What stereo amplifier/receiver?

[ecotourist]

We have a mix of vintage and modern stereo equipment. The vintage stuff was picked up piecemeal over decades. It took me a long time to find a sensible way to combine vintage and modern components. My solution was a Benchmark DAC1 pre-amp (highly recommended).

Vintage: Mark Levinson No 23 Power Amp (200 Watts RMS per channel), Mirage M1 towers, Mission PCM 7000 CD player (now using only the digital out), Technics SL-Q2 turntable, NAD 9000 cartridge, Cyrus Two integrated amplifier (now using only the pre-pre amp)

Modern: Sonos digital streamer

We also have a pair of KEF 101 bookshelf speakers that we now use as speakers for our television.

The Mirage M1 towers are huge and require an offset from both the rear and side walls. Their size and the required offset is awkward but they produce wonderful sound. They don't need a subwoofer. If we ever move to a smaller home I would substitute the KEF 101 speakers (which we really like) along with a subwoofer.

The Sonos streamer is so convenient that we almost never use the turntable. There is no need for a tuner either as radio comes in through the Sonos streamer (we do have a Cyrus tuner, stored in the basement).

 

[Hermann]

Most of this I acquired around 2010

Emotiva XSP-1.1 pre amp - Has a full analog mode, both MM and MC phono inputs and a full function remote.
A very nice full featured preamp from it second generation.
Carver M500t power amp when it had just been restored by one of the masters at restoring these.
VPI Traveler 1.1 turntable
Onkyo C-7030 CDP
Audio Technica ART9 MC phone cartridge.
Magnepan 1.7 speakers
Polk PSW505 subwoofer.

A nice mix of old and new that work together well and have been totally trouble free.

 

[loneryder]

Under $1200

Decent wattage, w/input BT on board better, turntable, CD player. Subwoofer output. Maybe TV input in the future but don't really want a 5.1 or 7.1

Clean sound.

Open ideas, without Fabulous $27,000 Audio Brothers recommendations.

Denon's are very nice sounding receivers. Can't go wrong.

 

[loneryder]

Well he stated under $1200 and everybody recommends expensive stuff.

 

[Pablo]

Well he stated under $1200 and everybody recommends expensive stuff.

BITOG = hi rollers

 

[Rand]

I'd find a clearance on a denon or marantz
for bookshelf you dont need anything crazy.

if you need something special for photo there has to be an addon to make it work somewhere.

 

[ecotourist]

When I started upgrading my university days crappy stereo equipment I was going to buy a "highly rated" but in truth a mid-FY receiver. The stereo shop had one in stock and the price was agreed. Then the sales guy said "before we write this up why not listen to this". And he demonstrated a (20 Watt) NAD 3020 integrated amp. The improvement in sound quality was unbelievable. You just can't buy mid-FY stuff when high-FY (or at least borderline high-FY) stuff is readily available and not even very expensive.

So my suggestion is pick one really good component that works with the stuff you already have and add good stuff to your system over time. That's how you build a killer system without spending big bucks.

You don't have to go crazy and buy a $20,000 preamp either (I made that price up but you get the point). My not so expensive Mirage M1 speakers were rated as "the best in the world" by "Absolute Sound" magazine when the second best speakers were 10 or 20 times more expensive. [For the record the Mirage M1 speakers were developed by stereo gear heads using the National Research Council's anechoic lab in Ottawa.]

And working high quality vintage stuff is fine too. My Mark Levinson Power Amp was a few years old. The old stuff can even be fixed.

 

[MrHorspwer]

$1500+

What about Marantz PM7000N ?

I still have and use an older Marantz PM6005. It was the first IA I ever bought and has been a workhorse for me. At some point it has powered every pair of speakers I've owned. It's a model before all the network integration, so I have it hooked to a NA6006. Currently in my basement with some B&W 6-series.

Looking at the street price for a PM7000N, I'd have no reservations buying one.

 

[#18FAN]

Drives my Salk towers would easily drive any efficient speaker such as the bookshelfs that would be used. to any sane level.

 

[ecotourist]

When I started upgrading my university days crappy stereo equipment I was going to buy a "highly rated" but in truth a mid-FY receiver. The stereo shop had one in stock and the price was agreed. Then the sales guy said "before we write this up why not listen to this". And he demonstrated a (20 Watt) NAD 3020 integrated amp. The improvement in sound quality was unbelievable. You just can't buy mid-FY stuff when high-FY (or at least borderline high-FY) stuff is readily available and not even very expensive.

