Emotiva BASx A2mini bit.ly/3rUpFPi Rotel A11 howl.me/cjWna705dsT Yamaha AS301 howl.me/cjWnduNs1ib Fosi Audio tb10D amzn.to/3p7gzzzAiyima A07 Pro amzn.to/3X4q67l Intro graphics by johnvilardi.com Support the Channel by Shopping on Amazon amzn.to/3W8vsgK Cheap Audio Man Store Front shop.howl.me/cam Join the best hifi community out there! patreon.com/cheapaudioman TRY ROON roonlabs.com/r/RTmYWdCP9kitqouBa5pcIw Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH amzn.to/3GkNaop CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5
In an old video when you dabbled and asked the community should I do 1k+ products. You showed some made in or designed in Australia amp which you said was the best you ever heard but I forgot the name of it and the video is down, do you recall any AU designed or branded amps? Was going to buy it.
Randy, as others have said, the common meaning of integrated amp is an amp and preamp in one box: that is, an amp with a volume control and at least two inputs. Now, the ubiquity of cheap DACs and phono circuits is causing that meaning to change, but the absolute minimum remains amp + volume control + choice of input selection. Cheers
Also wrong, I am old enough to remember an amp was an amp, then some guy in the Netherlands developed while employed with Philips the Moving Magnet cartridge, which required a pre amplification. And if you don't own a TT, the best pre amp, is no pre amp!
@@cirrus1964 Please stop using incorrect definitions. I designed and built audio amplifiers and line preamplifiers for personal and professional use. While you have described a phono preamplifier and a power amplifier, you have not stated a definition for an integrated amplifier. A broad definition of an audio power amplifier is a device that performs voltage gain on a range of sources into the fairly stable but fairly reactive, low-impedance load of a loudspeaker. But the common meaning of integrated amplifier adds volume control and nearly always source selection to the power amp section. Other functions such as phono preamplifier circuits, DACs, and wireless transceivers are also common in those units today. But outdated terminology spreads falsehood, so kindly stop. When you provide an alternate meaning for an integrated amplifier, others may judge which is correct. And please sir, respect your elders, even me.
@@samuellord8576 Most ignorant answer. A Dac build in, is like buying an intergrated car, when there''s an audio system in. As we are talking about amps, which a DAC isn't. And stop bragging, I was the main distributor outside the UK for Croft, the whole world knows my expertise, Mister wise guy!
One of my record players is a Yamaha P-520 direct drive model from 1985 !! Cost me $225. Damn good turntable; won’t replace it as long as I can get away with it. It never lets me down. And it’s fully automatic! The only thing that went wrong was the dust cover hinges broke after about 20 years, but the rest still going strong after 38 years. It’s worked nicely with some high compliance cartridge styli over the years with ease. Nice low mass arm and great turntable specs for a direct drive. A lot of tables today don’t even give you their guaranteed specs, bc you might not want it. Better than any table under around $1500 these days. How many can say that !!?? I never hear anything about old Yamaha turntables (record player!), which leaves me wondering if I’m just a lucky bastard. My experience with many of today’s $500-$1000 record players is that they suck in comparison. 👨🏻
Great overview! I tried out a Rotel A11 tribute based on your review (last year) and it is now my go-to amp. For those who don't know this unit, it doesn't have tons of bells and whistles, but what it does have is a great basic design (the original A-11, which was quite nice) with added sonic love from no less than Ken Ishiwata...his final triumph. Fifty watts might not be enough for some situations and inefficient speakers, but I can say that this amplifier pushes my Polk R-200's (Randy Rocks it Once Again ; ) to really high levels (last night, Cream / Wheels of Fire and Miles Davis / Kind of Blue) in a medium sized room with no sign of hardening the mids or losing control: just sweet. BTW, as Randy noted, it has a terrific Phono stage. OK, too much coffee, so I'll add this: the volume control is rather unique in that it uses a Linear Taper instead of a more conventional Audio Taper. Audio Taper pots are what most of us are used to, and they can give the impression of immense power because they get loud early in the rotation (my wonderful Marantz 2275 gets loud by 9 o'c and by 12o'c is almost unbearable). But there is a catch with this design, because most of your amplifiers power reserve is used up by somewhere around 1o'c. Well, it all works, and this was especially good in the early days because a prospective buyer would go "OMG! Look how loud this little 15W Pioneer SX-450 gets at 9o'c!!!" And it did. But not much happened past 12 o'c. (not picking on the great little SX-450...it was true for all makes and models, and still is...with rare exceptions). So why use a Linear Taper Pot? Well, there is one big advantage: the volume level rises MUCH more slowly as you turn the knob. I find it easier to really find the volume sweet spot, especially when back on the couch and using the well thought out Remote Control. I haven't gone in to see if they did this with a digital control or an actual potentiometer, but the effect is the same, and once you get used to it, it is a WAY cool feature. Sorry if I went on a ramble ; )
Are there any inexpensive amps that you would recommend to use to run external height speakers for an Atmos setup? I’m only looking for a temporary use amp since I definitely intend on getting an Emotiva BasX but I’m currently saving up for it. I’m looking for under $200.
Glad I brought the A11 tribute, it suits my needs perfectly. thought it would be a risk but after a couple years other people still saying nice things about it.
I respectfully disagree with your definition of an integrated amp. An integrated amp is simply a device that has both the preamp stage and a power stage. It doesn't need to have a source. In fact I think the best amps are amps that are analog only and do not have a built-in DAC.
Audiolab 6000a, looks and runs cool, very versatile, beautifully balanced and clear sound. Cranking up with the Warfedale diamond 12.2's, their bass vibrates the floor and fills the medium size room with great sound and little effort, a power amp can be added for more demanding speakers. A well thought out,undervalued amp that offers the best value, love it.
Thanks, my enjoyment level has now reached its peak, a speaker upgrade with the extraordinary Acoustic Energy AE500s, an amazing combination. Audio heaven : )
I would add Lyngdorf tdai-1120 to the list. It's cheaper than Buchardt I150 and has a ton of features. It has one of the best and easiest room corrections (Room Perfect), 2 x Coaxial, 2 x Optical, HDMI eARC, Phono stage (MM), Bluetooth connectivity and USB. Streaming includes Internet Radio (vTuner), Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect including MQA decoding, Roon Ready, Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay2, DLNA Support (UPnP/see DLNA formats). Power rating is 2 x 120 W RMS @ 4Ohm / 2 x 60 W RMS @ 8Ohm. It also has best subwoofer integration options that i have ever seen and it sounds amazing 👍
I use coupled an Audiolab 6000A with a pair of Elac Uni-Fi Reference and for records I use a Schiit Mani Pre-amp. It’s an absolutely lovely combination (with a good set of cables as well)
I started with the Emotiva TA1, it’s in storage now having upgraded to an Akitika pre and amp with an Ares2 DAC. I did get that Basx mini with jumper to lower my planar headphones recently too.
The Cambridge ax100 is a really nice amp, has a tuner, sub out, a and b speasker outs. bluetooth, onboard dac. I just bought mine and paired them with 2 Kanto passives and a 10" monoprice sub and wow!!!
I would also recommend the Arylic B50. Lower power and less room for upgrades in power, but it has HDMI ARC and a line out for a sub. The app has a lot of features including a subwoofer crossover/hi-pass filter.
Wow CheapAudioMan the Denon DRA-800H didn't make your list. I ended up buying one after I compared the features after much debate between that & the PMA600NE and the Cambridge AXR85.
