Looking for an amplifier

[DianeC]

I am setting up a music system and am considering upgrading my amplifier (a Sony FM Stereo/FM-AM Receiver STR-DH130)

This summer I purchased
- B&W CM8 s2 speakers
- Rega Planar 1 turntable
- Rega Fono Mini A2D MM Phono Preamp (which I may not need with a new amp?)

Any advice on whether to get a new amplifier? If yes, which one? Hoping to spend under $1,000 Canadian. (Less expensive is better. lol)

I'm setting up the system for music. I use vinyl, CD, & .flac from my PC; most of my music is CD/.flac. (I don't plan to buy lots of vinyl; just some.)

thanks

 

[Al ears]

Welcome to the forum.
How do you currently get flac files from your PC to the amplifier?
Can you get to any hifi stores where you are?

 

[DianeC]

I'm using a RCA Cable 3.5mm to 2-Male RCA Adapter Audio Cable for my digital (flac) files.

I also have bluetooth that I use to stream from services (quality is less important to me when streaming)

 

[Al ears]

I'm using a RCA Cable 3.5mm to 2-Male RCA Adapter Audio Cable for my digital (flac) files.

I also have bluetooth that I use to stream from services (quality is less important to me when streaming)

Ok, so you use the PC to convert those files to analogue...
You might be better finding an amplifier with an inbuilt DAC and outputting digital from PC to that amp.

 

[DianeC]

More Info
B&W speaker specs:

• Design: 3 -way, Ported, Tower Enclosure
• Drivers: One 1″ Aluminum Dome Tweeter, One 5″ Kevlar FST Midrange, Two 5″ Paper/Kevlar Woofers
• MFR: 69 Hz – 22 kHz ± 3 dB
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
• Crossover Frequencies: 350 Hz, 4 kHz
• Recommended Amplifier Power: 30W – 150W

Sony amp specs:

• 90 watts x 2 (stereo) into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.09% THD
• no phono input (phono preamp needed)

 

[DianeC]

Ok, so you use the PC to convert those files to analogue...
You might be better finding an amplifier with an inbuilt DAC and outputting digital from PC to that amp.

I picked up a Dragonfly Black to use with the cable but a built in DAC would be useful. I'm not loving playing my digital music from the laptop but that's what I have.

Honestly I'm cobbling this together with minimal knowledge and the power of the internet.

 

[plastic penguin]

Perhaps something like a Marantz PM 7000N will do. It caters for most digital usage and has a built-in MM phono stage.

 

[matthewpianist]

Cyrus ONE HD, if you can get one in budget. A superb DAC and phono stage and a lovely amp all round. It will withstand any future upgrade in the rest of the system too.