Top Ten Budget amplifiers of all time!

[Pikman]

I would go with the NAD 320 also, recently swapped to a Denon AVR and I can't wait to get my NAD back up and running, it isn't the same without it.

 

[moon]

So far we have the

Creek CAS 4040

Pioneer A400

NAD 3020

NAD 320

 

[Lost Angeles]

So far we have the

Creek CAS 4040

Pioneer A400

NAD 3020

NAD 320

What happened to the 8000A?

 

[Anonymous]

My Marantz PM4000 from 13 years ago was £150 from Richer sounds. I think it had a 5* review, and I still use it every day. Sounds great

 

[Sorreltiger]

A60 is a good shout, Chebby, but I think I'd go for the original Arcam Alpha which was first in a great line of popular Arcam amps.

 

[tonky]

So far we have the

Creek CAS 4040

Pioneer A400

NAD 3020

NAD 320

AND the A and R Cambridge A60

 

[fatman]

Kenwood 3020SE? never bought one myself as really wanted the Audiolab but never saved up.

Pretty sure that Kenwood should make the list though.

 

[hoopsontoast]

Rega Brio

 

[SteveR750]

NAD 3130, better than the 3020 IMO, and well under £300 new back in 1986 when I bought mine.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I agree with Dr.Lodge's MF A1 recommendation.

 

[moon]

So far we have the

Audiolab 8000A

Creek CAS 4040

Pioneer A400

NAD 3020

NAD 320

Musical Fidelity A1

 

[Andrew Everard]

Denon PMA-250SE.

 

[moon]

Denon PMA-250SE.

Excellent, On the list as this was my nomination.

 

[CnoEvil]

My nominations:

- a A&R A60
- Naim Nait
- Rogers A75
- Audiolab 8000A
- Mission Cyrus 2
- Sony TAF 4A
- Trio KA-1500 Mk2
- Inca Tech Claymore

 

[moon]

So far we have the

Creek CAS 4040

Pioneer A400

NAD 3020

NAD 320

AND the A and R Cambridge A60

didnt you say the A30

 

[moon]

update!

Audiolab 8000A

Creek CAS 4040

Pioneer A400

NAD 3020

NAD 320

Musical Fidelity A1

A & R A60 ...... now its on the list

Denon PMA250 SE

 

[CnoEvil]

The original Naim Nait should be there.....the Great Great Grandfather of them all.

Last place - Inca Tech Claymore. :read:

 

[Andrew Everard]

Oh, and Rotel RA-935BX

 

[moon]

The original Naim Nait should be there.....the Great Great Grandfather of them all. Last place - Inca Tech Claymore. :read:

ok the Naim is in

 

[chebby]

The original Naim Nait should be there.....the Great Great Grandfather of them all.

The original Nait was only the 'Great Great Grandfather' of subsequent Naim Nait versions.

As far as good, British, 'budget' (or even mid-priced) integrated amps went, it was a 'Johnny-come-lately'. (The aforementioned Creek CAS4040 pre-dated the Nait by a year, the A&R Cambridge A60 pre-dated it by 7 years and the Sugden A21 pre-dated it by 15 years.)

Countless, good, budget-priced Japanese integrated amps pre-dated the Nait by decades.

The only sense in which the Nait was some kind of 'benchmark', was in being Naim's first integrated amp.

 

[Shanka]

Another for the A&R A60

PP, I had SA506 my first amp, glad you liked its big brother, I loved the levers on those old amps, I hope there will be a top 10 of recievers, some great levers from Pioneer and esp. Technics, used to go round hifi shops give them a little tweak before pressing all the eject buttons on cassette decks, I know most over 40 here will have done the same,
I hope !!! 😳

 

[eggontoast]

update!

Audiolab 8000A

Creek CAS 4040

Pioneer A400

NAD 3020

NAD 320

Musical Fidelity A1

A & R A60 ...... now its on the list

Denon PMA250 SE

Am I the only one wondering why the NAD 320 is on the list, I mean its OK but top ten of all time...........

 

[nads]

NAD 3130, better than the 3020 IMO, and well under £300 new back in 1986 when I bought mine.

Agreed. Christ was it £150 back then? Or less?

 

[fatman]

blimey, the Kenwood didnt even raise an eyebrow. Seem to remember whatHifi were all over it 20 years ago. KA-3020SE.

& maybe the current Marantz sub £300 amp should make the cut????

 

[Shanka]

Would the Quad 33/303 qualify ??