Best Integrated Amps around $500 Comparison & Review! (IotaVX SA3, Denon PMA600NE, Emotiva TA-100)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- Associated Equipment Below, your results may vary based on your ears, room, and associated equipment:
Each Products Original Review:
IotaVX SA-3 Integrated Amplifier: • IotaVX SA-3 Integrated...
Denon PMA-600NE Integrated Amplifier: • Denon PMA-600NE Integr...
Emotiva TA-100 Integrated Amplifier: • Emotiva TA-100 & A-100...
Each Companies Website:
IotaVX SA-3 Integrated Amplifier- www.iotaenterp...
Denon PMA-600NE Integrated Amplifier- usa.denon.com/...
Emotiva TA-100 Integrated Amplifier- emotiva.com/pr...
All three amplifiers were connected to a Bluesound Node 2i network streamer playing Tidal HiFi, connected to an Analysis Plus Oval One RCA cable to each respective amplifier. Speakers used were basically everything i had in my house at the time and all 3 amplifiers used the Maze Audio Eden series speaker cables. While most of my listening was done without a subwoofer i did connect the SVS SB2000 Pro here and there just to get some extra thump but the bass part of the review is with the subwoofer NOT connected.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure you watch the individual videos before pulling the trigger on any of these amps, I can't cover everything in these trio videos, for example the Denon requires extreme care in pairing or will sound very congested and bloated (see andrew robinsons most recent video on the Denon AVR for an extreme example of this), you won't know that unless you watch the original video for it. The TA-100 has a tuner built in but again i only mentioned that in the original review for it. The Denon does give up a good amount of SQ for that warmth you get in return, make sure that's what you're looking for.
i like the way you review it by compare it side by side...gives user a clear idea of what we are getting before purchasing it..
Thank you Bryan, I'll try and make more videos like this.
I’m currently amp shopping and to be fair, I’m a newbie as far as terminology, etc, etc. Been up since about 3AM looking at YT vids on the subject. This single video gave me more knowledge than all the others combined! Thanks for the information! Subscribed and liked. Cheers.
Thank you for saying that, I look back on my old videos and cringe sometimes so it's nice to know people still find them helpful :) We have a free discord if you want to join discord.gg/3PkFQf4y6Z
@@NemoPropaganda Will do! Thanks for the invite.
I’m going to go for the Emotiva pre amp and the new Emotiva A2 Power amp. Your review here was very helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
@@NemoPropaganda what's your ultimate recommendation for an integrated amp up to $700 or a power amp up to $500 but hopefully less for the studio JBL 530 bookshelf speakers
@@joeslacker1020 Emotiva TA1 or IotaVX SA3.
I went with the Denon. With all due respect, you and I hear things very differently. The others don't have "open" high ends, but HYPED high ends. I'd even call them THIN.
I've tested a dozen integrated amps, and the Denon is the most neutral to my ears. I run ADS L420s(with individual subwoofers for each channel) which are very bright, and to couple them to the other two you've highlighted here would've been intolerable at anything above 5k-8k.
sounds like we actually agree and you just have brighter speakers so the Denon made more sense for you. I wouldn't disagree that emotivas midrange can sound thin, it's not a warm amp at all.
I have Emo amps, speakers and processors as well as a Denon receiver in my theater so I am definitely an Emo/Denon fan. That said, when I went to replace my Creek Audio 2 channel integrated that runs my phono system, I went with the IOTAVX and its accompanying amp. Love it. Love more than me Emo gear.
When I was shopping integrated amps, I loved the Yamaha SA 801. They make a SA301 for about $350 and a 501 for $550. While I haven't heard these lesser Yamahas, they have a solid five star reviews like 130 of them for each amp on Crutchfield. I'd like to hear these compared to these amps. I auditioned the next up the line 800 Dennon and liked it but moved on to the Yamaha. At the time I also tried the Imotiva and was completely confused because of the good reviews and mine sounded like a slug. Just didn't get up off the couch and move it. Oh well. I finally settled on a Schiit Raganok 2. Love it but the nature of the hobby makes me wonder what a Musical Fidelity 5 would sound like. There seems to always be something to catch the eye.
I like the sound of the Denon. Warm and poweful Matched my systems perfectly. Not bright and good sounding easy on the ears
I'm torn between getting a separat integrated (Rega IO) without an inbuilt DAC, adding a $200 China DAC or getting a integrated with an inbuilt DAC (Iotavx SA3).
Most reviews talk about the sound quality and sound signature of a the whole packedge. But not so much about the inside parts.
I have realized how much difference the DAC-build does. Most inbuilt DAC s are so so...
Anyway, very good reveiw!
Sorry I didn't test any of the DAC's, and I wouldn't buy an amp for it's dac, dacs change often and they can easily be added for little money.
Simple, solid, valuable advice. It's interesting at these lower price points how $100 can make a huge difference in performance and quality. The competition gets incredibly stiff when you move up to $1-3k devices.
Thank you sir! You're absolutely right, that extra $100 for the IotaVX really goes a long way, especially compared to the Denon which requires VERY delicate pairing, i hope people watch the main review for that unit where i discussed that. The wrong pairing makes the Denon just sound congested where as the other two are a lot more flexible.
you started this comparisson style very unique and informative.keep going man
Will do! Thank you.
Nice. Simple and to the point. I love the reviews.
Thank you!
Fabulous ..Very informative ,also will check out the individual reviews !
I like this 3-way format.
Question: If your Kinki gear was recalled tomorrow, could you live happily with the IotaVX until it got sorted out?
