Newbie needs advice on Integrated Amp

[GraniteOx]

I'm new to the HiFi scene and can really use some advise from knowledgeable people. I enjoy listening to music, but have never owned anything other than a 25 year old Bose Surround Sound system with Tuner. I want to buy an amp to power a pair of Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II bookshelf speakers (I know I could use better speakers). They are 8 ohm, rated for 100/400 watts, with a sensitivity of 94.5 dB.
I will listen to music via streaming only. I listen fairly loud at times, but don't care for my neighbors to hear it through closed doors. The room is about 14x20. My budget is $400-$600. I am attaching a list of the amps I have considered in my price range. The models that are "greyed" out have been eliminated from consideration. The reason for elimination is highlighted in red on each line. The "green" rows are the remaining contenders. I would appreciate your opinions on these choices. Have a eliminated any that I shouldn't have? I'm I putting too much emphasis or being too strict on THD & SNR? Anything else I should consider in this price range? FYI - The Bluetooth, Tuner, DAC, etc... are nice to have, but not a deal breaker. I can add a DAC to whatever I buy.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and opinions!

 

[twinkletoes]

Your forgetting the most important aspect and that’s character, the klipsch are shall we say a full on listen.

You may want amp with a mellow presentation to balance out the klipsch more up front personality .

Now I don’t know if I’d pair klipsch with 2 of your green options, rotel and onkyo. I’d reinstate one of the Cambridge options. But if you really want to lean into that presentation the NAD 316bee would be good along with rotel you can always add a cheap dac/streamer such as a wim.

You really need to listen to them, find a place with a good returns policy so can find out which you like.

 

[Cork]

I have to add my favorite, Yamaha WXA-50:

| D | WXA-50 | $450 | 65 | .02 | 110 | Y | Y | N | Y | N? | 24​

SNR and THD are valid parameters as long as you don't get overly wrapped up in them. Your acceptable ranges seem reasonable.

The Klipsch have a 94 sensitivity, so you don't need much to power them; although it can't hurt to consider what your next speakers might need.

I would advise having access to a sub port. You may not need it, but it's nice You don't have to crank it and it can be turned down when/if needed.

Another consideration is an app to control the amp. (Yamaha's is decent. Marantz and Denon's HEOS is decent too. Not sure of others.)

You mentioned streaming but not connectivity. I didn't look them all up, but it's often better to have a network port than use Bluetooth. Less problematic too.

Have you considered going with a straight receiver and using just the L/R channels?

 

[GraniteOx]

Forgetting the most important aspect and that’s character, the klipsch are shall we say a full on listen.

You may want amp with a mellow presentation to balance out the klipsch more up front personality .

Now I don’t know if I’d pair klipsch with 2 of your green options, rotel and onkyo. I’d reinstate one of the Cambridge options. But if you really want to lean into that presentation the NAD 316bee would be good along with rotel you can always add a cheap dac/streamer such as a wim.

You really need to listen to them, find a place with a good returns policy so can find out which you like.

When I say I'm a newbie, I'm VERY new to the HiFi world and don't understand a lot of it. Thank you for your "HiFi For Dummies" explanation. I can actually understand what you are saying. On the Cambridge amps, does the 82 DNR not bother you? I didn't even know the acronym 2 weeks ago, but several things I read suggested staying above 90. Thanks again for your time and advice!

 

[GraniteOx]

I have to add my favorite, Yamaha WXA-50:

| D | WXA-50 | $450 | 65 | .02 | 110 | Y | Y | N | Y | N? | 24​

SNR and THD are valid parameters as long as you don't get overly wrapped up in them. Your acceptable ranges seem reasonable.

The Klipsch have a 94 sensitivity, so you don't need much to power them; although it can't hurt to consider what your next speakers might need.

I would advise having access to a sub port. You may not need it, but it's nice You don't have to crank it and it can be turned down when/if needed.

Another consideration is an app to control the amp. (Yamaha's is decent. Marantz and Denon's HEOS is decent too. Not sure of others.)

You mentioned streaming but not connectivity. I didn't look them all up, but it's often better to have a network port than use Bluetooth. Less problematic too.

Have you considered going with a straight receiver and using just the L/R channels?

Thank you! I'm not familiar with a network port on an amp. Is that for a wired internet connection? It makes sense it would be more reliable than BT. I would prefer a sub port, but it's not a deal breaker for me if everything else is perfect. I think there are so many options on the market that I can get everything fair easily. I will look at the Yami also. Thanks for the suggestion! Here is my dumb question that will demonstrate how little I know... Is a straight receiver not the same thing as an amp with tuner? Two of the Cambridge, the Onkyo and one of the Marantz have a built in AM/FM tuner. Thank you for your help!

