Integrated amp suggestions

[JohnnyR104sme]

What I would like to do is add a more powerful amplifier to my Home Theater AVR for stereo (2.1) music listening with an idea that I might eventually buy a larger set of floor standing speakers in the future with good bass so no sub is needed.

I would also prefer an amplifier that would allow me to attach my subwoofer, my turntable and my Blu-ray / CD player so that for music listening I would not have to power up my AVR!
My current set up is:

DENON AVR-X4000

YAMAHA BD-A1060 Aventage Blu-ray / DVD / CD player

THORENS TD-318 Turntable with NAGAOKA MP-110 cartridge

SCHIIT MANI PHONO PREAMP

SCHIIT LOKI Equalizer / Tone control

WHARFEDALE Jade 3 Bookshelf speakers (86 db sensitivity / 6 Ohm / 30 - 150 watts) on WHARFEDALE stands

ELAC Debut S12EQ Subwoofer

CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS surround speakers:

1 - Center - MC-100 / 2-Side MC-200S (Dipole / Bipole) and 1-Rear - MC-300

Which would be the best route to go - power amplifier like an Emotiva XPA series or an integrated amplifier such as a Musical Fidelity m5si / m6si or a Peachtree 150 / 300, the older Peachtree 220 Rotes 1570 or any of the quality integrated amps out there.

The floor standing speakers I have in mind are Focal Electra 1038 BE or 1028 BE; GoldenEar Triton Two Plus, Aurum Cantus V7F, PSB Imagine 3T or 2T; Ryan S840 or Ryan R6300……


Thanks for your time and attention to my request!

 

[Tony V.]

Do you feel that your current receiver is not capable of reproducing good 2 channel sound? Your Denon X4000 has a pure/direct mode that will bypass all processing. It would be very difficult to notice a difference in quality over a boutique 2 channel integrated amp in my opinion. I agree purchasing a two channel amp and using the X4000 pre outs would be a benefit for your main speakers but using a dedicated two channel rig just for music is overkill.

 

[JohnnyR104sme]

Thanks for your rapid response Tony V.
I really did not know that my Denon AVR model had this feature. As a matter of fact I purchased the aforementioned
Yamaha Aventage Blu-ray player because it has both a CD mode as well as a Pure Direct mode for higher
quality sound playback. If this enhances the sound quality then you are correct that the price of the amps I was looking at would not
be justified. Thank you so much for pointing this out. Have a happy and healthy holiday season.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

I reviewed an NAD integrated that I really liked. It sounded great.

https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/nad-c-368-hybrid-digital-dac-amplifier-w-bluos-review.2482/

NAD makes a larger model with more power.
https://nadelectronics.com/product/c-388-hybrid-digital-dac-amplifier/

That would be an awesome addition. Powerful and great sound with the ability to add Bluesound. I would highly recommend it.

I’m also reviewing a Yamaha stereo receiver with Multicast.
https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/r-n803/index.html
It’s good for 145 watts and has a pretty serious power supply. I haven’t done any measurements but I would guess it’s more powerful than your receiver. It might be an option.

These are all good products that I’ve heard and used.

You might just consider a decent external 2-channel amplifier that you use for your main speakers. Most receivers have a pure direct mode that turns off all processing. In my experience these measure pretty well. The response is often flat and clean. It might make you happy for now.