Hi thank you! I will try and do more 3-way videos! To answer your question yes! While the kinki gear is on a completely different level in many ways i would be okay with the IotaVX i think easily for about 30 days and then i would really start to miss the refinement and low volume detail of the kinki gear.
Great comparison of build, features and sounds.
I like the way you aren't recommending a certain model either - more basing it off people's requirements to tailor it to their needs. Sometimes people are so prescriptive about X is clearly better than Y or Z, but when you through in personal audio preferences, different speakers etc - of course different things will suit different people.
Keep up the great reviews!
Thank's Cath O! Yeah I feel like the bulk of this hobby is personal taste, it really is a lot like food honestly. Personally I prefer Coke, but some guys like Pepsi, i can sit here and sell the crisper bite and slight bitterness of the coca leaf that you experience with Coke but if someone prefers the sweeter and smoother beverage well that's Pepsi all the way.
Very good reveiw. You put time and effort into it and it shows.
I have had my TA-100 for 3 years now. It has been relegated to bedroom duties and desktop. I had it with an A-300 in my main system for about a year. Sure wish they had an easier menu. It's been a good unit that still gets used almost daily. Even though its made in China I wanted to deal with American companies. Emotiva, Klipsch and Uturn were my starting point.
Ahhh the dreaded menu system, I think I'm the only person that likes it. The remote could use an upgrade for sure in my opinion though. Did you notice the A-300 kicked it up a notch or did it just give you more volume?
Have you found better amps than the emotiva
Nice! I wish all reviews were this clear. Helped me decide.
glad i could help!
Thanks, Nemo! Well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic review! The explanation and comparison were excellent! Any thoughts on the Marantz NR1200 or the PM6007 (old version and still current model PM6006)?
Sorry I'm not familiar with those two :(
Great stuff - Thanks! One thing that might help many of us would be to clarify if, for example, adding some treble from the Denon's tone control eliminates the roll off compared to the other two.
mmmm it doesn't really work that way, it helps but it's not the same. The Emo/Iota sound open and airy, the rolled of Denon sounds veiled by direct comparison, turning up the treble gives you more treble but it doesn't give you that sense of space & air the other two units have.
@@NemoPropaganda Good clarification. Thanks
Good job man, dang.
Thumbs up.
Thank you!
Great review! I also checked your individual reviews for the Emotiva TA-100, Denon PMA, and the Iota VX SA3. All fantastic informative to the point reviews! Your style is great and your analogies are spot on! I own the Iota and has been an absolute pleasure to my ears! Finally, an integrated that gives me a window into what 'hi-fidelity" is all about. Would love to upgrade my integrated but have had no luck. Bought a used old Creek Destiny integrated and despite having a bit more of headroom than the Iota, and perhaps a tiny bit more texture...it wasn't very dynamic, soundstage was mediocre, bass notes lacked punch and purpose; not engaging sound. boring; I sold it. I then bought a Cambridge CXA61 I liked more than the Creek; a beautiful elegant wide soundstage.... but it was too hyped on the top and made everything (with its big soundstage) sound very homogeneous, kind of unreal at times. An ear fatiguing amp on long hours listening. Sent it back. I went back to my Iota, and love its honesty!! There has to be something around $1000 to $1500 that is a step up from the Iota....or no? Would love you to do more reviews on some integrated amps since you are so good with this! very curious, for example, about the Audiolab 6000A, the Cambridge CXA81, Marantz PM8006, Arcam SA20 or SA10, or even the enigmatic Sony TA-A1ES....
Hey dude, thanks for the kind words. Since my channel is small 70% of the gear you see I'm buying with my own money so reviewing a few $1000-$1500 amps is understandably not something I'm interested in. This channel is more about my audio journey and the gear I buy is to satisfy my curiosity and I share that with the world. One day if the channel is large enough that more manufacturers send me gear I will happily review those amps though :D. Right now I'm happy with my reference amps and I'm not really curious about any other amps besides the soon to be released Buchardt Audio amplifier.
Also to answer your question I think a great $1100-$1200 amp setup would be a Schiit Saga+ paired with a Schiit Vidar or Aegir amplifier. At $2000 to $3000 I'd just grab the Kinki Exm1 or Exm1+.
@@NemoPropaganda hmmm...food for thought! thanks for your honest response. will check the Schiits...
hopefully your channel will grow and you will be able to review more gear! fantastic reviews!
@@themastroiannis No problem dude! One last amp came to mind, Musical Fidelity M2Si or M3Si.
Guess whose back, I ended up with the Polk R200 (they come in next week, for 480€ for the pair thanks US for black friday) based on your and others reviews and now I'm looking at a couple of amps but iotavx sa3 will probably be best for the money 500€ with free shipping (hopefully it's a good pair?), or arcam sa10 or rotel a10mk2/a11tribute. Thanks for the reviews, will be getting this for the long term :)
hey what's up man, long time no see! The Polk Reserve range is great, congrats!!
Dabbed the Denon for all of the reasons you mentioned. 1) It's my first setup, 2) budget is on the low side, 3) i listen to a lot of hip hop and funk and welcome the warmer sound.
Great review, thanks!
Sounds like it'll be a great match for your music taste :)
Great review. Got my IOTA yesterday. 👍
Good choice!
The bang for buck factors in when buying factory direct, not always the case, but most of the time. No middle man mark-up. If you can find someone, usually the owner of a hi-fi business, who will deal , you can save upwards of 30% off retail. I am fortunate to know of two or three and I have saved a lot of money. Nice review.
ah yes, I've heard of those deep discounts on the higher end gear from dealers but never from the more budget gear, most dealers in my area don't even sell anything under $2000 :(
@@NemoPropaganda The mark up from suggested retail is significant to say the least. Especially high end gear. Sometimes I just got lucky when an owner wanted to move some product and I called at around same time. Also if you are respectful and don't act like you know it all, they'll try and cut you a break on price.
