Input wanted on Integrateds for budget 2-channel system

drummer86

Doing some research for a friend again that was replacing his Bose speakers in this thread
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?155510-Converting-a-friend-from-Bose-Let-s-start-with-speakers-lt-800

He's been using a borrowed amp to get up and running and is ready to purchase one of his own. He'll be pushing his Dynaudio DM 2/7s using his Oppo 980 as a CD player. The room is small at 10x12 so no need for anything wild and crazy. He would like to get something a little beefier than needed in case he moves the setup to a larger room down the road. Trying to stay under $500. I've been doing a bit of research (because I enjoy it) and have narrowed the choices down to the following

New Integrated amps:
Music Hall A15.3 Integrated
NAD C 326BEE Integrated

New/Used amps (will need a preamp eventually but can wait)
Parasound HCA-1000 (other HCAs are a possibility too)
B&K ST125.2
Musical Fidelity M1 PWR

I've heard nothing but good about the Music Hall integrateds and obviously Parasounds and B&Ks get a lot of love around here. Just looking for some good old Polkie input on things that can easily be eliminated from the list or things I've overlooked completely. I'll probably try to get him to audition at least 2 or 3 of these so looking for some input to narrow down the list even further.

The Dyn's are 4 ohm BTW.

B Run

I ran the NAD 326 for a while and really liked it. Very strong, built like a tank and had a nice clean neutral sound to it, should be able to drive those no problem. Don't have any personal experience with the others.

marvda1

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-talk-electronics-cyclone-1-1-integrated-amplifier-70w-into-8-ohms-with-remote-2014-01-18-integrateds-11725

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-arcam-fmj-a18-integrated-amplifier-w-mm-phono-section-black-2014-01-16-integrateds-93010-camarillo-ca

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-music-hall-a25-2-great-little-integrated-2014-01-11-integrateds-27614

a little over your budget but a taste of the highend.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-edge-electronics-i-3-integrated-amplifier-with-phono-section-complete-and-mimt-2014-01-05-integrateds-80907

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-music-hall-a15-3-remote-controlled-integrated-amp-w-phono-stage-2013-12-31-integrateds-30067

polkfarmboy

How about a nice yaqin tube integrated.

marvda1

tubes?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-VK-2100-Stereo-Hybrid-Tube-Integrated-Amplifier-/141153429925?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item20dd6669a5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MC-10T-Push-Pull-Integrated-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-/131082245604?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item1e851c55e4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MC-13S-Push-Pull-Integrated-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-/131097395627?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item1e860381ab

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAQIN-MS-20L-Push-Pull-Integrated-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-/141160316618?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item20ddcf7eca

cnh

If you want to go "integrated" solid state either one, the MH or the NAD would do the job and they both sound good in their own way.

Tubes are another direction. Yaqins are fine if you want to go that route. Actually nothing in your list would be less than "very good"!

cnh

drummer86

Probably won't go the tube route. Thanks for the suggestions though.

Marvda, thanks I was looking at a few of those already. Not familiar with the Talk Electronics unit. Guess I'll have to do some digging on them. Great price on the 15.3. That was where I was looking initially when I posted the thread. Is the A25 unit considered better than the 15.3?

Think an integrated is a better plan than the separates route with a parasound or musical fidelity amp? I do like the simplicity but it's harder to swap pieces if you get the itch to mix things up.

marvda1

that a25 is a discontinued unit. the talk stuff is supposed to be pretty good. that first yaqin is a hybrid amp. the edge while stretching the budget is a true highend unit.

F1nut

Marantz and Arcam integrated amps are very nice.

drummer86

All depends on the price. Still need a little wiggle room for cables after the amp. Keep in mind this is a first setup for the guy too. I want to make sure he's got something he'll be happy with but you know as well as I do that you can only appreciate so much when you're first getting started. You might hear the NAD integrated and know what's missing but you could almost guarantee that someone new won't.

drummer86

F1 I saw a few reviews with the Marantz integrateds and the music halls side by side and it seemed that the music hall smoked the marantz every time.

The low power Marantz's were on my short list at first though. The 6004 I think

F1nut

drummer86 wrote: »

F1 I saw a few reviews with the Marantz integrateds and the music halls side by side and it seemed that the music hall smoked the marantz every time.

The low power Marantz's were on my short list at first though. The 6004 I think

Do you know which models were compared?

The PM8004 (the same thing as the KI Pearl Lite without the wood sides) was product of the year in 2011 or 2012. The PM6004 is a different animal.

leftwinger57

I have a little confusion over integrateds. My interpitation is w/ a hybrid you have a mix of tubes and ss as the amp. Then you have an option of a tube only integrated and lastly a fully solid state integated amp which is an amplifier w/ most inputs people need but it's not an avr and does not have a tuner. Just clarify this for me if you could.

coolsax

I have the prior music hall integrated and it is a really nice sounding unit.

marvda1

yes, an integrated is a receiver without a tuner.
you can have a:
all solid state integrated
all tube integrated
hybrid = tubes in the preamp(input) section and solid state in the out put section.
when you split the integrated amp you get power amp + preamp.
you can even split the power amp and preamp to put their power supplies in separate cases.
of course every time you split the cost goes up.
and the same goes for power amps and preamps, solid state, tube, and hybrid.

mhardy6647

Considered a T-amp? Excellent sound, tiny package, tiny price. Zero bragging rights but if the goal is to listen rather than to show off, they're worth a passing glance.

http://www.parts-express.com/cat/amplifiers/106?N=11576%204294967118%204294966048&Ne=10166&Nrs=collection()/record[endeca:matches(.,%22P_PortalID%22,%221%22)%20and%20endeca:matches(.,%22P_Searchable%22,%221%22)]&PortalID=1

drummer86

F1nut wrote: »

Do you know which models were compared?

The PM8004 (the same thing as the KI Pearl Lite without the wood sides) was product of the year in 2011 or 2012. The PM6004 is a different animal.

If memory serves me it was the 600X for a few review and that 500X for a few. The 8005 is more than double the price of the music hall and wouldn't really be a fair fight I suppose. That said, it's probably the only one from the lineup I'd consider but the price would have to be spectacular.

tonyb

Under 500 bones....integrated....but want more power in case he moves to a larger room, I think your stretching the boundaries of reality here pal.

Musical fidelity 3.2 integrated.....I think might match up well with the Dyns.

drummer86

I like to live on the edge Tony! You're absolutely right though. If he stays in a small dedicated room a 50wpc integrated should be just fine and can be had around $500 no problem. A used preamp from Parasound, Rotel, or B&K would not be difficult to find and could be paired to an amp from one of those manufacturers for around $500 as well. I think it's a challenge for sure, but certainly not impossible.

There's a MF 3.2 on Audiogon for a little over the budget. Have any personal experience with that unit?

F1nut

drummer86 wrote: »

If memory serves me it was the 600X for a few review and that 500X for a few. The 8005 is more than double the price of the music hall and wouldn't really be a fair fight I suppose. That said, it's probably the only one from the lineup I'd consider but the price would have to be spectacular.

Ok, yeah the 600x and 500x are definitely different animals. There was a PM8004 on A'gon for $700 the other day, might still be there.

tonyb

drummer86 wrote: »

I like to live on the edge Tony! You're absolutely right though. If he stays in a small dedicated room a 50wpc integrated should be just fine and can be had around $500 no problem. A used preamp from Parasound, Rotel, or B&K would not be difficult to find and could be paired to an amp from one of those manufacturers for around $500 as well. I think it's a challenge for sure, but certainly not impossible.

There's a MF 3.2 on Audiogon for a little over the budget. Have any personal experience with that unit?

As an owner, no....but have heard one or two in different systems and liked what I heard each time. The MF house sound doesn't sway much between integrateds, at least until you get up to their top flight ones which really is just more of what the smaller ones have going on.

F1nut

That MF 3.2cr would be very nice, but note that the remote has an issue.

tonyb

F1nut wrote: »

That MF 3.2cr would be very nice, but note that the remote has an issue.

Yep, I'd probably stay away from that one but in general the MF brand offers great SQ in their integrateds. You of all people know that to be true Jess...lol.

My local craigslist has a 3.2 plus a MF cdp for 9 bones. A great combo for a small setup imho.

Incidentally, did you see the 10008 for 2200 ? Seller is what worries me. Was thinking of selling my Butler and grabbing this, whats your thoughts Jess ? Pre...amp....dac...HT pass...everything I want and need in one package. Seller is 2nd owner with some iffy feedback.

tonyb

Eh pal, every brand has it's bashers, some more deserving than others. The MF house sound is on the warmer side which if you have a lot of other tubes in your system can make for an over tubey sound. My concern is with digital files and removing some of that digital sound while also combining pieces. The 10008 has it all in one package, and at around 2k used, a steal in my book.

F1nut

tonyb wrote:

Incidentally, did you see the 1008 for 2200 ? Seller is what worries me. Was thinking of selling my Butler and grabbing this, whats your thoughts Jess ? Pre...amp....dac...HT pass...everything I want and need in one package. Seller is 2nd owner with some iffy feedback.

Yes I saw it, but didn't look at the full ad. My thoughts? The fact we pretty much haven't seen BDT since he bought his should tell you all you need to know.

DSkip wrote:

Based on everything I've seen, a DAC section wouldn't be a consideration if I were choosing a MF piece unless you've got a very cold system. I have to admit, between you (tony) and Jesse, I really want to get my ears on some nice MF pieces. They don't get much love down South. Funny how this hobby is so regional.

Maybe just a Texas thing as I know a few guys down south into MF gear. The house sound is, if nothing else, musical.

Loud & Clear

Yamaha A-S500 kicks tail under $500.

skrol

Drummer
I have a Marantz PM5004 available. While this unit is lower power, it has a certain sweetness. The phono stage is quite nice as is the headphone output. I also have the matching CD5004.

I don't know if you ever get over to the Howard Co area but you're welcome to give it a listen.
Stan

drummer86

Loud & Clear wrote: »

Yamaha A-S500 kicks tail under $500.

I'll be honest I never gave the Yamahas a consideration. Can they compete with units like the Music Hall?