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May 22, 2014 - 8:01am
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$500 Integrated Amp
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That is a pretty tall order for $500.
Are you sure you would not be better off limiting yourself to an integrated with just the DAC?
You open up the potential field of good quality equipment while not short selling yourself on the phono-pre.
Get a separate phono-pre later if it is not in your current budget. The biggest downside is you will need another set of RAC cables. But you will likely end up with a much better performing phono-pre.
Just offering a different perspective.......
Bill
To be honest im not sure what would be the best route to go. Thats why im turning to the guru's like you.
Im not tied to that price range, but what ive been trying to do is look in that range to keep things from spiraling out of control price wise. Im buying other equipment, notably a TT, and then a DAC and Headphones for work. So ive kinda loosely set a $500 budget for each of those items. (Though the USB DAC im looking at for work is sub $200) So i was hopeful i could get an Integrated with those featires for that price range would be great. But if general consensus is to not cap at that range or to buy separates im certainly willing.
Since you have powered speakers, it does not make sense to get an integrated amplifier. You already have amplifiers built into the speakers.
I suggest that you get an OPPO BDP-103 CD player, which has an excellent DAC built in, and can be used to drive your powered speakers. It has a remote with volume control, so all you need to do is connect its analog outputs to the speakers and you are in business. It will essentially act as a preamp to drive your speakers. You can get it direct from OPPO for $499.
You will need to get a separate phono preamp; Needle Doctor has the Pro-ject box MM phono preamp for $99, which is a good price for a good unit.
The turntable can be connected to the Phono preamp, which can be connected to the OPPO's digital input through an inexpensive ADC, which you can get for $30 or so.
I recommend the Music Hall MMF-2.2 turntable for a good entry-level system.