My choice was to buy the Emotiva PT2 $699 and A2 $499 (got them both during the sale, saved 10%). I wanted the power the A2 makes combined with the bass management of the pre-amp. Cutting off the low frequencies to the bookshelf speaker signal. Paired with a powered sub-woofer this option was just what I needed.
I was a happy owner of two Onkyo integrated amplifiers; I really like their sound. The first amplifier failed after 3 years and the second failed after 4 years, the same failure: one of the channels stopped working. I switched to a Rotel integrated and have had it for 10 years without failure. I am just sharing my experience.
All of these listed have their strong aspects. I expect higher cost products to be better. To be honest I’m amazed at the truly budget one’s that deliver the goods at their price points. Great take as usual.
The last amp can easily be upgraded with a separate DAC by using an inexpensive ZEN DAC which last time I looked, sells for around $200. I presently use the ZEN DAC with an Apple iMac and it sounds excellent. The cool thing about a separate DAC is that you can use it to drive any audio amplifier of your choice so you could continue to use it with a different amplifier if you ever decide to upgrade your present one to a better one. I have a few different DAC's ranging in price from $200 to almost $1,000 and to be frank, I can't really tell the difference between the $200 ZEN DAC and the most expensive one.
An integrated amplifier has pre and power amps integrated in one box. An amplifier that has a source is a receiver. An amplifier with a dac or bluetooth does not have a source but a circuit that enables reproduction from an external source
This 👍 If you see speaker outputs AND any control, even just a volume, that's an Integrated amp. If you see controls but no spkr outs, that's a preamp. Spkr out but zero controls, power amp.
@@Chirn70 "If you see speaker outputs AND any control, even just a volume, that's an Integrated amp." That's just not true. An integrated amp is a power amp and a line stage in one box. Line stages are active. Some "integrateds" have passive line level controls. A Creek 5350ES and an Ayre AX-7 are 2 examples of this type of setup. The only active part is the power amp. If you are not sure what type you have, unplug the unit and use it as a "preamp" only. If it works when its not plugged in, its a passive. "If you see controls but no spkr outs, that's a preamp." Again, it could be passive. A pre amp has to have an amp, or its not a preamp. Placette and the Adcom GFP 750, are examples of this type of design. "Spkr out but zero controls, power amp." There are plenty of power amps on the market that have features like gain controls, xover switches, Balanced/single ended operation control, basic frequency controls for less than ideal systems, etc...
Hey Randy I'm kinda new in this hobby and you've been a great help along with your comment contributers. I've sampled several headphone amps and dacs including Topping and Smls . I recently settled on RME ADI-2 and Hifiman XS. Headphones only took one try. Thanks to your review. RME ADI-2 was a different story. Way way too complex. Coming from A90d and DO300 stack I felt like I took a step or 2 back for sure. Then I came across an electronic shop flyer with a headphone amp/dac unit from Questyle being clearanced. CMA twelve. Although it has been out since 2018 there was very few reviews on it but all were raving so I gave it a try. Took my phones and USB cable down there for a listen. ( Something we can't do with Amazon ) It took less than a minute to grab the last one they hàd !! OMG !! Pure class A beast that totally transformed my planars and over 500 bucks cheaper than RME. By by RME. They are distributed here in Canada by Bluebird music. I'd love to see your take on this. Keep up the good work 👍
I have the Rotel All Tribute. I was running them with Acoustic Energy AE300 bookshelf speakers and they were fine, but it wasn't until changing over to different speakers (Q Acoustic 3050i), that I was really able to appreciate how good it really is. I also have an SMSL A300 which I wanted to try out, but my advice, get the Rotel, especially as they have been around a few years now and seem to be dropping in price. Also, speaker matching matters.
I have one of these too and think it is an amazing piece of kit - sort of surprised it didn't make the video (maybe too far away from just an amp). 4K HDMI 5 inputs 1 ARC output / 2 sub outs / 2 sets pre out / phono in / coax in / optical in / 2 sets of speaker outs / USB / Bluetooth / Apple Airplay / headphone jack / remote / etc.... even at $599 MSRP I think it is a real value. I use mine for 2 channel music but also use one of the pre outs to hook up to a Douk Audio ST-01 Pro to run a couple of speakers I use for a center channel where I can adjust the volume and tone when I am watching video. Doesn't have room correction software but does allow speaker distance and level adjustments to make tweaks. Super happy with the sound I am able to get out of this unit and the flexibility.
i just got a Dayton hta 200 . I have owened a lot of amps and own a lot of really nice amps and the hta sounds really good. i got it for $220 open box its usally $350 its beautiful looking and sounds rich warm and smooth like you would expect from a tube amp hybrid
@@malcolmgrant4500 It's a nice amp . I just got done building another pair of speakers it's 4am I started at 12 pm and I am listening to them already 😂 on my hta 200
I can appreciate the simplicity. My system is a bit of frankenstein's monster with 5.2.2, external topping DAC, emotiva phono pre-amp, and BASx A100 running two Kef q350's up front. Now...I just have to paint the emotiva surrounds and atmos speakers white :) Took your advice on the Fluance RT-82...good player, but I kinda' wish I'd given Pro-ject a go, to give our Czech friends a the first shot. Anyhoo, here's your upthumb for simplicity.
Another good amp at the price point of the Yamaha is the Cambridge Audio AXA35. Not as many watts and not many bells and whistles but I think it actually sounds better.
Nice review. An amplifier I missed in the list is the SMSL SA300, an amp with also USB DAC and Bluetooth that was reviewed in this channel. I have it and it’s incredible good and high value for the price, it’s my recommendation for a very capable and non expensive amp (less than 150 €)
Nice list! To fill in the gap above the Rotel, the Parasound New Classic 200 Integrated amp is a solid performer at $1195. Great DAC, 110 wpc @ 8ohms, class D, bass management, MM/MC phono input, 3 analog and 3 digital inputs, separate bass & treble for main speakers and for the sub, best remote anywhere with control over all above functions, sub on/off...great for room set up and even a motion-sensing backlight. Sold my separates and got one of these 2 years ago and couldn't be happier.
SMSL DA400 I love it,just make sure you reset the fan speed to 99 and temp controller to 45.the gain adjustments make a big difference with older poor quality recordings!650.00
The heart of my system is a Yamaha A-S701 integrated amplifier. It's rated at 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms; it can also drive 4 ohm speakers, but I don't remember what its output into those is. It can drive two speaker systems independently or together, can be hooked up to a computer, can be hooked up to a powered subwoofer, and the volume control on the remote allows you to make very small adjustments. I have it hooked up to two different speaker systems; a pair of Bower & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary editions, and a pair of Klipsch RP 600Ms. I have discovered that each of these speaker systems sound much more open, transparent, and clear when I use them with my Audioengine S8 powered subwoofer, but I have yet to figure out why that is.
At $480, the NAD c316BEE is tough to beat. 40 watts of class AB power, built in phono preamp, to my ears the best sounding NAD integrated until you get to the Masters series.
I compared it with the Cambridge CXA61 and thought the NAD had a flatter response without the more pronounced midrange bump that the Cambridge CX series presents. I haven’t heard Cambridges AX series.
@@isaidstream4547 I was using the Kef LS50 at first. Really good combination. But my favorite speaker with that amp were the Klipsch rp600. The 316 is a little dry at times and had great synergy with the 600’s. They are a hair bright for my tastes but those two together were killer.
