorner.nl/hifi/stereo/stereo-versterkers/yamaha/yamaha-a-s201...

Ok, this is why we could discuss this all day. One thing to consider, unless you know the shop and the person I'd take their advice with a grain of salt. Not saying they're will ill-advise but they've got comission and targets to meet which can vary with different products. Onkyo at the price point is really difficult to beat but granted not everyone will like it as just about any other bit of kit.

The fact of the matter is that either Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, NAD or other manufacturers make decent amps at entry level. It's you who will decide with your wallet and your ears. All the above amps suggested above are decent budget amps. You're just going to need to go out and listen to something before you get more and more confused. The more posters the more suggestions there will be.

There's no option to listen to budget amplifiers in the hifi stores near me, they only let you listen to amplifiers from like 500 euro and more.

 

[insider9]

There's no option to listen to budget amplifiers in the hifi stores near me, they only let you listen to amplifiers from like 500 euro and more.

That's may be the reason why they criticise Onkyo as you won't be able to call them on it Seriously though, it sucks.

On a more practical note, what are the returns like? Do they allow home demos? Would you be prepared to order from a reputable online retailer and send back if you're not happy?

All these would be practical options allowing you to spend some time with a particular amp and decide whether it suits you. If they can't be bothered to suit to your needs than just buy it and return after a week if you're not happy. Check under what conditions you are allowed to do that first.

 

[nopiano]

There's no option to listen to budget amplifiers in the hifi stores near me, they only let you listen to amplifiers from like 500 euro and more.

That's may be the reason why they criticise Onkyo as you won't be able to call them on it Seriously though, it sucks.

On a more practical note, what are the returns like? Do they allow home demos? Would you be prepared to order from a reputable online retailer and send back if you're not happy?

All these would be practical options allowing you to spend some time with a particular amp and decide whether it suits you. If they can't be bothered to suit to your needs than just buy it and return after a week if you're not happy. Check under what conditions you are allowed to do that first.

I happily concur with Insider9, and with his previous post. All these amps are pretty good. What I'd add is that a few extra euros goes a long way, bearing in mind the packaging, distribution, margins and tax all eat up a fair chunk, so another 100 euros on price may double the value of the componentry. Equally, if you can get a end of line model reduced (like the Marantz PM6005 currently on sale in the UK) then that will give you best value. Lastly, do carefully check the basics like the dimensions and inputs meet you needs.