 

[daytona600]

RP600 budget speaker but needs a very , very good source/amp for best results
ignore power output , THD /SNR these are meaningless

I am listening in my little room with a $16,000 dCS DAC driving a $4000 amplifier powering speakers that cost $649/pair,

£400/600
Wiim streamer + Rega IO
ProJect MaiA S3
.

Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M loudspeaker The RP-600M II August 2023

Herb Reichert reviewed the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II in August 2023 (Vol.46 No.8): The grandest perk of being a reviewer is when sniffing through the grass leads me to a high-performance product capable of wide-ranging appeal at a price point that shouldn't scare anyone. In my...

www.stereophile.com

 

[Cork]

A receiver is an integrated amp with a tuner, so yes. What I meant, although I said it terribly, is consider a 5.1 receiver (instead of a stereo receiver); they're more mass-market and are generally less expensive, believe it or not. The cheapest Yamaha, the RX-V385, is $295 without any sales and has pretty much what you are looking for. Although it's an old model and I'd go one level up for the much newer RX-V4A at $350. (Yes, I like Yamaha. And no, I have no connection to them whatsoever!)

 

[Fandango Andy]

I'm new to the HiFi scene and can really use some advise from knowledgeable people. I enjoy listening to music, but have never owned anything other than a 25 year old Bose Surround Sound system with Tuner. I want to buy an amp to power a pair of Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II bookshelf speakers (I know I could use better speakers). They are 8 ohm, rated for 100/400 watts, with a sensitivity of 94.5 dB.
I will listen to music via streaming only. I listen fairly loud at times, but don't care for my neighbors to hear it through closed doors. The room is about 14x20. My budget is $400-$600. I am attaching a list of the amps I have considered in my price range. The models that are "greyed" out have been eliminated from consideration. The reason for elimination is highlighted in red on each line. The "green" rows are the remaining contenders. I would appreciate your opinions on these choices. Have a eliminated any that I shouldn't have? I'm I putting too much emphasis or being too strict on THD & SNR? Anything else I should consider in this price range? FYI - The Bluetooth, Tuner, DAC, etc... are nice to have, but not a deal breaker. I can add a DAC to whatever I buy.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and opinions!
View attachment 8009

The first thing to say is can you audition any of the amps? Take your speakers to a store and listen to a few amps?

That asside, the Marantz PM6007 I haven't hear any of the amps on the list, but can confirm the Marantz is fantastic.

There are a couple of good Yamaha that should be within budget. Not sure where you are and what the prices are, but the Mission 778X is also great.

Having said all of that, if in your position, I would probably just go for the PM6007 because I like how Marantz sound.

 

[Noddy]

The room is about 14x20. My budget is $400-$600.

Would that be feet? Or meters? Or kilometers? Or mm? Which dollars are those? Canadian, American, Cambodian, Zimbabwean?

That’s a modest budget. I have a left field suggestion:

Topping PA7 Plus Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping PA7 Plus stereo class D amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $549. The PA7 Plus is stylish with firm switches that have nice action. You can select power on/off or trigger input. In addition, you have a choice of...

www.audiosciencereview.com

There are other models from that brand, and other similar brands too. I can’t speak for their long term reliability, then again my Arcam amp failed after a couple of years, £1,000 down the drain.

 

[twinkletoes]

When I say I'm a newbie, I'm VERY new to the HiFi world and don't understand a lot of it. Thank you for your "HiFi For Dummies" explanation. I can actually understand what you are saying. On the Cambridge amps, does the 82 DNR not bother you? I didn't even know the acronym 2 weeks ago, but several things I read suggested staying above 90. Thanks again for your time and advice!

Not a problem at all, no I wouldn’t worry about it. What might happen as the klipsch are very sensitive is you get a very slight hiss through the tweeters but shouldn’t be audible at your seating position. In use they will all sound fab it will just be preference think.

Looking at your list again you may also want to add Yamaha if they have a model in you budget range

 

[Noddy]

You could also consider the Wiim Amp Pro:

WiiM Amp Pro Streaming Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Amp Pro networked streaming stereo class D amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $379. The package is minimalistic in nature and matches the "non-pro" version of the amplifier. The volume indicator is that set of LEDs...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[gasolin]

yamaha a-s 301 ?

rega brio ?

Audiolab 6000a ?