Extreme Budget Option: Adafruit 20w Class D... look that up, grab one, it's fun. You can use an old laptop power supply for it, it will power that cheap pair of bookshelf speakers you got at the second hand store pretty decently for the price. It's like a my first amp kind of amp. Requires soldering, but easy.
A great amp to fill in the gap between the $800 and $2500 price point would be the Rega Exel Mk4. Get your hands on one if you can. Hand crafted in jolly ole England. Oddly enough, it does play music from the British Rock Invasion era remarkably well!! Comes with a beautiful dual DAC as well.
Thanks for bringing these choices to our attention. A very nice range indeed (from soup to nuts)! I don't yet own a class D amp and the aspect of upgrading to a more robust power supply for the entry level amps to increase power is fascinating, though I must confess ignorance on how this functions. The aspect of "more power in gets more power out" seems simple enough, but compared to standard A/B amps and those power ratings, it seems quite odd getting a more robust external power supply alters output. Mr. Wizard ???!!!
Though it’s not cheap, it’s probably the best low price tube amp - Cayin MT-35MK2 BT - also, something which is hard for you guys to get in the US as it’s an Australian company - Weston Acoustics- his handmade tube amps (he even builds the transformers himself, as well as the casing, point to point wiring) starts at $1214USD
I have a Denon pma 800, it's a really good sound packed with lots of features and I managed to pick it up on sale for about £300. Would definitely recommend.
I have the yam as301. Very clean and clear if a tad bright. Doesn't however have the soul and musicality of a nad amp, plenty of power but its imaging is so so.
Interesting list 👍. I'm just looking for a small tabletop amp. In the main hi-fi set, after much research and consideration, I bought the Atol IN100 signature for 860€. After two years of purchase it turned out to be a great decision👌.In my personal opinion you can hardly get a better amplifier for this money in terms of build quality and sound.
@@gokhanersan8561 My opinion is that the atoll is neutral, maybe a little more on the warm side. I listen to all genres and I think it's ok for rock. Of course, a lot also depends on the speakers.
I have a Fosi DA-2120C that I'm really impressed with. Currently on for $164.99 after a $15.00 coupon, which is what I paid for it. It has Bluetooth 5.0, a DAC with Coax, optical and USB, line level, and a sub out. It also amazingly has useful EQ settings AND tone controls that can be used concurrently. Oh, then there's two levels of loudness control. Pretty impressive for the price. I use it primarily in my bedroom in lieu of a soundbar and for music via BT. It's so small and easy to moive that I have moved the system to other rooms, and I'll probably disturb my neighbors outside at some point. I'm currently running and old pair of Infinity RS1 bookshelves, and I can run it at almost uncomfortable volume for long periods of time with fairly challenging music and it doesn't even get warm. And it sounds pretty amazing. I'm working on getting an adapter for the mini sub out and then I'm going to see how it drives my DefTech 8060STs, just for curiosity's sake. And, I must ask, why no Schitt Audio amps on your list?
Had the same fosi and upgrade to the demon 600. Sound is much better and balanced and the highs are night and day difference. The highs are annoying on the foo but the foo was cool for under 200 if you never heard better
OSD! XA series (3200, 5180, 7180) or their AMP300 350W Per Channel, High Current Class A/B Stereo Amplifier. Fantastic amps for the price, and built like a tank. I own the OSD Nero XA5180 Multi Channel (5X) Home Theater Amplifier 150WRMS/Channel 8 Ohms Audiophile.
I’d like to put a word in for the SMSL A300 amp (it’s nearly an integrated amp, to be fair). A big step up from the AO7 (even with the sparkos op amps) in my experience.
Since I’ve upgraded my speakers to some beautiful Wharfedale Lintons 85th anniversary I’m on a hunt to upgrade my current Sonos Amp. Last week I find a amp pre-amp combo that hopefully will for fill my needs and is future proof as well. Last April Pro-Ject released the Stereo Box DS3. A 150W class D amp (at 4 ohms) with only analogue inputs and MM/MC phono stage. The benefit off this amp is that it also have a variable pre-out and fixed Pre-out. Combined with a external dac, or in my case it will be a Bluesound node X, it will be a Sonos amp/Bluesound node on steroids with future flexibility. At least it looks very promising!
An integrated amplifier is not an amplifier that has a source. An integrated amplifier is a preamp and amplifier in one box. This has been an industry standard for decades.
was at THE SHOW yesterday(Irvine, CA) , heard the new Class D budget amp, i think will be $150 / from RSL w CG3M & CG5 speakers and 10inch speedwoofer. Sounded GREAT!!
So these are "integrated amplifiers". I wouldn't call them "amplifiers". Not that there's anything wrong with reviewing (or owning) integrated amps, I just think the headline is a bit misleading. For an actual, somewhat "cheap" power amplifier, I'm interested in the Schiit Vidar 2. That's kind of what I thought I'd see here as the upper end of "cheap".
@@cheapaudioman i was just about to pull the trigger and get the LA90 Discrete. This will be a hard no as i’m reading about others with LA90 probs. Can you suggest something else in that price range / sound quality?
This is exactly the video I need right now. I grabbed the Fluance Ai81 speakers. I just started looking in the idea of getting an amp around $500 to drive them instead of using the built in power.
It also does quite well in a medium size room. I wanted a clean look in my front living room. White Polk R100s on white Kanto stands and hidden components. The Wiim mini and Fosi TB10D provide that and tremendous sound.
You missed the best deal ever, the Sony STRDH190 2-ch Stereo Receiver. I picked one up for my parents a last Christmas and it's outstanding. It puts out 100w of real power unlike those chip amps, has bluetooth, phono input, and three additional RCA inputs. It powers the pair of Voigt Pipe speakers i made for them the previous year with ease.
I know you don't do car audio stuff, but I got a AudioControl D-5.1300 amp and it's the bee's knees. It's a 5-channel amp with a built-in DSP and all sorts of fun features (30-band EQ, time-alignment, signal-summing. etc.). Really clean too, at least for a car amp. It's driving Hertz Mille Pro MPK 165.3 (front) and MPX 165.3 (rear) with a JBL Stadium Basshub (sub) for a stealth build in my Camry.
Still love my Outlaw 2220 dual mono blocks. Tried competitors like the Vidar and it was no comparison. Seems like these should be a common recommendation on this channel.
Nice rec! I just added these to the short list and I think they just moved up to #1. Really want to just go for the monoblocks and skip the dual channel amps. Puces to power on this is great.
At around $150 I really like the Sony STRDH190 for a classic looking class a B integrated amplifier. I plan to use it in a 2.1 living room. Set up when I get my new house.
I got an Aiyima A07 pro today. Sounds good, but it gets really warm. I saw reviews stating it runs cool with the power supply Amazon ships it with, but that is certainly not the case for me. We will see how it holds up.
Should have mentioned the Parasound NewClassic 200 integrated, that you gave great review of about one year ago.. @$1200 but 110w class D, with a nice DAC, great phono stage and (yes) tone control! Slim form, runs cool, great backlit remote and can run a sub or be a preamp. Its amazing.
Okay so here's the ultimate question that needs to be answered Siri, when a company says they changed everything out and it's a newer is better how do we know which is the newer in which is the older if nothing has changed from the way the piece looks.. you need to know I guess what the new serial numbers the date of manufacture what is it because I am not going to spend money on something that has been renewed and could be found if only one knew how to find it.. so you really need to tell people how to recognize the newer version against the older version for some things that you talked about really appreciate you man your cool love the channel thanks very much
Recently bought a Schiit Vidar 2 and Saga, combined with smsl Ps100 dac's. Maybe I'll switch to schiit modi in the future, but at the moment I couldn't be happier. And my previous setup was a Marantz Sr7400 with a MM9000. Not very cheap.
*I am going to start with the cheapest amp, then upgrade in sequence to the most expensive amp. Then rinse and repeat. When I die, I want two neutral speakers and an amp in my coffin. May I rip*
I haven’t looked at HiFi in 20 years. Love all your reviews, tier lists, system/price recommendations. When my vintage Carver Receiver 2000 died (pushing a pair of Klipsch Kg4 I bought new), I picked up the Aiyima A07 and Sony SSCS5 ($70 open box). Great bandaid that I will repurpose for near field desk setup (phenomenal). To replace the carver, I have an opportunity to buy an older true audiophile Naim 5i-2 for $500 (I think it’s priced fair when you add the cost to repair one failed input channel). I’m hoping a good DAC will give me a taste of audiophile nirvana. Start small (schiit modi) and take the DAC, Preamp, and alternate speakers upgrade path (maybe Magnepans way down the road). Do you have a take on whether it’s just as valid a path as any or would you suggest I just budget $630 (same as Nain+modi) for an integrated with a DAC? Keep on truckin’ Your channel is great
Just got my BT20a Pro on Saturday (thank you again for that giveaway!), and it's already pulling temporary duty in my bedroom. That little box is pretty nice! I'm not pushing it very hard -- just using the stock power supply -- but it's more than plenty for that space going into a couple of Realistic Minimus 25's. I was originally going to buy a couple of outdoor speakers for my balcony and put it out there, but I might just leave that one where it is and buy another for the balcony!
I wonder if Schiit would send you a Ragnarok 2 (their only integrated, I believe). At $1600-$1800, it's on the expensive side but not outrageously so. It often gets named by reviewers as a "best of" amp under $2k. I'd be interested in your take.
I'm new to these mini amps. I'm down with the fosi tb20a pro. Got a bit of a shock when I realized the separate power supply that is needed cost $60 on its own. 🤕
I LOVE the sound of the BT20A Pro, and with upgraded op amps (Sparkos Labs), it really does sound like 5 to 10 times its price. The fatal flaw is that if you're using high efficiency speakers (I tested it with two different pairs from Zu), it's got a hiss/buzz that can be heard across the room, even when listening to music at late night levels. Damn and blast! Aside from that, it's a freak of nature. Solution: stick with 85 to 90 dB efficient speakers.
I believe the Yamaha AS-301 is only available in black here in the U.S. Yamaha does offer their lesser amps with silver (actually aluminum) faceplates in Japan. But for use in the U.S., you'd also have to invest in a step-up transformer, since Japan features 100 volt main voltage, not 120 volts as here in the U.S.
I haven’t read all the comments yet, but wanted to see if anybody’s discussing Cambridge audio? They make what I believe are phenomenal products at very approachable pricing. Would love to get others opinion on this and if there’s a model that you love, please let me know.
I bought a Kadence Acoustic guitar all I need is a compatible ampliflier for home use thanks a lot for your advice to connect to my computer for recording purposes.
Not to audio-splain things, buuuut… An integrated amp is any amplifier with a volume control, up to tone controls, DACs etc. Opposed to a power amp, which literally just amplifies what’s coming from a preamp that contains the volume controls, tone, etc. Integrated amps have the preamp and/or DAC built-in, (and usually multiple inputs) power amps are simply a box with no controls at all, completely dependent upon a preamp to control anything, and a receiver is an integrated amp with an AM/FM radio receiver built-in. Yep, that’s what a receiver is. If it doesn’t have the AM/FM (or maybe satellite) radio receiver built-in, it’s an integrated amp.
Rotel has been around for a very long time back in 1980 I bought my first Rotel receiver it had approximately 80 watts per channel into two channels at 8 on Note 4 on back then but it did have the ability to add for speakers to it rather than just the perrywood brought it down to about 65 w the channel indie bones and very versatile for that day and age in 1980.. if I could only remember the model number I'd give it to you but I do not saying is is that I bought it for series in a 1980 the cost was about $165 which is the equivalent of about $650 in today's money. I drove that receiver to death it finally died 1989 just wanted to stay to hotel has been around for a long time
I wish you lived near me here in Virginia. I'd have you over for "Steaks 'n' Stereo." I have a Crown XLS1002, and an Adcom preamp, driving DCM TF-600 Time Frames. The longer I have it, the better my Crown sounds. CLEAN!
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Peachtree audio
…what about the JDS Atom+? haven’t heard you mention it ever
Nice channel, been watching the last few months, but it grinds my gears that you don't use timestamps. I'm sure a lot feel the same.
You asked a our power supply for these 3255 chipped amps..
MEAN WELL LRS-350-48 will get you a clean 300wx2 @ 4ohms it's less then 40usd
In an old video when you dabbled and asked the community should I do 1k+ products. You showed some made in or designed in Australia amp which you said was the best you ever heard but I forgot the name of it and the video is down, do you recall any AU designed or branded amps? Was going to buy it.
Randy, as others have said, the common meaning of integrated amp is an amp and preamp in one box: that is, an amp with a volume control and at least two inputs. Now, the ubiquity of cheap DACs and phono circuits is causing that meaning to change, but the absolute minimum remains amp + volume control + choice of input selection. Cheers
Also wrong, I am old enough to remember an amp was an amp, then some guy in the Netherlands developed while employed with Philips the Moving Magnet cartridge, which required a pre amplification. And if you don't own a TT, the best pre amp, is no pre amp!
@@cirrus1964 Please stop using incorrect definitions. I designed and built audio amplifiers and line preamplifiers for personal and professional use. While you have described a phono preamplifier and a power amplifier, you have not stated a definition for an integrated amplifier. A broad definition of an audio power amplifier is a device that performs voltage gain on a range of sources into the fairly stable but fairly reactive, low-impedance load of a loudspeaker. But the common meaning of integrated amplifier adds volume control and nearly always source selection to the power amp section. Other functions such as phono preamplifier circuits, DACs, and wireless transceivers are also common in those units today. But outdated terminology spreads falsehood, so kindly stop. When you provide an alternate meaning for an integrated amplifier, others may judge which is correct. And please sir, respect your elders, even me.
@@samuellord8576 Most ignorant answer. A Dac build in, is like buying an intergrated car, when there''s an audio system in. As we are talking about amps, which a DAC isn't. And stop bragging, I was the main distributor outside the UK for Croft, the whole world knows my expertise, Mister wise guy!
Yep.
I'm in the Yamaha camp. Their amplifiers have never disappointed me.
100% agree. I have the A-S1200 and A-S301. Both are great performers and super reliable.
I've always had good luck with the Yamaha two stroke engine.
I tried, but Yamaha sound weak AF in my opinion 😔
One of my record players is a Yamaha P-520 direct drive model from 1985 !! Cost me $225. Damn good turntable; won’t replace it as long as I can get away with it.
It never lets me down. And it’s fully automatic! The only thing that went wrong was the dust cover hinges broke after about 20 years, but the rest still going strong after 38 years. It’s worked nicely with some high compliance cartridge styli over the years with ease. Nice low mass arm and great turntable specs for a direct drive. A lot of tables today don’t even give you their guaranteed specs, bc you might not want it. Better than any table under around $1500 these days.
How many can say that !!??
