Question Moder integrated amplifier for b&w dm4

[Fandango Andy]

Hello again, i read about the marantz and it seems to have the same(simlilar) dac chip as the dac i have.AK4490s.

Is there a good and warm sounding amp that you can recommend without built in DAC so i can use the dac i have and perhaps save some money?

Thanks

If you are looking at second hand I would still lean towards Marantz, they have been killing it in entry level hifi market for years.

Look for:

PM 66SE
PM 66KI-S
PM 4000
PM 4200
PM 5005
PM 5006
PM 6004
PM 6005
PM 6006

All great in their time. The lower the number the older the model.

 

[RoA]

I use 4 different amplifiers with my vintage Mission 752's; In no particular order ... Arcam SA20, Cyrus ONE Cast, Hegel H95 and an Audiolab 6000A.

I can tell you about each one but what kind of sound are you looking for? They all have built in DAC's.

 

[matthewpianist]

I would certainly be looking second hand as you will get more for your money. Arcam Alpha 7 or 8 would likely be a nice option with those speakers, or there's plenty of good Denon models out there from the 90s (PMA-250SE or 255, for example). The Rotel RA-01 is an exceptional affordable amplifier if you can find a nice example.

Late 80s/early 90s Technics have a lovely, fluid sound (SU-V45 or 450, for example), and some JVCs (though these can be hard to come by and I dropped lucky). Marantz is also a good option, as suggested above.

 

[plastic penguin]

I'd look at Rotel. Really good match with B&W, although I can't say if a Rotel will tick the other boxes.

Agree with @matthewpianist older Arcams (Alpha or DIVA ranges) will work well with B&W.

 

[Freddy58]

As an aside…
I had a pair of DM4’s which I bought in ‘78. That means your speakers are getting on 50 years old, probably. Now, I’m not suggesting that there have been vast improvements in SQ during those intervening years, but I do wonder about the condition of those speakers? Are the cones/magnets/crossovers up to scratch? Of course, they could be fine, but might be worth getting them checked out?

 

[knasenn]

If you are looking at second hand I would still lean towards Marantz, they have been killing it in entry level hifi market for years.

Look for:

PM 66SE
PM 66KI-S
PM 4000
PM 4200
PM 5005
PM 5006
PM 6004
PM 6005
PM 6006

All great in their time. The lower the number the older the model.

Thank you so much for the help and suggested Amps 🙂 ill look around. Have a Greta day!

 

[knasenn]

I use 4 different amplifiers with my vintage Mission 752's; In no particular order ... Arcam SA20, Cyrus ONE Cast, Hegel H95 and an Audiolab 6000A.

I can tell you about each one but what kind of sound are you looking for? They all have built in DAC's.

Its so hard to explain 🙂 but i would say detailed and "interesting" sound. But also easy to listen to so i can listen for a longer period of time at times.

 

[knasenn]

I would certainly be looking second hand as you will get more for your money. Arcam Alpha 7 or 8 would likely be a nice option with those speakers, or there's plenty of good Denon models out there from the 90s (PMA-250SE or 255, for example). The Rotel RA-01 is an exceptional affordable amplifier if you can find a nice example.

Late 80s/early 90s Technics have a lovely, fluid sound (SU-V45 or 450, for example), and some JVCs (though these can be hard to come by and I dropped lucky). Marantz is also a good option, as suggested above.

Ok thank you! I have never heard of arcam before but now i got it as a recommendation twice 🙂

Ill ad them to my hifishark list of amps.tp.look.fpr 😀

 

[knasenn]

I'd look at Rotel. Really good match with B&W, although I can't say if a Rotel will tick the other boxes.

Agree with @matthewpianist older Arcams (Alpha or DIVA ranges) will work well with B&W.

Ok great! Any rotel or the specified model? 🙂 thank you

 

[knasenn]

As an aside…
I had a pair of DM4’s which I bought in ‘78. That means your speakers are getting on 50 years old, probably. Now, I’m not suggesting that there have been vast improvements in SQ during those intervening years, but I do wonder about the condition of those speakers? Are the cones/magnets/crossovers up to scratch? Of course, they could be fine, but might be worth getting them checked out?

I like the sound and cant really complain but they probably need a checkuo. As understand they have stood at an old couples house for last 30 years in the same spot. I was thinking of rotating the drivers.

 

[knasenn]

Hello, i just did a spontenious purchase of a marantz pm 5004. Cant find much about it but it was close by and pretty cheap so i decided to try it out.