@@peace-yv4qd Oh I bet, it's not uncommon to see some KEF speakers on sale for as much as 50% off!! That's insane like the Q150, it almost begs the question is it really a $600 speaker or is it a $300 speaker.
Thanks for this great review. I just pulled the trigger on the Emotiva with your help
Hell yeah brother!! Lmk how you like it.
I just did the same about 20 minutes ago
@@Powerpickle68 Double hell yeah! Let me know how you like it :D I still use mine daily in my TV room!
@@Powerpickle68 how did you end up liking it did you get a different amp?
Again, tanks for your contributions. I've asked this question, in another one of your videos: Given, that these, all have digital inputs, would I still be getting the best-possible audio-fidelity, with a an analog input from a good audio interface (MOTU M2), or should I just forget that altogether, and just use a digital input, for the amplifier to decode the audio internally?
It really depends on the gear. For example if you're streaming with a blue sound node 2i like I have, well that has a better D/A section than these integrated amps do. Likewise if you're using an external dac already for PC audio, or a CD player with a great built in dac then using analog will sound better. But if your other other component doesn't do the best d/a conversion it may be best to leave the signal digital until it gets to the amp so it's onboard converter can handle it. The only way to know is trial and error my friend. Or just get a Ares II dac and you'll know for sure to use that for the conversion :).
@@NemoPropaganda Here's another question that just came to mind: Assuming, I have a good box, that outputs fine analog audio, and I feed that to one of these integrated amps, does the amp convert the signal back into digital to apply DSP?
@@TheDarius1968 no, the analog inputs will not cause any additional D/A conversion, the signal will stay analog.
I do believe that most of us, music lovers or "audiophiles", do not need very expensive gear .
I'm making this statement based on my experience in guitars reviews and what it is said. Most of the time, only high end guitars are supposed to be good and when you play an affordable guitar, it finally sounds awesome.
I think it is the same with audio gears.
Billy Corgan of smashing pumpkins was known to play on garage sale guitars so maybe there is some truth to that :) but i also think higher end gear is good too. I love my $2000 speakers, but i also love my $600 speakers, and there are some $8000 speakers i hate :D. But also some $20,000 speakers i love.
@@NemoPropaganda at least, for most of us , with decent speakers and a 600€ amplifier, we're able to enjoy, really enjoy good sounding music.
Of course high end speakers and gear will have real upper quality ( not all the time) .
@@seb250cr I agree, one of my favorite systems was only $400 :D. Sometimes cheaper things are better, it just depends. For example I like the $600 Elac DBR-62 a lot more than the $900 Revel M16.
I am new to this, I started by upgrading p.c speakers, bought a dongle dac and realised what was possible. I've bought a used Denon 600 for £250, a vintage Marantz CD (a mistake, no digital connections), a WiiM Pro Plus and some returned Triangle Br03 speakers, also £250. With cables etc totalling under £800, about a thousand of your yankee dollar. I love it! It has changed what I listen to to some extent- jazz guitar and vocals sound so pure to me now, yet wouldn't have been worth listening to on my old gear.. I guess you play guitar for other people to listen to, audio is different. It only has to satisfy yourself, which my sound does. Although I may add a dac and a modern cd one day I'm not in any rush, and won't be made to feel inferior, I just enjoy my gear everytime I switch on.
Curious on your thoughts! I'm replacing a little 20w per channel Class D SMSL Q5 Pro amp in my living room. I got some Polk RTi6 speakers for free. Using an upgrade DP300F turntable. I purchased a refurbished Denon PMA800NE for $449 shipped. What made the Denon a compelling option is that a) More low end/warmth in my setup is a good thing, b) it has optical out for the TV, c) it has an EQ, and d) every review says that it just sounds good and has a balanced warm sound with plenty of power. Hoping I made the right choice. I probably will not use the internal phono pre-amp but continue using my Cambridge Solo.
I don't love the denon sound but it is exactly as you are describing and what you want so I think you will be happy :D
@@NemoPropaganda I remembered for my HT room at around 2012, I replaced an Onkyo with a Denon. The sound went from "cold" to "warm" and I thought it was immediately better. Didn't know it was really debatable to be honest! More tube-like is fine with me. Question is, how much will it color it. Will it make everything less precise/dynamic? I'll make sure to A/B test my SMSL with it.
@@FendersRule it's hard to say since I had the cheaper model, based on what you're saying I think you will enjoy it though.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks so much for the info/thoughts. Really appreciate it. Maybe in a week or so, I'll report back and post some really quick thoughts regarding a comparison. I think you're right though and I should expect an improvement regardless being that the RTi-6s are turned up speakers.
I love the speaker on the right hand side, more than the amp.
me too :)
Nice to-the-point review. I'm going to replace my 25-year old Marantz PM-68 which has started to go defunct. An audiophile I knew back then recommended it as a pretty neutral sounding amp (not much colorization) and he thought that was the way to go. I also tested a Pioneer A-400 and I liked it quite a lot, but eventually went for the Marantz (I regretted it a little afterwards). I actually like a warm "analog" sound, so I guess the Denon is the best choice for me? Other competitors in the same price range?I listen a lot to heavy music. Elac B6 Debut speakers.
The Denon may indeed be to your liking based on what you wrote. The cool thing is you'll have a 30 day return window from just about anywhere you buy it from so if it's a miss for any reason you can always send it back.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for the reply.
Ended up buying the PMA-800NE used for the same price as a new 600NE. So far, it sounds good to me!