I never hear anything about old Yamaha turntables (record player!), which leaves me wondering if I’m just a lucky bastard. My experience with many of today’s $500-$1000 record players is that they suck in comparison. 👨🏻
I always liked the sound of Yamaha. Rxv6a sounds great.
Great overview! I tried out a Rotel A11 tribute based on your review (last year) and it is now my go-to amp. For those who don't know this unit, it doesn't have tons of bells and whistles, but what it does have is a great basic design (the original A-11, which was quite nice) with added sonic love from no less than Ken Ishiwata...his final triumph. Fifty watts might not be enough for some situations and inefficient speakers, but I can say that this amplifier pushes my Polk R-200's (Randy Rocks it Once Again ; ) to really high levels (last night, Cream / Wheels of Fire and Miles Davis / Kind of Blue) in a medium sized room with no sign of hardening the mids or losing control: just sweet. BTW, as Randy noted, it has a terrific Phono stage.
OK, too much coffee, so I'll add this: the volume control is rather unique in that it uses a Linear Taper instead of a more conventional Audio Taper. Audio Taper pots are what most of us are used to, and they can give the impression of immense power because they get loud early in the rotation (my wonderful Marantz 2275 gets loud by 9 o'c and by 12o'c is almost unbearable). But there is a catch with this design, because most of your amplifiers power reserve is used up by somewhere around 1o'c. Well, it all works, and this was especially good in the early days because a prospective buyer would go "OMG! Look how loud this little 15W Pioneer SX-450 gets at 9o'c!!!" And it did. But not much happened past 12 o'c. (not picking on the great little SX-450...it was true for all makes and models, and still is...with rare exceptions). So why use a Linear Taper Pot? Well, there is one big advantage: the volume level rises MUCH more slowly as you turn the knob. I find it easier to really find the volume sweet spot, especially when back on the couch and using the well thought out Remote Control. I haven't gone in to see if they did this with a digital control or an actual potentiometer, but the effect is the same, and once you get used to it, it is a WAY cool feature. Sorry if I went on a ramble ; )
Are there any inexpensive amps that you would recommend to use to run external height speakers for an Atmos setup? I’m only looking for a temporary use amp since I definitely intend on getting an Emotiva BasX but I’m currently saving up for it. I’m looking for under $200.
Glad I brought the A11 tribute, it suits my needs perfectly. thought it would be a risk but after a couple years other people still saying nice things about it.
I respectfully disagree with your definition of an integrated amp. An integrated amp is simply a device that has both the preamp stage and a power stage. It doesn't need to have a source. In fact I think the best amps are amps that are analog only and do not have a built-in DAC.
Audiolab 6000a, looks and runs cool, very versatile, beautifully balanced and clear sound. Cranking up with the Warfedale diamond 12.2's, their bass vibrates the floor and fills the medium size room with great sound and little effort, a power amp can be added for more demanding speakers. A well thought out,undervalued amp that offers the best value, love it.
Enjoy 🎶👍
Thanks, my enjoyment level has now reached its peak, a speaker upgrade with the extraordinary Acoustic Energy AE500s, an amazing combination. Audio heaven : )
@@mm3963 I've seen a good few owners recommendations for the AE500 speakers 🎶👍🙂
I would add Lyngdorf tdai-1120 to the list. It's cheaper than Buchardt I150 and has a ton of features. It has one of the best and easiest room corrections (Room Perfect), 2 x Coaxial, 2 x Optical, HDMI eARC, Phono stage (MM), Bluetooth connectivity and USB. Streaming includes Internet Radio (vTuner), Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect including MQA decoding, Roon Ready, Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay2, DLNA Support (UPnP/see DLNA formats). Power rating is 2 x 120 W RMS @ 4Ohm / 2 x 60 W RMS @ 8Ohm. It also has best subwoofer integration options that i have ever seen and it sounds amazing 👍
Nice List. I would Add IOTAVX SA3, Audiolab 6000a and Marantz PM8006. The Marantz is outstanding with B&W, Focal, Klispch and KEF speakers
Any idea how the Marantz would pair with my KLH Kendall’s? I was considering the Yamaha A-S801 as well.
And Wharfedale diamond 12.2?
I use coupled an Audiolab 6000A with a pair of Elac Uni-Fi Reference and for records I use a Schiit Mani Pre-amp. It’s an absolutely lovely combination (with a good set of cables as well)
I was eyeing the Yamaha s-301 but the Cambridge Audio AXR85 for $339 factory refurbished is insanely good.
I started with the Emotiva TA1, it’s in storage now having upgraded to an Akitika pre and amp with an Ares2 DAC.
I did get that Basx mini with jumper to lower my planar headphones recently too.
Nice stuff!
The Cambridge ax100 is a really nice amp, has a tuner, sub out, a and b speasker outs. bluetooth, onboard dac. I just bought mine and paired them with 2 Kanto passives and a 10" monoprice sub and wow!!!
I would also recommend the Arylic B50. Lower power and less room for upgrades in power, but it has HDMI ARC and a line out for a sub. The app has a lot of features including a subwoofer crossover/hi-pass filter.
Wow CheapAudioMan the Denon DRA-800H didn't make your list. I ended up buying one after I compared the features after much debate between that & the PMA600NE and the Cambridge AXR85.
Had tons of fun listening to the Rega IO integrated amp! Under $600
My choice was to buy the Emotiva PT2 $699 and A2 $499 (got them both during the sale, saved 10%). I wanted the power the A2 makes combined with the bass management of the pre-amp. Cutting off the low frequencies to the bookshelf speaker signal. Paired with a powered sub-woofer this option was just what I needed.
The Yamaha is the sweet spot I love it ! Decent DAC as well ! I’ve also got the Fosi in a smaller system which is impressive!
I was a happy owner of two Onkyo integrated amplifiers; I really like their sound. The first amplifier failed after 3 years and the second failed after 4 years, the same failure: one of the channels stopped working. I switched to a Rotel integrated and have had it for 10 years without failure. I am just sharing my experience.
All of these listed have their strong aspects. I expect higher cost products to be better. To be honest I’m amazed at the truly budget one’s that deliver the goods at their price points. Great take as usual.
*prices?
I love your channel because you cover chooses from budget to hi-end~
The last amp can easily be upgraded with a separate DAC
by using an inexpensive ZEN DAC which last time I looked, sells for
around $200. I presently use the ZEN DAC with an Apple iMac and it
sounds excellent. The cool thing about a separate DAC is that you
can use it to drive any audio amplifier of your choice so you could
continue to use it with a different amplifier if you ever decide to upgrade
your present one to a better one. I have a few different DAC's ranging
in price from $200 to almost $1,000 and to be frank, I can't really tell
the difference between the $200 ZEN DAC and the most expensive one.
I just bought a Nobsound M5.1. It's class D and cost me about 189 US dollars. I really love it so far, clean sound and surround sound.
Love you brother,
Keep trucking & being true to yourself & your family!
🙏
An integrated amplifier has pre and power amps integrated in one box. An amplifier that has a source is a receiver. An amplifier with a dac or bluetooth does not have a source but a circuit that enables reproduction from an external source
Thank you!
Yup
Exactly! A receiver does have a tuner also hence the name.
This 👍
If you see speaker outputs AND any control, even just a volume, that's an Integrated amp.
If you see controls but no spkr outs, that's a preamp.
Spkr out but zero controls, power amp.
@@Chirn70 "If you see speaker outputs AND any control, even just a volume, that's an Integrated amp."
