Amplifier help!

codycatalist
codycatalist Posts: 2,662
in 2 Channel Audio
I am trying to upgrade my 2 channel set up. I currently have a Marantz 35wpc integrated amp (sorry can't recall model number right now), I LOVE the sound but I am getting to the point where I need more power.

I am on a budget...just imagine a college kid budget minus a TON of child support. I can throw about $120 at max including shipping. Would prefer an integrated amp so I don't have to buy a pre amp as well but at least 80wpc to power my RTA11TLS.

If you have any recommendations of amps to keep an eye out for please let me know!
Just a dude doing dude-ly things

"Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
" I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
"Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
"Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
"Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,962
    That pretty much leaves you square in the vintage category. Check your local craigslist and see what comes up.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
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    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
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    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Yeah that's what I've been lurking for. Something more in the vintage area but hard to find anything over 50 watts into 8 ohm.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    RTA11tls. The marantz does alright with them I can tell they want more power though. I've also read with enough power the soundstage is great.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    15x15x9 ft tall
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Saw a Sonamp 260x3 online for around $40 + $20 shipping. I read that you saw it is a decent amp @DSkip I know it's not the power level I want but might suffice for now (then I can move them to my Monitor 5 set up). Unfortunately I have been in a bid war on it for the last two days, hope I can score it for a decent price. If it gets much higher might try my luck else where.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Thanks for the information bud! I will look into it and try and buy some time to save up more funds.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Found a NAD C320BEE for about $100 out the door. How'd you think that'd add up DSkip?
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    My RTA11TL's seem pretty easy to drive, especially after the XO upgrade but the Marantz likely is a little lacking in umph the push them. I may have the same amp (PM5004) that is 35 watts and agree. My Denon DRA-835R pushes them very nicely as did the Parasound HCA-800ii.

    NAD tend to provide very healthy power for their rating and should drive the RTA11TL's very well.
    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    I had a pair of RTA 11T w/ upgraded x-overs & silk dome replacement tweeters. Using a Sonic Impact T-Amp @ 15 wpc, those babies sang beautifully. The source was a Philips portable CD player (think Sony Discman). A very simple and modest set up, to be sure, but everything worked very well together.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Thanks @skrol for the advice. The marantz I have is a PM525 it sings but I can just tell that it lacks that umph like you mentioned.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    Where are you located?
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Arizona
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    Ah, that's a bit too far. If you were in Colorado and your Marantz has preouts (not sure if it does) I was going to offer that you could use my CA-1010 as a power amp until you find/save what you're looking for.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    More than appreciate the offer, the generosity of this forum is endless. Hopefully if I visit Colorado we can having a jam sesh.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • JPete
    JPete Posts: 295
    Does that Marantz have preouts? I didn't search long, but PM525 google didn't come up with much.
    Lexicon RT-10, Parasound P5, McCormack DNA 0.5, Polk SDA CRS+, SVS Sub
    Schiit Modi, Luminous Audio Axiom II, McCormack DNA-1, Digital Phase AP 2
    Marantz AV7701, Emotiva XPA-5, Paradigm 11se Mkii, DCM Time Windows, NHT 2C, SVS Sub

    Spares - Kenwood C1 Pre, NAD 2200PE, Polk Monitor 10B, Polk Model 11, other odds and ends
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Sorry for the misinformation! PM325 and it does not just inputs and tape/monitor outs.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    edited March 2016
    I have a denon preamp somewhere around my place (I'll get model number) but I'll have to get it repaired as last time I used it I got a ton of crackling and the right channel goes out.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    I picked up a Yamaha Natural Sound AV34 for $15. It seems to power them a lot better than the marantz. I'll use it for now until I can get a better amp and use this as the pre.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    @codycatalist Congrats and good luck!!
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Thanks! I got my RTAS with all busted mid drivers and missing tweets. The final two mid drivers are arriving today and they will be back up and running. Only dropped around $150 total to get them working again. Not bad $150 for some RTA11TLs.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter