Most know that my hifi is very much old school and I don't get to hear a lot of new equipment. But Major Fubar Senior (my elder brother) was on the lookout for a new amp following the death of his much treastured Marantz PM-45, so after work today (technically, yesterday) we went to Richer Sounds to see what £300 could buy in terms of new amps.
First of all I have to say, what a well-run chain of stores. Nice sales people who are there to assist when you want them but who aren't pushy. Hooked up to a pair of Q3020s which I was very impressed with for the size and price, we listened to the Marantz PM6005, Cambridge Audio Azur 651A and a Yamaha AS301 (cheaper than the other two, but they didn't have a '501 in stock), using a Marantz CD6005 as a source.
Unexpectedly, based on my preconceptions when I saw it, I was least impressed with the Yamaha. Ok it was the cheapest, but for a well-built unit which clearly looked to be the trio's tattooed muscleman who pumps 25 kilos with one arm while reading a copy of Muscle & Fitness in the other, it sounded the weediest and IMO least impressive, despite its claimed 60WRMS per side. Music sounded a bit restrained like it couldn't let go. You could mess with the tone controls to try to make it more punchier, but that just muddied the bass.
The CA surprised me. It sounded punchier than the Yamaha and IMO had an altogether more engaging presentation. Only when I came home did I do my research and found this was a £450 amp reduced to £249 at Richers, so I shouldn't have been at all surprised its sound was in the next league above. It was seriously looking like a go-er 'til we realised it didn't have a phono input.
So finally we listened to the Marantz PM6005. They do say this is almost an obligatory audition if you have less than £500 to spend. I can see why it's very popular. Nice approachable sound that does nothing wrong, unmistakably Marantz, but IMO it didn't quite have the authority and drive of the CA, which fair enough is a 75WRMS amp compared to the Marantz's 45W. That said, it's a £300 amp being sold at exactly that, not £450 amp with £200 off. The minute we established it sounded better than the Yamaha it had effectively won the competition on the grounds it has a MM input, and so that's what he came out with.
I'd give a home to either the Marantz or the CA, were I in the need of an amp and with that budget to spend. Only the Yamaha left me disappointed. Built like Goliath (comparatively) but IMO sounded the least muscular. Clearly there's 60W and there's 60W: my ancient Cyrus 2 is rated only at 50W or thereabouts without the PSX but it would comfortably blow this Yamaha through the wall into the next store. I'm sure the '501 is an altogether different proposition and it could have been a tough call beween that and the Marantz if they had it in stock. But as it stands he's happy with his purchase.
First of all I have to say, what a well-run chain of stores. Nice sales people who are there to assist when you want them but who aren't pushy. Hooked up to a pair of Q3020s which I was very impressed with for the size and price, we listened to the Marantz PM6005, Cambridge Audio Azur 651A and a Yamaha AS301 (cheaper than the other two, but they didn't have a '501 in stock), using a Marantz CD6005 as a source.
Unexpectedly, based on my preconceptions when I saw it, I was least impressed with the Yamaha. Ok it was the cheapest, but for a well-built unit which clearly looked to be the trio's tattooed muscleman who pumps 25 kilos with one arm while reading a copy of Muscle & Fitness in the other, it sounded the weediest and IMO least impressive, despite its claimed 60WRMS per side. Music sounded a bit restrained like it couldn't let go. You could mess with the tone controls to try to make it more punchier, but that just muddied the bass.
The CA surprised me. It sounded punchier than the Yamaha and IMO had an altogether more engaging presentation. Only when I came home did I do my research and found this was a £450 amp reduced to £249 at Richers, so I shouldn't have been at all surprised its sound was in the next league above. It was seriously looking like a go-er 'til we realised it didn't have a phono input.
So finally we listened to the Marantz PM6005. They do say this is almost an obligatory audition if you have less than £500 to spend. I can see why it's very popular. Nice approachable sound that does nothing wrong, unmistakably Marantz, but IMO it didn't quite have the authority and drive of the CA, which fair enough is a 75WRMS amp compared to the Marantz's 45W. That said, it's a £300 amp being sold at exactly that, not £450 amp with £200 off. The minute we established it sounded better than the Yamaha it had effectively won the competition on the grounds it has a MM input, and so that's what he came out with.
I'd give a home to either the Marantz or the CA, were I in the need of an amp and with that budget to spend. Only the Yamaha left me disappointed. Built like Goliath (comparatively) but IMO sounded the least muscular. Clearly there's 60W and there's 60W: my ancient Cyrus 2 is rated only at 50W or thereabouts without the PSX but it would comfortably blow this Yamaha through the wall into the next store. I'm sure the '501 is an altogether different proposition and it could have been a tough call beween that and the Marantz if they had it in stock. But as it stands he's happy with his purchase.
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