That's just not true. An integrated amp is a power amp and a line stage in one box. Line stages are active. Some "integrateds" have passive line level controls. A Creek 5350ES and an Ayre AX-7 are 2 examples of this type of setup. The only active part is the power amp. If you are not sure what type you have, unplug the unit and use it as a "preamp" only. If it works when its not plugged in, its a passive.
"If you see controls but no spkr outs, that's a preamp."
Again, it could be passive. A pre amp has to have an amp, or its not a preamp. Placette and the Adcom GFP 750, are examples of this type of design.
"Spkr out but zero controls, power amp."
There are plenty of power amps on the market that have features like gain controls, xover switches, Balanced/single ended operation control, basic frequency controls for less than ideal systems, etc...
should review the SMSL A300...an absolute steal and better than the DA-9
Randy, strong video! You ran the gamut of what’s out there from Uber cheap to fairly expensive. Keep it up!
Hey Randy
I'm kinda new in this hobby and you've been a great help along with your comment contributers. I've sampled several headphone amps and dacs including Topping and Smls . I recently settled on RME ADI-2 and Hifiman XS. Headphones only took one try. Thanks to your review. RME ADI-2 was a different story. Way way too complex. Coming from A90d and DO300 stack I felt like I took a step or 2 back for sure. Then I came across an electronic shop flyer with a headphone amp/dac unit from Questyle being clearanced. CMA twelve. Although it has been out since 2018 there was very few reviews on it but all were raving so I gave it a try. Took my phones and USB cable down there for a listen. ( Something we can't do with Amazon ) It took less than a minute to grab the last one they hàd !!
OMG !! Pure class A beast that totally transformed my planars and over 500 bucks cheaper than RME. By by RME. They are distributed here in Canada by Bluebird music. I'd love to see your take on this. Keep up the good work 👍
I have the Rotel All Tribute. I was running them with Acoustic Energy AE300 bookshelf speakers and they were fine, but it wasn't until changing over to different speakers (Q Acoustic 3050i), that I was really able to appreciate how good it really is. I also have an SMSL A300 which I wanted to try out, but my advice, get the Rotel, especially as they have been around a few years now and seem to be dropping in price. Also, speaker matching matters.
Got a Marantz NR1200 for $400 on sale last year.....love the thing! It does almost everything!
I have one of these too and think it is an amazing piece of kit - sort of surprised it didn't make the video (maybe too far away from just an amp). 4K HDMI 5 inputs 1 ARC output / 2 sub outs / 2 sets pre out / phono in / coax in / optical in / 2 sets of speaker outs / USB / Bluetooth / Apple Airplay / headphone jack / remote / etc.... even at $599 MSRP I think it is a real value. I use mine for 2 channel music but also use one of the pre outs to hook up to a Douk Audio ST-01 Pro to run a couple of speakers I use for a center channel where I can adjust the volume and tone when I am watching video. Doesn't have room correction software but does allow speaker distance and level adjustments to make tweaks. Super happy with the sound I am able to get out of this unit and the flexibility.
Rotel a11 sounds much more effortless to its double-priced Hegel counterpart H90. Sounds very satisfying at moderate volume levels up to 50-60 db.
I loved the Denon sound so much, ended up with pma-a110.
i just got a Dayton hta 200 . I have owened a lot of amps and own a lot of really nice amps and the hta sounds really good. i got it for $220 open box its usally $350 its beautiful looking and sounds rich warm and smooth like you would expect from a tube amp hybrid
Yea, I have the Dayton hta 100bt and am equally impressed
@@malcolmgrant4500 It's a nice amp . I just got done building another pair of speakers it's 4am I started at 12 pm and I am listening to them already 😂 on my hta 200
I can appreciate the simplicity. My system is a bit of frankenstein's monster with 5.2.2, external topping DAC, emotiva phono pre-amp, and BASx A100 running two Kef q350's up front. Now...I just have to paint the emotiva surrounds and atmos speakers white :) Took your advice on the Fluance RT-82...good player, but I kinda' wish I'd given Pro-ject a go, to give our Czech friends a the first shot. Anyhoo, here's your upthumb for simplicity.
Another good amp at the price point of the Yamaha is the Cambridge Audio AXA35. Not as many watts and not many bells and whistles but I think it actually sounds better.
I love my Emotiva basx A-100! Thanks, Randy!
Nice review.
An amplifier I missed in the list is the SMSL SA300, an amp with also USB DAC and Bluetooth that was reviewed in this channel.
I have it and it’s incredible good and high value for the price, it’s my recommendation for a very capable and non expensive amp (less than 150 €)
Nice list!
To fill in the gap above the Rotel, the Parasound New Classic 200 Integrated amp is a solid performer at $1195.
Great DAC, 110 wpc @ 8ohms, class D, bass management, MM/MC phono input, 3 analog and 3 digital inputs, separate bass & treble for main speakers and for the sub, best remote anywhere with control over all above functions, sub on/off...great for room set up and even a motion-sensing backlight.
Sold my separates and got one of these 2 years ago and couldn't be happier.
SMSL DA400 I love it,just make sure you reset the fan speed to 99 and temp controller to 45.the gain adjustments make a big difference with older poor quality recordings!650.00
SA400
I always come back to your videos when researching equipment. Thanks again.
Great format. I'd like to see more vids like this with DAC's and speakers.
The heart of my system is a Yamaha A-S701 integrated amplifier. It's rated at 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms; it can also drive 4 ohm speakers, but I don't remember what its output into those is. It can drive two speaker systems independently or together, can be hooked up to a computer, can be hooked up to a powered subwoofer, and the volume control on the remote allows you to make very small adjustments. I have it hooked up to two different speaker systems; a pair of Bower & Wilkins 607 S2 Anniversary editions, and a pair of Klipsch RP 600Ms. I have discovered that each of these speaker systems sound much more open, transparent, and clear when I use them with my Audioengine S8 powered subwoofer, but I have yet to figure out why that is.
I think Cambridge deserves a spot in your list of great amps. Love my warm sounding AX25 and 100.
At $480, the NAD c316BEE is tough to beat. 40 watts of class AB power, built in phono preamp, to my ears the best sounding NAD integrated until you get to the Masters series.
Have you compared it to Cambridge axa 35 or axa25?
I compared it with the Cambridge CXA61 and thought the NAD had a flatter response without the more pronounced midrange bump that the Cambridge CX series presents. I haven’t heard Cambridges AX series.
The 316bee is fantastic! I got mine before Covid for $349 dollars. Even at $500 dollars, it’s an incredible class ab amp. Good stuff.
@@markflitz3833 Which speakers? thanks
@@isaidstream4547 I was using the Kef LS50 at first. Really good combination. But my favorite speaker with that amp were the Klipsch rp600. The 316 is a little dry at times and had great synergy with the 600’s. They are a hair bright for my tastes but those two together were killer.
Extreme Budget Option: Adafruit 20w Class D... look that up, grab one, it's fun. You can use an old laptop power supply for it, it will power that cheap pair of bookshelf speakers you got at the second hand store pretty decently for the price. It's like a my first amp kind of amp. Requires soldering, but easy.
A great amp to fill in the gap between the $800 and $2500 price point would be the Rega Exel Mk4. Get your hands on one if you can. Hand crafted in jolly ole England. Oddly enough, it does play music from the British Rock Invasion era remarkably well!! Comes with a beautiful dual DAC as well.