I noticed that the it has double speaker outputs.
So not just +/- on left and right. But two sets of +/- for right and left(total 4x speaker outputs). Does it matter if i connect the speakers to the ones on top called A or the bottommones called B? Or does it not matter?

I have seen speaker that have double inputs(2x +/-) but mine has only one set per speker.

Thank you

 

[Al ears]

Hello, i just did a spontenious purchase of a marantz pm 5004. Cant find much about it but it was close by and pretty cheap so i decided to try it out.

I noticed that the it has double speaker outputs.
So not just +/- on left and right. But two sets of +/- for right and left(total 4x speaker outputs). Does it matter if i connect the speakers to the ones on top called A or the bottommones called B? Or does it not matter?

I have seen speaker that have double inputs(2x +/-) but mine has only one set per speker.

Thank you

Connect to Left and Right of set A or likewise to set B it doesn't really matter.
And as far as I can see System A is actually the bottom set of connections.

 

[knasenn]

Connect to Left and Right of set A or likewise to set B it doesn't really matter.
And as far as I can see System A is actually the bottom set of connections.

Ok, thank you again for all the help! 🙂))

 

[plastic penguin]

Ok great! Any rotel or the specified model? 🙂 thank you

The best Rotel you can afford. Ideally, the 15 series produce good amps. Ultimately, it's about how Rotel and B&W interact with each other. The synergy is very good.

 

[weedavey]

Hello, i just did a spontenious purchase of a marantz pm 5004. Cant find much about it but it was close by and pretty cheap so i decided to try it out.

I noticed that the it has double speaker outputs.
So not just +/- on left and right. But two sets of +/- for right and left(total 4x speaker outputs). Does it matter if i connect the speakers to the ones on top called A or the bottommones called B? Or does it not matter?

I have seen speaker that have double inputs(2x +/-) but mine has only one set per speker.

Thank you

how did the amp work out for you? I live in Stockholm and just ordered a pair of DM4s, so I'm interested to hear how things went

 

[JDL]

Does it have a DAC.

 

[Al ears]

What is the point of this post?

 

[knasenn]

how did the amp work out for you? I live in Stockholm and just ordered a pair of DM4s, so I'm interested to hear how things went

Hello, As mentioned earlier i the thread i am not 100% sure of the condition of the speakers. Also i dont know what to expect from either the DM4s or the marantz amp. But i can say that i like both the DM4s and the amp.

After purchasing the amp i saw that ROTEL Amps are recommended generally for B&W Amps. So that could be an option aswell.

Did you buy them in a store or from private person? If store. Where is it located and do you recommend the store?



Good luck!

 

[weedavey]

Hello, As mentioned earlier i the thread i am not 100% sure of the condition of the speakers. Also i dont know what to expect from either the DM4s or the marantz amp. But i can say that i like both the DM4s and the amp.

After purchasing the amp i saw that ROTEL Amps are recommended generally for B&W Amps. So that could be an option aswell.

Did you buy them in a store or from private person? If store. Where is it located and do you recommend the store?



Good luck!

Just bought from Gothenburg on Tradera, so I've not even listened to them. Walnut veneer...so at worst very nice side tables :-/
Will let you know

 

[JDL]

What is the point of this post?

Are you referring to me?
If so I was going to mention something, decided not to. I ran the cursor backwards to delete what I'd written and then backed out.
Why it posted on my behalf, I don't know because I did not press the post reply.

 

[weedavey]

Hello, As mentioned earlier i the thread i am not 100% sure of the condition of the speakers. Also i dont know what to expect from either the DM4s or the marantz amp. But i can say that i like both the DM4s and the amp.

After purchasing the amp i saw that ROTEL Amps are recommended generally for B&W Amps. So that could be an option aswell.

Did you buy them in a store or from private person? If store. Where is it located and do you recommend the store?



Good luck!

Well, I got the speakers and connected them on Friday. I was shocked how good they have been preserved cosmetically, and after a play around I settled on the CD input from my DAC to the amplifier. The amplifier is my PMA-250 from 1989/90 that I bought with the pay from my first summer job (output about 25W, so in the right range). They sound incredible, specifically the percussion.
My wife, who isn't interested in this sort of stuff, sat with me for 4 hours while we listened to music from the 70s and 80s, and even she was stunned.
One of the best purchases I've ever made. I am looking forward to all the fine tweaking with cables, inputs and speaker positioning over the coming days and weeks.
Hope your experience is going as well as mine.