Can confirm that it has more bass and the treble is a bit rounded compared to the Marantz. Treble was clearer and more detailed on the latter, but the Denon has more power and is more "in your face". I assume the 800NE is quite similar to the 600.
@@bowelripper based on what you're saying it certainly does seem that the 800NE might just be a more powerful 600NE with similar tone. Sounds like you got an excellent deal too!
thank you for great videos! Can I ask for an advice? I'm starting to build my first hifi setup and I'm struggling in choosing the amp for Tannoy Platinum F6 speakers. Any advices on amp model or pricerange at least? Thank You!
Sorry I'm not familiar with the sound signature of those speakers but anything around a $1000 or more is where I would start. You certainly could get away with spending less but it's like anything else, the more you spend the better you generally get. By advise is to just establish an amp budget, what are you comfortable spending, then go from there. Personally my amps are 3x the cost of my speakers but that's what I was comfortable spending.
I was going to buy the iota, but I'm sold for sure now
Enjoy my friend :)
Hey NPR, GREAT comparison!!
I'm looking to upgrade from my 1986 Pioneer analog amp/tuner. Most of my music will be CD, then digital Pandora from my phone.
I've got brand new Klipsch R610F speakers. I MIGHT be acquiring a TT for vinyl. Would you be confident the EMOTIVA will run those speakers with authority??
Oh yeah, the Emotiva will have plenty of power but if you're a madman and want crazy volume it has pre-outs so you can add something like their A-300 power amp and triple it's power output if you ever need more :)
Great review man, I would be sold on the Denon if I could add an amp to it. Any ideas on one that would be comprable with that option?
Not really, I don't typically like affordable warmer sounding gear as i feel like you give up too much detail and it sounds fake to me so I don't know what other options might be. I think it would be wise to grab the more neutral IotaVX and pair it with warmer sounding speakers if that's what you're after. I think it's always better to have a neutral amp with great detail and tune to the sound you want with speakers and other gear.
Nice comparison. Can you please compare Yamaha AS-301 and Emotiva TA-100
I probably won't honestly, the Yamaha is good but the Emotiva is better than every Yamaha I've ever heard under $500 and the Emotiva has more honest power, dual subwoofer outputs, and preouts for adding a power amplifier down the road.
The budget AS yammies are part of the budget hi fi scene, and long may they endure. It would be really helpful for comparison's sake. Emotivas are affordable in the USA but not so much in Europe at 50% more (600€) The Yams (and Denons) are affordable in both places. The AS500 is well featured, rugged and not expensive
Yamaha 801 is king 👑
Great review!
I've been looking at all 3 of these for some time but I have a tube amp that I'm currently enjoying but would like to have something different to drive my speakers as well.
I wonder how the iota compares to your more expensive amp?
That would be a cool insight for those of us who don't have that opportunity to know the differences.
I plan to make a video about expensive amps vs cheaper ones but it’s really hard to describe the difference. Best way i can say it is more expensive gear is a lot more refined but what does that even mean. I want to come up with a way that sounds more clear to everyone.
@@NemoPropaganda cool man, it will be interesting to know how much of a gap there is between different components but
It sounds like some less expensive amps can give you about 70 to 90 percent of the more expensive stuff.
In my ignorance I'm thinking mostly in scale and micro details..... 🤷♂️
@@dynodin81 mmm, i know it's common practice to describe cheaper items in terms of X% as good as more expensive components but i feel that is a seriously flawed methodology because it's inconsistent and lacks context. For example i heard a reviewer say a certain $200 product was 80% as good as a certain $3000 product now if that was true and his logic was consistent (as it should be) that means the $200 product could sell for a fair price of $2400 as it's 80% as good as the $3000 product but nobody expresses it that way because their logic quickly falls apart and the $200 product is obviously not worth $2400, in fact not even close. Everyone wants to feel good about their purchase, everyone wants to feel like they're getting not only "a good deal" but "a better deal than should exist" our brain is wired that way and in-fact will product extra dopamine when that happens additionally your brain will also release glutamine to make you remember this feeling so that you keep hunting for it which is why so many audiophiles are constantly hunting for the best component at the best price (two contradictory goals) and often times feel stressed out by the chase. It's a survival mechanism designed to keep us chasing food and shelter that is out of place in modern society... Anywho... I'll stop typing here before i bore you to to death :)
@@NemoPropaganda LOL, I agree 100%. I have found myself stressing over getting the best and right deal - which in turn made me not enjoy the product as much or the process of it.
@@dynodin81 yeah that's a dopamine/glutamine response thing. That's why i buy things based on looks more than sound/price. It sounds crazy but that way i avoid a bit of the "chase" a stress. The only area i struggle still is subwoofers lol.
Love your reviews and this 3 way comparison. Would you consider NAD C316BEE V2 in your comparison in this category? Which one would you prefer if you added that in? Could you also comment on amp-speaker combos and how they pair with even more budget friendly speakers like ELAC Debut 6.2, Warfdale Diamond 225, Pioneer BS22lr, Micca RB42, etc.
Hey Phani, thank you for your comment. Because the 316BEE does not have a subwoofer or pre-out i decided not to include it in this comparison. I'm sure it's quality is similar but i like using subwoofers and to me that was a big problem. I used the IotaVX for my last video where i compared 3 speakers under $100, for that amp pairing is not as important, in the video for the Denon amp i talked about pairing because it was important for that amp. The IotaVX is my favorite in this price range and you don't have to worry about pairing as much with it so if that's the one you're going to buy just buy the speakers you like the look of the most and it should work out :)
@@NemoPropaganda If you are using REL of BK subwoofers (very good ones for stereo) you don't need pre out or subwoofer out to connect them. The best way to integrate a subwoofer in a stereo system is to connect it via speaker terminals, because the volume level is absolutely the same for the speakers and for the subwoofer. Just my experience.