Thanks for bringing these choices to our attention. A very nice range indeed (from soup to nuts)! I don't yet own a class D amp and the aspect of upgrading to a more robust power supply for the entry level amps to increase power is fascinating, though I must confess ignorance on how this functions. The aspect of "more power in gets more power out" seems simple enough, but compared to standard A/B amps and those power ratings, it seems quite odd getting a more robust external power supply alters output. Mr. Wizard ???!!!
Though it’s not cheap, it’s probably the best low price tube amp - Cayin MT-35MK2 BT - also, something which is hard for you guys to get in the US as it’s an Australian company - Weston Acoustics- his handmade tube amps (he even builds the transformers himself, as well as the casing, point to point wiring) starts at $1214USD
I have a Denon pma 800, it's a really good sound packed with lots of features and I managed to pick it up on sale for about £300. Would definitely recommend.
I have the yam as301. Very clean and clear if a tad bright. Doesn't however have the soul and musicality of a nad amp, plenty of power but its imaging is so so.
I bought two used Adcom GFA-555's for 400 bucks each. They crank and are built like a tank.
Balls! Love the intro graphics!!
👍👍⚡️⚡️
Interesting list 👍. I'm just looking for a small tabletop amp. In the main hi-fi set, after much research and consideration, I bought the Atol IN100 signature for 860€. After two years of purchase it turned out to be a great decision👌.In my personal opinion you can hardly get a better amplifier for this money in terms of build quality and sound.
Does Atoll have a muscular presentation to play Rock Music with satisfaction? One reviewer said Rock fans look elsewhere, that’s why I’m asking.
@@gokhanersan8561 My opinion is that the atoll is neutral, maybe a little more on the warm side. I listen to all genres and I think it's ok for rock. Of course, a lot also depends on the speakers.
I have a Fosi DA-2120C that I'm really impressed with. Currently on for $164.99 after a $15.00 coupon, which is what I paid for it. It has Bluetooth 5.0, a DAC with Coax, optical and USB, line level, and a sub out. It also amazingly has useful EQ settings AND tone controls that can be used concurrently. Oh, then there's two levels of loudness control. Pretty impressive for the price. I use it primarily in my bedroom in lieu of a soundbar and for music via BT. It's so small and easy to moive that I have moved the system to other rooms, and I'll probably disturb my neighbors outside at some point. I'm currently running and old pair of Infinity RS1 bookshelves, and I can run it at almost uncomfortable volume for long periods of time with fairly challenging music and it doesn't even get warm. And it sounds pretty amazing. I'm working on getting an adapter for the mini sub out and then I'm going to see how it drives my DefTech 8060STs, just for curiosity's sake.
And, I must ask, why no Schitt Audio amps on your list?
Had the same fosi and upgrade to the demon 600. Sound is much better and balanced and the highs are night and day difference. The highs are annoying on the foo but the foo was cool for under 200 if you never heard better
OSD! XA series (3200, 5180, 7180) or their AMP300 350W Per Channel, High Current Class A/B Stereo Amplifier.
Fantastic amps for the price, and built like a tank. I own the OSD Nero XA5180 Multi Channel (5X) Home Theater Amplifier 150WRMS/Channel 8 Ohms Audiophile.
I’d like to put a word in for the SMSL A300 amp (it’s nearly an integrated amp, to be fair). A big step up from the AO7 (even with the sparkos op amps) in my experience.
The "A300 amp" is a Bluetooth Receiver, DAC, PreAmp & Power Amp in one chassis.
Also known as an "All-n'-One" box. 🔈🔉🔊
The a300 DOES have a dac, but it doesn’t have coax, rca or optical inputs. I’m using a e30 with mine connected to my WIIM.
Since I’ve upgraded my speakers to some beautiful Wharfedale Lintons 85th anniversary I’m on a hunt to upgrade my current Sonos Amp. Last week I find a amp pre-amp combo that hopefully will for fill my needs and is future proof as well.
Last April Pro-Ject released the Stereo Box DS3. A 150W class D amp (at 4 ohms) with only analogue inputs and MM/MC phono stage. The benefit off this amp is that it also have a variable pre-out and fixed Pre-out. Combined with a external dac, or in my case it will be a Bluesound node X, it will be a Sonos amp/Bluesound node on steroids with future flexibility. At least it looks very promising!
An integrated amplifier is not an amplifier that has a source. An integrated amplifier is a preamp and amplifier in one box. This has been an industry standard for decades.
This won’t be the last time I’m wrong, Craig. I’ve only been an industry idiot for 2.5 years
@@cheapaudioman if you add a tuner in the same box as the integrated amplifier, then it becomes a receiver.
Yeah, the integrated amp has no tuner, so more of what you pay for goes towards the sound quality.
@@cheapaudiomanI like your definition better. Thanks for the video
@jamesmichael900 Maybe try being more respectful and not such a dick, your condescending comments feel hollow at best.
was at THE SHOW yesterday(Irvine, CA) , heard the new Class D budget amp, i think will be $150 / from RSL w CG3M & CG5 speakers and 10inch speedwoofer. Sounded GREAT!!
Nice work on the recommendations Randy, my son has the ta-1, if you have the room and the budget I definitely recommend it, thanks again!
What a great list. Thank you for sharing this with us and catering to a wide spectrum of listeners.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@cheapaudioman Very much, until the sticker shock at the end. 😂
Hoping one of these days Nova 150 from Peachtree gets reviewed. Loving mine paired with Emotiva T1+ and a sub.
Love my Nova 150!
So these are "integrated amplifiers". I wouldn't call them "amplifiers". Not that there's anything wrong with reviewing (or owning) integrated amps, I just think the headline is a bit misleading.
For an actual, somewhat "cheap" power amplifier, I'm interested in the Schiit Vidar 2. That's kind of what I thought I'd see here as the upper end of "cheap".
I find I drink more coffee then normal when I watch your videos.
Surprised you left out the LA90 Discrete after the fairly glowing review. Bought it last month and love it.
mine is having some issues. trying to figure it out but I couldn't include it because of it
@@cheapaudioman i was just about to pull the trigger and get the LA90 Discrete. This will be a hard no as i’m reading about others with LA90 probs. Can you suggest something else
in that price range / sound quality?
This is exactly the video I need right now. I grabbed the Fluance Ai81 speakers. I just started looking in the idea of getting an amp around $500 to drive them instead of using the built in power.
Paired with a couple of good desktop speakers, the Fosi TB10D makes a great PC audio amp.
It also does quite well in a medium size room. I wanted a clean look in my front living room. White Polk R100s on white Kanto stands and hidden components. The Wiim mini and Fosi TB10D provide that and tremendous sound.
I have one and a douk audio st01.
Tbh the douk sounds beefier than the fosi.
The kids have the fosi on their Xbox setup.
I kept the douk for my PC.
You missed the best deal ever, the Sony STRDH190 2-ch Stereo Receiver. I picked one up for my parents a last Christmas and it's outstanding. It puts out 100w of real power unlike those chip amps, has bluetooth, phono input, and three additional RCA inputs. It powers the pair of Voigt Pipe speakers i made for them the previous year with ease.
Nice stereo. Just wish it had banana nut connectors instead of spring clips, and had at least digital input.
I know you don't do car audio stuff, but I got a AudioControl D-5.1300 amp and it's the bee's knees. It's a 5-channel amp with a built-in DSP and all sorts of fun features (30-band EQ, time-alignment, signal-summing. etc.). Really clean too, at least for a car amp. It's driving Hertz Mille Pro MPK 165.3 (front) and MPX 165.3 (rear) with a JBL Stadium Basshub (sub) for a stealth build in my Camry.
