Question Oberon 5 ampli choice Marrantz vs Denon

[Integralista]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to the Hi-Fi world and really struggling with all the technical details. I’ve read so many forum threads trying to make the best choice for my first setup, but I still can’t quite synthesise everything. Instead of relying on ChatGPT, I thought I’d ask for recommendations from you experts.

My room is about 30 m², and I’ve just bought a pair of DALI Oberon 5 speakers. Now I need to choose an amplifier. My budget is a maximum of €500. I mostly listen at low to medium volumes, only rarely at high volume. I don’t have a specific music genre — I listen to everything but mostly electronic and jazz. I’ll also use the system for movies (connected to a projector), though that isn’t a priority in my decision. I will maybe buy a turntable in a year or so but not certain.

During Black Friday in France, I’m considering these three amplifiers:
1. Marantz PM6007 (€450)
2. Denon PMA-600NE (€390)
3. Onkyo A-9110-B (€200)

Which one do you think would deliver the best sound experience with my setup and listening habits? A short explanation would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot!

Hi and wellcome to the forum. There are many good options recommended to you here. Dali Oberon speakers need lively amp with energy, dynamic in spades. They have quite full and deep bass for their smaller size, with proper amp. Denon is a bit slow, marantz very musical (for me a bit too much). Rotel A8 is a rare diamond between them with proper full sound. If you will search for only analogue amp, this will my choice Nr. 1 for you. Used Rega Io a second choice. Rega has very good phono preamp. But no bluetooth. But...for a person like you, person who is not a "forged audiophile nut" there are two great options: either WiiM Amp Ultra or Eversolo Play. WiiM is I think some 100 eur over your budget, but it a has a very good streamer inside, great sound. Eversolo is similar and another 100 eur more expensive. But...WiiM sounds clearly better has 2x100watt of power. I have compared WiiM with my own Rega Brio mk6 just as amps. And WiiM is comming quite close to this Rega amp in sound quality. But WiiM offer so much more on the board. Yes and finaly, in France you have great Atoll manufacturer "french Rega" from amp perspective. And Advance Acoustics. They are both running currently high speed having big success. Both very good. BR.

 

[newbiegeek]

Can't agree more.

The NAD is a good, solid all-rounder, with a robust sound and plenty of dynamic headroom unless you’re looking for party levels. It also has a fine phono stage and a decent headphone output. If you can live without digital inputs, it’s the most engaging option for the money, more so than the Marantz PM6007 or equivalent Denon. I would even take one over the Rega io, which whilst a solid little amp, isn’t as refined.

If you can take a step up, perhaps by going secondhand, the Audiolab brings true flexibility and greater all-round refinement, something which can also be found in the Mission 778X, up to a point.

Considering that I listen to music most of the time from my Apple Music, i would need to find a bluetooth stick. Would I lose any audible quality from NAD ?
For Audiolab 6000A mkII is twice my budget, even though clearly it's the winner here

 

[daytona600]

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/uni-box-s3/

 

[nopiano]

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/uni-box-s3/

That looks neat, but it’s €799 and the budget is €500.

Pro-Ject's new streaming amplifier is powered by WiiM's excellent OS

The best of both worlds?

www.whathifi.com

The Advance Paris that had the great review in Hifi Choice looks to me the best bet for a French resident. In fact, pretty outstanding full stop. I’d have never thought of it, as I know very little about them.

As the OP says it’s available for under €300 they’d have enough money left over the cancel Apple Music which so few streamers support, and swap to the excellent French Qobuz which is widely supported.

 

[Integralista]

Considering that I listen to music most of the time from my Apple Music, i would need to find a bluetooth stick. Would I lose any audible quality from NAD ?
For Audiolab 6000A mkII is twice my budget, even though clearly it's the winner here

Hi bluetooth transfer is a big quality loss. For this you do not need hifi system.

 

[newbiegeek]

Hi and wellcome to the forum. There are many good options recommended to you here. Dali Oberon speakers need lively amp with energy, dynamic in spades. They have quite full and deep bass for their smaller size, with proper amp. Denon is a bit slow, marantz very musical (for me a bit too much). Rotel A8 is a rare diamond between them with proper full sound. If you will search for only analogue amp, this will my choice Nr. 1 for you. Used Rega Io a second choice. Rega has very good phono preamp. But no bluetooth. But...for a person like you, person who is not a "forged audiophile nut" there are two great options: either WiiM Amp Ultra or Eversolo Play. WiiM is I think some 100 eur over your budget, but it a has a very good streamer inside, great sound. Eversolo is similar and another 100 eur more expensive. But...WiiM sounds clearly better has 2x100watt of power. I have compared WiiM with my own Rega Brio mk6 just as amps. And WiiM is comming quite close to this Rega amp in sound quality. But WiiM offer so much more on the board. Yes and finaly, in France you have great Atoll manufacturer "french Rega" from amp perspective. And Advance Acoustics. They are both running currently high speed having big success. Both very good. BR.

Hi, thanks a lot for this recommendation. If i understand well, if the bluetooth is not built-in in the ampli, it would cause an important quality loss if connect it via bluetooth stick. I imagine Wiim with their bluetooth connectivity, they limite that loss. Ultra Amp is indeed a bit outside my budget; would you recommend Amp, Amp Pro, or Vibelink for my Oberon 5s ?

 

[newbiegeek]

Hi bluetooth transfer is a big quality loss. For this you do not need hifi system.

Even for bluetooth built-in like Wiim Amp ?

 

[Integralista]

Hi, thanks a lot for this recommendation. If i understand well, if the bluetooth is not built-in in the ampli, it would cause an important quality loss if connect it via bluetooth stick. I imagine Wiim with their bluetooth connectivity, they limite that loss. Ultra Amp is indeed a bit outside my budget; would you recommend Amp, Amp Pro, or Vibelink for my Oberon 5s ?

WiiM Amp Ultra is full package and best value I think. Price is truly great.

 

[Integralista]

Even for bluetooth built-in like Wiim Amp ?

Yes Bluetooth is good for a party modus, garden, picnick and not so good for focused listening. Wired signal transfer is still the best for hifi use.