Yes I am aware of that but REL subwoofers sound good connected via high-level inputs because they were designed specifically for that purpose. Almost every other brand of subwoofer sounds better using the line input. Personally I use line input as I would rather be able to use a wide range of subwoofers. And I don’t want to review an amp that forces the customer to use a very specific type of subwoofer.
One thing I would like to know; dynamics?
Emotiva and IotaVX had good dynamics, Denon was not dynamic at all.
one disclamer here, denon by activation of direct (without tone controles) increases th sound quality which is very expectable.
I can't hear the difference , but like the amp's warm sound on my Br03s.
@@barlow2976 I was listening the pma 1700 ne with sonus faber sonettos 2 in one local shop an the diference was appearent.
Not dealbraker, both were ok.
Great review! 3D layering front to back, where can I find that in a sub-$2000 integrated amplifier? Can you point me to some units I can investigate that have 3D qualities? Thanks..
I don't have very much experience with $2k amps but the Buchardt i150 and Kinki EXM1 are pretty amazing!
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you, I will check them out.
Great videos. I have a pair of Klipsch floor speakers. Will 45 watts be enough? I mostly listen to dance and RnB music, so I like my bass. Which would be best for my kind of music?
It's hard to answer that question, room size and how loud you like to listen all play a factor. I would suggest buying either the Emotiva or IotaVX since you can add separate power amps to those just incase you end up needing more power but with the Denon you will not have that option.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks.
I know for a fact that the Emotiva has a DAC that is compatible with my old CD/SACD unit. Is it the same as the other two?
Denon has a matching CD player, IotaVX does not however. Also i don't think Emotiva currently makes a DAC.
What brand of speakers?
Buchardt S400
Thanks.. Too expensive for me
@@trulyblessed5236 oh yeah, little pricey, but there are great speakers at every price these days all the way down to $249 for the Emotiva B1 :)
Cool, I just bought some Klipsch rp6000 with a Denon pma-800ne and the bass is WAY too much for my 1 bed apt., even with the bass turned down. I have the Emotiva on the way, so maybe it'll help. I wasnt expecting much from little 6.5 woofers, man was I wrong.
You can always turn down the bass using the tone controls or experiment with plugging the ports if it's too much :)
You coupled a speaker with notorious "stonking bass" (which has overwhelmed stronger men than me) to a "warm, thick" amp. Wind down the bass control for starters. Avoid walls and corners to reduce "room gain". Maybe EQ, perhaps at the source if your dac allows it. Does the PME-600 have pre-out/pre in rca jacks? (The 800 does). If it does insert an equalizer there and clip the Klipsch's bass.
(A GR modification evens out this speaker's FR)
Which one of these integrated amps has the best bass management. versatility and sound in terms of integrating a subwoofer for a 2.1 channel stereo system? Do any of these have a bass management feature to adjust or set the crossover on for the sub/speaker? Can the main speakers be st as "small
none of them have such a feature. What you are describing is something usually found in AVR & home theater amps. I personally feel it is not a feature that is needed unless your speakers are really bad or really small I prefer to run my speakers full range.
Hi Nemo. How would you compare the TA-100 vs thr TA1 sound wise? Do they have the same dac? Thank you.
they sound the same, both great. I don't know about the dac, I think the TA1 has the enwer version of the same chip.
Is it worth to pay double for the Outlaw RR2160Mkii ? Thanks so much for ur very helpful review.
The RR2160Mkii is pretty badass from what I've seen and it has more than double the power. I haven't heard one personally but if you need more power than these 3 amps offer I think the Outlaw is the next logical amplifier to consider.
@@NemoPropaganda I dont need more power than IOTA, I"m just wondering about the sound, Is the IOTAVX SA3 the way to go for sound quality? Anything better till 1k? What about the Parasound New Classic 200? Thanks for ur help!
@@AromaFrank unfortunately my experience is limited here, i have a lot of experience around the $500 point and then I jumped up to $6000 with my Kinki gear and havn't paid much attention to anything in the middle :(.
@@NemoPropaganda Ok. So from around $500 point would u suggest the IOTA for sound quality the best? Did u had a chance to listen to Parasound integrated amp as well? Thanks for ur help
@@AromaFrank I have not, I've only heard their big boy power amps and those were fantastic.
Nemo, you covered a lot of info. Seems your passion toward for Iota. I have a Denon DRA-800H RECEIVER and im looking to add a amp to connect the Denon Zone 2 Preouts. Looking to connect separate pair of bookshelf speakers to play through the separate Amp in an adjoining room. The DRA supplies the source of music. I only use the Receiver to play music in a 2.1 configuration. Actually, I'm sorry to have gone with the Denon since, I do not have video connected to it. Shouldve went Iota integrated amp and separate Amp.
One more question, if i could..... My other stereo equipment, except the Tascam CD player / recorder ( connected to the Denon via digital output cable), does not have either coaxial or digital connections. Can ypu connect equipment via a conversion cable (RCA TO COAXIAL) ,if thefe is su h an animal? Thx , good video for quick roundup comparison.