Still love my Outlaw 2220 dual mono blocks. Tried competitors like the Vidar and it was no comparison. Seems like these should be a common recommendation on this channel.
Nice rec! I just added these to the short list and I think they just moved up to #1. Really want to just go for the monoblocks and skip the dual channel amps. Puces to power on this is great.
Dude this is the best comparison post, you've done
cheapaudioman should become a radio/ tv talk show host
Cambridge Audio AXA35
At around $150 I really like the Sony STRDH190 for a classic looking class a B integrated amplifier. I plan to use it in a 2.1 living room. Set up when I get my new house.
Love the variety ,your the best ! Rotel RA 1592mk11 (its on sale !!) is amazing at the more expensive level!!
I got an Aiyima A07 pro today. Sounds good, but it gets really warm. I saw reviews stating it runs cool with the power supply Amazon ships it with, but that is certainly not the case for me. We will see how it holds up.
Hi Randy, great work!!! Love your videos, knowledge and your sense of humor. What was the name of the $2500 amp class D?
Schiit Ragnorok-2 intergrated all the way. Sounds great. Premium build quality.
Should have mentioned the Parasound NewClassic 200 integrated, that you gave great review of about one year ago.. @$1200 but 110w class D, with a nice DAC, great phono stage and (yes) tone control! Slim form, runs cool, great backlit remote and can run a sub or be a preamp. Its amazing.
I'd add the Cambridge axr100 at 599. Been a great piece of gear for me for the money
Okay so here's the ultimate question that needs to be answered Siri, when a company says they changed everything out and it's a newer is better how do we know which is the newer in which is the older if nothing has changed from the way the piece looks.. you need to know I guess what the new serial numbers the date of manufacture what is it because I am not going to spend money on something that has been renewed and could be found if only one knew how to find it.. so you really need to tell people how to recognize the newer version against the older version for some things that you talked about really appreciate you man your cool love the channel thanks very much
Recently bought a Schiit Vidar 2 and Saga, combined with smsl Ps100 dac's. Maybe I'll switch to schiit modi in the future, but at the moment I couldn't be happier. And my previous setup was a Marantz Sr7400 with a MM9000. Not very cheap.
*I am going to start with the cheapest amp, then upgrade in sequence to the most expensive amp. Then rinse and repeat. When I die, I want two neutral speakers and an amp in my coffin. May I rip*
I'm surprised that Cambridge did not make that list nor Marantz, the NR 1200 at $599.00 is a great value.
I haven’t looked at HiFi in 20 years. Love all your reviews, tier lists, system/price recommendations. When my vintage Carver Receiver 2000 died (pushing a pair of Klipsch Kg4 I bought new), I picked up the Aiyima A07 and Sony SSCS5 ($70 open box). Great bandaid that I will repurpose for near field desk setup (phenomenal). To replace the carver, I have an opportunity to buy an older true audiophile Naim 5i-2 for $500 (I think it’s priced fair when you add the cost to repair one failed input channel). I’m hoping a good DAC will give me a taste of audiophile nirvana. Start small (schiit modi) and take the DAC, Preamp, and alternate speakers upgrade path (maybe Magnepans way down the road). Do you have a take on whether it’s just as valid a path as any or would you suggest I just budget $630 (same as Nain+modi) for an integrated with a DAC?
Keep on truckin’
Your channel is great
Just got my BT20a Pro on Saturday (thank you again for that giveaway!), and it's already pulling temporary duty in my bedroom. That little box is pretty nice! I'm not pushing it very hard -- just using the stock power supply -- but it's more than plenty for that space going into a couple of Realistic Minimus 25's. I was originally going to buy a couple of outdoor speakers for my balcony and put it out there, but I might just leave that one where it is and buy another for the balcony!
Hi watching from Manchester UK.....I have a kef r700 system it's kick arse I went from Yamaha amp to denon the denon blew me away I still have it
I wonder if Schiit would send you a Ragnarok 2 (their only integrated, I believe). At $1600-$1800, it's on the expensive side but not outrageously so. It often gets named by reviewers as a "best of" amp under $2k. I'd be interested in your take.
I'm sure they'd send one over if I asked.
I’m surprised no Schiit products were mentioned. Their price to performance is amazing, and made in USA.
@@ToddBalzer Seems like Randy was focusing on integrated amps here (and Schiit's only got the one).
@@ToddBalzer Yeah I thought it was weird too.
I'm new to these mini amps. I'm down with the fosi tb20a pro. Got a bit of a shock when I realized the separate power supply that is needed cost $60 on its own. 🤕
I LOVE the sound of the BT20A Pro, and with upgraded op amps (Sparkos Labs), it really does sound like 5 to 10 times its price. The fatal flaw is that if you're using high efficiency speakers (I tested it with two different pairs from Zu), it's got a hiss/buzz that can be heard across the room, even when listening to music at late night levels. Damn and blast! Aside from that, it's a freak of nature. Solution: stick with 85 to 90 dB efficient speakers.
I think at 600, I would go for the Marantz NR1200 instead, but mostly because the name evokes such warm memories. lol
I believe the Yamaha AS-301 is only available in black here in the U.S. Yamaha does offer their lesser amps with silver (actually aluminum) faceplates in Japan. But for use in the U.S., you'd also have to invest in a step-up transformer, since Japan features 100 volt main voltage, not 120 volts as here in the U.S.
Crown xls 2502 and I just ordered the Crown XLI 3500! I run an RME ADI-2 PRO FS R BE as my preamp and dac. Blows me away! Lol
I haven’t read all the comments yet, but wanted to see if anybody’s discussing Cambridge audio? They make what I believe are phenomenal products at very approachable pricing. Would love to get others opinion on this and if there’s a model that you love, please let me know.
I bought a Kadence Acoustic guitar all I need is a compatible ampliflier for home use thanks a lot for your advice to connect to my computer for recording purposes.
Not to audio-splain things, buuuut…
An integrated amp is any amplifier with a volume control, up to tone controls, DACs etc. Opposed to a power amp, which literally just amplifies what’s coming from a preamp that contains the volume controls, tone, etc.
Integrated amps have the preamp and/or DAC built-in, (and usually multiple inputs) power amps are simply a box with no controls at all, completely dependent upon a preamp to control anything, and a receiver is an integrated amp with an AM/FM radio receiver built-in. Yep, that’s what a receiver is. If it doesn’t have the AM/FM (or maybe satellite) radio receiver built-in, it’s an integrated amp.
Rotel has been around for a very long time back in 1980 I bought my first Rotel receiver it had approximately 80 watts per channel into two channels at 8 on Note 4 on back then but it did have the ability to add for speakers to it rather than just the perrywood brought it down to about 65 w the channel indie bones and very versatile for that day and age in 1980.. if I could only remember the model number I'd give it to you but I do not saying is is that I bought it for series in a 1980 the cost was about $165 which is the equivalent of about $650 in today's money. I drove that receiver to death it finally died 1989 just wanted to stay to hotel has been around for a long time
I wish you lived near me here in Virginia. I'd have you over for "Steaks 'n' Stereo." I have a Crown XLS1002, and an Adcom preamp, driving DCM TF-600 Time Frames. The longer I have it, the better my Crown sounds. CLEAN!
I'm quite happy with my Fosi BT30D in my little office setup.
Thank you again for another amazing review