Integrated amp for Monitor 5

ANWKLO

My Monitor 5 is now connecting with Marantz AV amp SR5500. I am thinking to buy Marantz PM8001 Integrated amp for music.

The connection for music:
CD Player -> PM8001 -> Monitor 5

The connection for movie:
DVD Player> SR5500 pre-out -> PM8001 -> Monitor 5

Is Marantz PM8001 good for Monitor 5 please? Is there great improvement for music from SR5500 to PM8001?:o

ANWKLO

Any other suggestion of integrated amp? under $1000 please:)

mhardy6647

Old Monitor 5, like this one?



If two-channel sound is adequate/desired, your best bet, IMNSHO is a vintage Yamaha amp such as the CA-610II or CA-810 (or CA-1010). Any of these can be found in excellent working condition for far less than 1 kilobuck.

avguytx

Man, a grand is a good chunk of change to spend on a pair of monitor 5's or any speaker for that matter! For less money or close to it, you could buy a good preamp and power amp combo. Something like a Carver, Adcom, Proton, NAD, Onkyo, etc. Spend a little of that money on replacing the SL2000 tweeters with the newer RD0-194's and maybe a cap/resistor upgrade as well. That will give those speakers some new life, too.

heiney9

First I would suggest replacing the tweeters with the new silk dome part number RD0194-1 direct from Polk. Cost is $102 (2)day shipping inc. for Club Polk members. If you have the older Monitor 5's with peerless tweeters (black dome w/pin hole) then you don't nec need the RD0's as the peerless is a great tweeter.

Next if you are even the slight bit handy upgrade the x-overs as they have some age on them and are probably less than ideal at this point. Total cost of parts from Parts Express is around $60 w/shipping.

Follow this link as I documented my x-over upgrade for my 5b's:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51420&highlight=solen

So far total cost $162

A killer set-up for about $400-500 would be

Adcom GFA-535 amp
Adcom GFP 555 or 565 pre-amp

This would make a killer system for around $700 give or take.

Another nice piece if you must go integrated is an Acurus DIA 100 or DIA 150. If nothing else get the RD0's even if you don't feel you can do the x-over refreshing. They make a world of difference.

Good luck

H9

heiney9

Or.........you could keep what you have (Marantz) and still do the tweets and refresh the x-over. What are you hoping to gain by getting a different integrated? What issues are you having with the current set-up? Is there something in particular you don't like about the sound, or are you looking to move up the chain?

H9

geoff727

ANWKLO,

Have a look at the Onkyo A-9555 (Stereophile,09/2007) and the Cambridge Audio lineup. The Onkyo is similar to my old Yamaha that I've used with my 5B's for 20 years. I don't know much about the Cambridge integrateds, but my current CD player is a Cambridge Azur 840C, and it's an absolute dream.

ANWKLO

Hi all,

Thank you for your advice.

Originally, My Monitor 5 is Peerless tweeter. One of the tweeters was broken down and replaced by SL1000.

I heard that a two channel system is much better than an av receiver. The sound (pure direct mode) of my Marantz AV amp SR5500 is "thin" although it is good at middle to high range sound.

I am not sure the overall performance; especially the base can be improved if an integrated amp is added. It is difficult to listen to both the vintage speaker Monitor 5 and a new integrated amp at shops.:)

RuSsMaN

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57008

Mark's Marantz offering would be a stellar choice.