It's not that I have passion for the IotaVX, it's just a little better in my opinion. Yes you can connect RCA to a digital by using an ADC (analog to digital converter), here is an example of a very affordable one, though I am not familiar with it's sound quality but at this price it's worth trying: www.amazon.com/Digital-Converter-Tiancai-Toslink-Simultaneously/dp/B07W5GNZX5/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=ADC+Converter&qid=1609366368&s=electronics&sr=1-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzOFJGTldFVzBWN1hWJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzA3ODk3MVg1VkVVT1dRMUhZOSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjEzMjYzMjVDTlhVSjNYNldPQiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
@@NemoPropaganda love your insights on your channel. I am also interested in buying the Iotavx....but Do you know if their business has closed due to covid nemo? There is zero contact from emails replies last 2 weeks and the number on their site doesnt work? Have you heard anything from them no longer in business? Their ordering options is there but no way to reach them or response from them... thank you Nemo
@@hossetttren253 I'm not sure brother, I think their staff is simply too small to handle email communication which is a shame. If i were you i would just order it and it should show up in 2 weeks. If it doesn't you are protected as long as you use a credit card. If you don't like that idea the Emotiva TA-100 is an excellent alternative and $150 cheaper :)
@@NemoPropaganda wow.... this is happening to me as well. I received a IOTA SA3 integrated Amp about 10 days ago. Connected to my Elac Debut Reference speakers, very nice clean sound with great balance. The BT module works fabulously... But after connecting speakers by stripped wire method, then attaching 4 mm Banana plugs (after asking IOTA via email if that can be done ), 3 of the 4 speaker terminals worked loose from the rear base of the cabinet. They work but didn't espouse confidence in the build quality. Just previous to realizing this, I ordered a PA3 refurbished unit on their web site paid by Paypal. Never got an email that the unit was shipped. Then I decided to cancel it after the speaker terminal issue o the SA3 was detected. Got an email confirming the cancellation, BUT no Paypal reversal of the charge. I also emailed Ian ( I think he is a principal owner), about the SA3. Should I open the cabinet to check out the loose terminals or return it for a new one. No responses fir days.. see this comment made e realize that COVID spread in the UK may be the problem. Hopefully they are all OK. This ishould be the worst thing to happen with this Freakin Pandemic which has wreacked HAVOC upon the world. Opinions about how COVUD was created and unleashed is topic for different BLOGS OR VLOGS. Be well all.
@@Chiroman527 Really? I've never heard of that happening, can you email me a picture to nemopropaganda@gmail.com?
I received my second defective amplifier from IOTA 2 days ago. They are not responding to my emails and there is no plan to replace or refund my money at this time.
okay bro, now you're just making it personal, you already commented this on one of my other videos. I understand your frustrated and you have a right to be but my YT comments section is not the place air your grievances.
I currently have a Cambridge CXA60 paired with Dynaudio Emit M20s and I'm finding that a lot of the hip-hop and electronic music I listen to sometimes feels a bit cold and sharp. I like deep powerful bass and it sounds like the Denon PMA600 could add a bit or warmth these speakers.
I would add that i like the look and feel of the IOTAVX better but I'm thinking it won't drive these speakers in the way i want it to....Any thoughts?
I have the Dynaudio M10's, their top end is not very airy so i would actually prefer the IotaVX, it'll also help tighten up the bass over the Denon as the M10's bass can be flabby in my room but the two amps are extremely different. I just think the Denon will really close off the top end of the Dynaudios but then again you might prefer that, i think you gotta just order one and try it out :)
@@NemoPropaganda I'm also starting to think that the Dynaudios might be the weak link as they are fairly unforgiving with poor sources and I listen to a lot of tapes...
@@djordan4966 It's possible, their top end isn't very refined. The speaker as a whole is just okay, i can't put my finger on it but something just isn't right.
@@NemoPropaganda I was looking at the KEF Q350s or the B&W 607s as an alternative. Size-wise these two fit the bill and seem to have good performance reviews. Any thoughts?
This guy sure is king of the hill with the amp reviews. I mean he basically takes the same crap that everybody else reviews and adds his own "spin". I mean where is the originality ,where is the hidden gem type product that nobody knows about and he's going to reveal it to us and save us from audiophile oblivion.
I don't know where the hidden "gym" is bro but I have a gym in one of my extra bedrooms if you need to come through and get in a few reps, lmao.... Audio isn't life, relax, have a beer, it's all good my bro...
@@NemoPropaganda On the thing to remember here is that perfectionist audio endeavors are the crux of a good life and to deny otherwise is simply to deny yourself the fulfillment of a fulfilled life. I mean it's understandable that people would think that work or children or some diluted sense of love provides you with that essential fulfillment needed for complete happiness but in reality it's a high-quality amplifier and a good set of speakers that will bring you that ultimate joy
@@Audiorevue why don't you start your own youtube channel if you don't like mine?
sounds like on your review I should lean more towards the Iotavx, while there are a few genres of music that I do enjoy, I'm mostly enjoy heavy metal, and a good bit of what I listen to tends to have a lot of Blastbeats in it (which a fair amount of jazz does as well) so I'd need something to keep up with that, especially the machine gun double bass kicks that are in blast beats.
That or Emotiva's new TA1. I listen to metal also, love Arch Enemy, they don't go too wild on the double bass though, more symphonic metal I guess. Anyhow Yeah, either one should be good, I'd probably not go for the Denon as it's bass is a little stronger but a little less controlled.
@@NemoPropaganda you like metal too? is it ok if I make a band recommendation to you? look up "Lovebites" they're a band from Japan who recently have been doing quite well in the Western Markets, totally not what you'd expect to hear from most J-metal bands, epically since all of the lyrics are actually in English. I'd give like maybe 3 or 4 songs of theirs before making a decision on them as some people don't like them based on the first song that they hear from them, some of their stuff is more on the powermetal side, and some of it is more thrashy.
@@jeffrielly reminds me of dragonforce but with a female lead.
