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July 4, 2011 - 12:13pm
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Advice on a $400 integrated amplifier?
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amplifier. You would need a preamp with it. If you can listen to the others that would be preferred. If not the NAD and Cambridge Audio are servicable at that price level. Stay with two channel, those Cornwalls will be the basis for a nice system. A Jolida JD-1301A with its 12AX7 tube preamp section and MOSFET power amp section might be a nice amp for those efficient speakers.
Try to work some in somewhere, pre, amp or integrated.
RG
I'm just glad to have an idea of where to start. Its gonna be a bit of driving to get to a good audio store, and I appreciate the input. Probably saved me a good amount of random browsing.
the NAD C316BEE is just $349 at audio advisor.
The all tube integrated amp Jolida JD102B would be awesome sounding with those speakers.
Way more powerful than it's specs would indicate, it will run circles around the NAD 40 w RMS integrated
both in sound quality and in volume. Please don't be afraid to give tubes a try, they are a more suited natural
amplification device vs. transistors.
The NAD integrated is very good in that price range, as is the comparable Cambridge
integrated. As a newbie,I strongly recommend that you stay away from anything with
power tubes; low reliablity and variable tube performance are predictable headaches
you don't want.
The phono stages that come with integrated amps uniformly stink! Spend $150 on the Musical Fidelity phono stage and it will outperform any of them (it is almost as good as my Audio research PH-5, which I spent $2000 for...really!).
P.S. - come to think of it...how about the 80Wpc NAD 356BEE integrated?
Mine is only about 8 months old, and cost $800, and I will sell it for $575. It is recommended as the amp for a primo $2500 system in this month's The Absolute Sound... Upgrade time for me.
I have a Lazarus Pre that I bought years ago for $120 and a Hafler amp that even after rebuild cost only $230. Used can be a great deal, provided you aren't afraid to learn a little about the equipment.