Suggest you look up the NAD 3020 integrated amplifier. They're getting quite old but sweet sounding and can be bought used. I still have mine.

Only problem is it may not have all the outputs you want.

 

[edhackett]

Is there anything special about phone input? Most all AV/Stereo receivers have various universal auxiliary inputs. Couldn't a phonograph input use one of these?

Yes it is special. As Pablo already mentioned, most phono cartridges have an output that is too low for the standard "line level" inputs. The phono input needs to have higher gain.

The second and most important difference is that when vinyl is recorded, there is an equalization curve applied to the signal. The goal is to narrow the overall width of the groove to make it easier for the stylus to track the groove. Low frequencies are attenuated and high frequencies are boosted. The phono pre-amp contains circuitry that applies the curve in reverse so that the full balance of frequencies is restored. The accuracy of this is critical to good sound reproduction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

Ed

 

[daniel327]

The Yamaha RX-A2A meets all of your requirements and will sound great. Disclaimer: I'm still using the Yamaha RXV-890 that I purchased in 1995, so I might be biased towards Yamaha AV products.

 

[Toy4x4]

Partial to Yamaha and not as high end as a lot of the equipment listed above, but Yamaha RX-A4A . Refurb and still has an 18 month factory warranty. Has phono.

 

[Nessism1]

Yes it is special. As Pablo already mentioned, most phono cartridges have an output that is too low for the standard "line level" inputs. The phono input needs to have higher gain.

The second and most important difference is that when vinyl is recorded, there is an equalization curve applied to the signal. The goal is to narrow the overall width of the groove to make it easier for the stylus to track the groove. Low frequencies are attenuated and high frequencies are boosted. The phono pre-amp contains circuitry that applies the curve in reverse so that the full balance of frequencies is restored. The accuracy of this is critical to good sound reproduction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

Ed

Thank you for the explanation.

Another question, or maybe comment?...and sorry to Pablo for the thread drift...

I went down the headphone DAC & Amp rabbit hole a few years ago, after reading reviews on audiosciencereview.com, and wound up buying a couple of Topping D30PRO units. These outperform my headphones, in terms of their ability to provide clean, undistorted sound. So, the question is, at what point do modern receiver/amp units similarly outperform our ability to hear the difference? I see rated specs of 20-20k frequency with .08% total harmonic distortion (for example). Can a regular person hear the difference between something like this vs. .02% THD?

 

[nickaluch]

Last receiver I picked up to update my system to go Atmos was a Pioneer I don't even know if there in business anymore

 

[Skeet6]

Older Denon - a million inputs, (inc phono) and will sound great.
Mike B

 

[dubber09]

I'd also mention Denon and Onkyo that have good amps and recievers, Onkyo is updating their line lately with better units too.
If open to buying vintage, Sansui has a few excellent units.

That Outlaw reciever has very good reviews, has good number of inputs.

 

[sparky123]

Pablo, the Cambridge Audio AXR 85/100 both have MM phono input. You have a lot of great choices as mentioned by others. Be sure to use good cabling. For speaker cables, the Silver Sonic (DH Labs) Odyssey is excellent. Just ordered 20' from GP Audio car audio for $66. Other lengths available as well. (Others retailers charge a more.)

 

[Pablo]

Pablo, the Cambridge Audio AXR 85/100 both have MM phono input. You have a lot of great choices as mentioned by others. Be sure to use good cabling. For speaker cables, the Silver Sonic (DH Labs) Odyssey is excellent. Just ordered 20' from GP Audio car audio for $66. Other lengths available as well. (Others retailers charge a more.)

You are correct I must have looked at a different model. Those offer a lot for the money. Thanks!

 

[97prizm]

Under $1200

Decent wattage, w/input BT on board better, turntable, CD player. Subwoofer output. Maybe TV input in the future but don't really want a 5.1 or 7.1

Clean sound.

Open ideas, without Fabulous $27,000 Audio Brothers recommendations.

I've always had great results with everything Pioneer that I've owned. Mrantz, and McIntosh (not related to apple) are always a top picks and solidly built. I'd look at either the Pioneer Elite vsx-LX105 7.2 stereo A/V reciever which is $499 on sale usually $579. I've found that Yamaha seem to be the easiest to figure out how to use and customize whereas Denon and Onkyo have menu after menu to customize but more options. Onkyo are praised for more neutral sounds whereas Denon are said to be warmer.
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