@@NemoPropaganda you should try some of their more thrashy stuff such as this: th-cam.com/video/yWE7PqCpGi4/w-d-xo.html or this: th-cam.com/video/99zsH6iG_6c/w-d-xo.html or perhaps something more of a love balad such as this: th-cam.com/video/JIAJYBuuKGM/w-d-xo.html
@@jeffrielly still sounds like a femal dragonforce but i like the last one.
Which on is the best for the magnepan lrs
None of these, for LRS you need more power, at minimum I would go for an Emotiva PT-100 pre-amp paired with an Emotiva A2 poweramp. Unfortuantely the PT-100 is discontinued at the moment but a replacement should be coming out soon.
Emotiva, i have the older A2, those extra watts make a wonderful difference. maggies need power and placement.
Would the iota vx3 be an upgrade on a nad c316 bee v2? Would really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
Hi Paul, I generally stay away from amps that don't have a sub-out or pre-outs so I have not heard the 316. My guess is it would be a case of different, not better.
Could most of the coloration between the amps be neutralized with tone controls or equalizers?
some but not all, the lack of dynamics for the denon can't be fixed with tone controls, the cool mid range of the emotiva can't be changed with tone controls. But if you find one of them too bright or lacking in bass then tone controls can usually fix that.
Can you test whether the emotiva and iota are true analogue amps as I have same brand and it doesn't have analogue pass through it digitise inputs
hi billy, I suggest you contact the manufacturer for this, I'm not sure.
Newbie here. What makes it integrated? Do they come with FM capabilities?
No, a tuner would make them 2 channel receiver. A integrated amplifier combines a preamplifier with a power amp. These have inputs for various media player like turntables, cd, DVD, etc.
So an integrated amp has volume control so the preamp and power amp are in the same chassis :)
Thanks guys.
Hi, Nemo
Is the Denon PMA600NE a good pairing with the PSB Alpha P5s?
I have not heard the P5.
@@NemoPropaganda No worries! Thanks for replying!
I just got my IotaVX SA3. I have Klipsch R26f's, a Nakamichi CD4 and a Nakamichi CR2a. With my previous amp it sounded really " forward". So much so I didn't really think I made the best choice in speakers. With the IotaVX it was night and day. It is beyond incredible. I listened to Ric Ocasek, Alannah Myles and Judas Priest. It was quite impressive I never thought there was going to be as substantive a difference. I love it for almost all types of music. The people who make Iota have made an amazing product.it is for me expensive but it is probably the best product I have bought period
I'm so happy it worked out well for you :D
Does the IotaVX brand have a connection to Nakamichi brand?
@@jaym9846 Why yes it does. The Iota VX SA3 was supposed to be the Nakamichi re-entry into the audiophile world. Sean talks about this in his review on Zero Fidelity. And everyone in the community has rallied around it. Frankly at the beginning I was deeply suspicious of any claims of " airiness" or a " chocolatey tone". Hyperbolic Bullsh!tI I thought. I even worked for a place selling and setting up audio stuff back " in the day". But weirdly it was all true. The stereo made my somewhat tinny Klipsch R26f's sound glorious. It sure " integrated" with my Nak CD4 CD player and my CR2a tape deck. At least with the music that I play
@@jaym9846 See Blake Newton's answer :), you can also watch the first zero fidelity's review for that information found here. th-cam.com/users/results?search_query=zero+fidelity+iotavx
Can you not get the IOTA in the US?
Yeah you can, you can get it pretty much anywhere in the world.
I recently purchased a pair of Klipsch R-51M speakers and looking for an integrated amp to pair with them - wondering which of these 3 would be a better match. Any thoughts?
any of the 3 would work well, a ton of guys in the Klipsch group on facebook love Emotiva amps so if you're in USA or a country in which Emotiva offers the free shipping and in home trial that's what i would recommend.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks a lot for the recommendation. I didn’t know they offered an at home trial. Since I am in the US, I’ll go that route. Keep up the good work! I have been enjoying your reviews.
@@doug_h_nuts Awesome, thanks doug!
I have Klipsch R24F speakers.. I am going with the IOTAVX though. My listening room is small @ 12 x 10 but having run bookshelf speakers they just lack top end oomph. That's why I went the way I did. The R24F's aren't quite large towers but have some kick off the bottom with a good performance. I needed an amp to match it. I will let you know my impressions though as the room is being redone it might be by summer
@@blakenewton2781 hello fellow 12x10 room owner :)
0:20 - it would be great to have also a visiual info, not only have to listen to everything. Easier to remember. Would be also faster for viewers :>
I enjoy talking about it :) And one of my personal goals for this channel is it doesn't take up too much time. If it takes up too much time I'll have to shut it down.
@@NemoPropaganda ok :D
I have a cheap Chinese amp with bluetooth and stuff and a topping E30 dac im planning on getting the PA3 and a parasound preamp
I wouldn't do that, on its own the PA3 isn't all that powerful as a 2ch amp, it's more of an awesome upgrade for the SA3. A better option would be the Emotiva Basx A2.
@@NemoPropaganda honestly im on a budget so I'm really stretching for the 300-350 price tag of the pa3 and I'm pairing them to my elac debut b6.2 and plus I really don't need a ton of power im in a 12x12 room and don't listen very loud that was my thought and doesn't the PA3 do 90WPC just like the SA3?
@@hvskyline1368 its 299 gbp bro! To USD thats $424!! Unless you’re in England the Emotiva A2 is $449.
@@NemoPropaganda oh I completely spaced on that 😅 this was just what a buddy of mine recommended for my set up he tests out a lot of gear and he said it would work well
@@hvskyline1368 it would work well for sure, it's just a better upgrade for existing SA3 than it is a stand alone power amp. If you like the IotaVX look or sound it would be better to ditch the pre-amp/poweramp idea and just go with an SA3, they're pretty darn good. Emotiva is working on a new affordable integrated amp right now also.
