Designer

Time to replace the Rotel and I'm finding the pickings to be slim (I just don't have the room for separates and I have no interest in a "Home Theater"). All I've found are the old standbys Marantz, Harman Kardon, Yamaha & Denon. Are these really my only choices? Anyone have a preference, specifically the tuner section?

It will power Revel F32s.

Thanks for any input.

PS. Speaking of input -- in my (limited) research, I came across a consideration I hadn't thought of -- not all receivers have a Phono Input anymore!

Bob in NY

I have one of these and it sounds great and has a phono input...


http://us.marantz.com/Products/2555.asp

mdrums

You can buy a phono pre-amp to take care of a lack of one on a receiver. However for 2ch only there is not much to nothing out there with a receiver. I do not know your budget but you could go get a 2ch amp (some great deals at your local music store like Sam Ash or Guitar Center) for some pro audio studio montor amps and just plug your cd player into it or use the phono pre-amp for the turntable.

Designer

Thanks for the feedback. That unit does have all the features I want and is the one I'm leaning toward.

Designer

This sounds interesting.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/tes...tereo-receiver

Needs the phono preamp ($129 or $199 for digital) and ipod dock ($159), all conveniently supplied separately by NAD. Total $1130. SRP.

http://nadelectronics.com/products/h...o-Preamplifier

Only 50x2 watts, but supposed to have some "magic" power. I always considered NAD a good name.

Hmmm.

Ken D

+1. There are a lot of really nice integrated receivers out there, both solid-state and tube. But very few will have an integrated tuner. If you're willing to give up the tuner section then there are a lot more options available.

NAD is a good brand, and the new Marantz stuff is really nice.

aeshultz

You can shop through the forums a bit - a lot manufacturers have gone to direct sales with the continued demise of high-end audio stores.
There is some good stuff out there.

Designer

I'm getting the Arcam A38 integrated amp and T32 tuner. I have their Solo in my studio and it sounds great on the Martin Logans.

Thanks for the "course correction".

A.Wayne

Listen to emotiva before you do .................very reasonably priced ....

http://emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm

sgnl05

I've got the Cambridge Audio 650R pulling double duty for audio & video.
It's got tons of connections both analog and digital - digital coax, optical, RCA, component, S-Video for each input.
I plan to break out the 2 channel from the home theatre in the future.

Serge944

Yeeeeah Buddy!

I was just about to recommend the A38. I'm using it to power a pair of Gallo Reference 3.1. Great AMP.

There's a guy on Audiogon "Zydo" that deals Arcam stuff and he's pretty reasonable: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ated-Just-redu

Designer

I looked at Cambridge. They seem to have a good name.
(The back of that thing is nuts! A bit much for my needs )

sgnl05

Cambridge makes a great product at a very good price. Of course, if I had a bigger budget I would be shopping for a 2ch rig. Good luck with the new receiver.

Designer

Excellent. Thanks.

Since the last of the high-end audio stores closed around here, shopping for components isn't much fun without a lot of driving. Yeah, the web provides reviews & specs – but you can't hear them. Plus I never heard of most of the stuff out there. Spending 3 times as much money as you planned on spending for audio equipment should be fun!

(Cool speakers by the way.)

911Jeff

Let me disclose ..I am a Rotel Dealer.
Rotel is known for great value in high performance audio....
Check out the RC 1550 and RC 1580 two channel preamps and the RB 1552 and RB1582 Classic two channel amps.
Also, the Krell integrated amp is an amazing piece for $2500 (yes, I am a Krell dealer too)....but does not have phono on board like the Rotels......