Are you thinking of changing your thumbnail to be more representative of the channel?
Yes I think about it sometimes but I'm terrible at graphic design and i don't know if the name of the channel will even stay the same. And i do love my beautiful car :)
Which amp would pair best with the w acoustic 3030i?
not sure, I have not heard those.
I ended up going with the Emotiva. I have had Denon and Onkyo in the past and I have not been impressed. The Denon had too much of a V curve and not very detailed. The Onkyo's were very warm, but no detail and rolled off highs. So far so great with Emotiva. So much detail and reserve capacity. I thought hard about the IOTAVX because I no doubt it is better in several ways. But I felt the Emotiva met my traits the most. As an American engineer, I gave the nod to the American company and American engineers (even though I acknowledge both are manufactured in China). Thanks for the help!
I'm glad you're enjoying it, it's one of those amps that is just plain good! I'm seriously surprised it's not more popular.
Do you have any knowledge if this Denon is a good pair to Heco Aurora 300?
sorry brother i don't know but wow! that is a beautiful speaker :)
@@NemoPropaganda hah, thank you. One guy recommended this Denon to me as one of 3 (Marantz and Yamaha) and this suits my budget and others mostly. Hope it will be great for my ears :)
@@jadeswojecc so it has a nice sound to it with good tone. I just wish the top end was a little more open. If your speakers are really open in the top end already it should be a good pairing but if your speakers are a little laid back sounding and smoother you might loose some detail. I think that's the most important aspect of this amp to know.
@@NemoPropaganda ok, I have it. Why remore volume control is not working while there is a sound in amp like confirming signal connection? 😬 Sorry for bothering you
What do you mean?
I just tapped my amp with cheetos fingers, thanks
That's good, it will help it to sound smoother and cheesier :D
Where doo you purchase the IOTA VX?
www.iotaenterprises.co.uk/products/iotavx-audiophile-stereo-amplifier-sa3
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks!
do you know any place in the USA that sell the iota ?
IotaVX only sells manufacture direct. You just buy it on their website and it shows up at your front door.
what about cambridge audio AXA35? is it good?
I have not heard the AXA35 but it doesn't have a subwoofer output so I think for just $50 more the Emotiva or Denon is a better option as they have more power and more features overall.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you very much for your feedback! I believe you are right! Those are some great features to consider. Great video by the way!
@@pufarinu Thank you :)
Why are my comments not being showed ?spent half an hour typing for sweet Fanny Adams...really sociable TH-cam nowadays...what a joke
I can see this one but not any others from you, feel free to hop in our free discord, way easier to chat there bro: discord.gg/nemopropaganda
Get a mic. Can barely hear you at 100% volume on iphone. Or at least adjust audio levels in post.
yeah my older videos suck, this one is 452 days old, watch a newer one: th-cam.com/video/C-gBWXklifg/w-d-xo.html
You left out Yamaha...
They didn't have anything in the price range that got my attention :) I did review the RS-202 favorably a while ago but it's a lot cheaper than these.
The emotiva bluetooth is $80 unless you buy the crappy one.
The BTM-1 USB adapter is $49.99 but i prefer the bluedento blt-2, at around $60 it’s a lot better as the usb emotiva one can be a bit grainy.
I bought the Bluetooth and find I don't use it. It works but I use a streamer and it even has a good Bluetooth I don't use. I guess its nice to have but.......
Thank you! I am sold on the IOTAvX. $550 is my budget. I would always like to save where I can, but the IOTA VX seems to hit all the points I am looking for. The one con on the Emotiva is that it isn’t going to pair well with bright sounding speakers like the Emotiva B1+. It sounds like that amp would get too bright without tone control intervention.
You're not wrong, i love the TA-100 and i love the B1+ speakers but together i didn't love them as much as i do individually. Now don't get me wrong some people are going to love that pairing, anyone who likes an extended top end that has good detail and an overall edge to the sound will love that pairing. People who like smoother may prefer to trim 1-2db off the treble but the problem is you're still left with an edgier presentation. For example Focal and Wilson Audio makes some fantastic (and expensive) speakers that sound truly amazing but they have that edgier sound so it's not for me but a lot of people love them so it really comes down to taste, one of the more difficult parts of this hobby no doubt.
I think the Denon is quite good. Steve Gutenberg raved about them and he's not slinging sh't. That being said the other two are just a bit better. I would rather pull the Bluetooth chip when I don't need it. And they are just a bit better for at least me.
You also have to ask yourself which one of these will lose a channel in about 2 years when the PRC sourced electronics burn out? I never buy British electronics for this very reason LOL
I'm not as well versed in the individual components, is that a common issue? I've not heard about that but the warranty is 2 years on the IotaVX and the Emotiva is 3 years if that helps :)
I don't like Denon and I know why .
Such nonsense the tone control you never use or u put it where you want it and never touch it again. So useless to make a negative comment while it hardly has any use.
Are you sad because I don't like your amplifier? That's kind of weird bro...
@@NemoPropaganda I don't have any of these amps but you never use the tone control so cannot be a issue.
@@timschutte3961 yeah man, everyone has the same listening habits as you. Everyone does what you do, there is no other way to enjoy the hobby but your way. I'll make sure and spread the word because I think a lot of other people don't know.
@@NemoPropaganda dude really...
@@timschutte3961 you set the tone, I'm only matching your energy bro. You think you can just tell me my comments in this video are useless & nonsense and I would just be polite to you? What were you expecting?