You should be OK with the A90, I haven't checked the numbers. If for some reason you find your new amp acts a bit like the Denon at high volumes, at least I've suggested where to look.
I don't think we have discussed room size and your listening distance here... they can both have an effect. If you're well away from the speakers and listen loud, it makes a difference to the required power. Shouldn't matter with the new amp though!
Using a $10 multimeter.
I agree, the Krell amplifiers sound wonderful (and the Cambridge amps are very good, too). However, it is fundamental to the ethos of this site that they sound no different from the Denon 600ne, which at 45w RMS will drive the Kef Q950 quite adequately.
This conclusion is supported by the evidence. So long as neither amplifier exhibits an uneven frequency response, high noise floor, is malfunctioning or being driven to clipping, listeners will consistently fail to distinguish between them under controlled ABX conditions. I suggest that you have a look at the essential AES reading thread.To say that the Krell sounds the same as the Denon. Even if we put aside the brand, a high-end pure Class A amp sounds the same as a budget Class D....
1 face palm is not enough....
To say that the Krell sounds the same as the Denon. Even if we put aside the brand, a high-end pure Class A amp sounds the same as a budget Class D....
1 face palm is not enough....
I agree with you. The caveat is that the Denon will almost certainly be clipping at normal listening levels in a normal sized room.This conclusion is supported by the evidence. So long as neither amplifier exhibits an uneven frequency response, high noise floor, is malfunctioning or being driven to clipping, listeners will consistently fail to distinguish between them under controlled ABX conditions. I suggest that you have a look at the essential AES reading thread.
I agree with you. The caveat is that the Denon will almost certainly be clipping at normal listening levels in a normal sized room.
Why bother with these wimpy integrated amps in the first place?But what are "normal" listening levels and what is a "normal" sized room? There are obviously huge variations in both, judging by posts here.
Why bother with these wimpy integrated amps in the first place?
Limited budget? At least for some people, probably even *most* people. But yeah, even with my budget, it's not something I would buy. But apparently some people do.
IMO most of these "integrated" amps are fairly expensive for the functionality they provide. Better ways to go than the marketing promise of "better" sound quality. Budget certainly comes into it but so many options these days....
What, you can't find them? They're all over the place, depends where in the audiophilia hurt curve you are.Care to give some examples?
Why bother with these wimpy integrated amps in the first place?
Why bother with these wimpy integrated amps in the first place?
It's the same with many of these underpowered amps with "High current." They cost $650 in Canada for the Denon PMA-600NE and it's advertised as, "Advanced Ultra High Current Power." The manufacturers hype them up to make peeps believe they are buying something really high powered and the emagazines hype them too when it's simply another small amp. Look everywhere for this amp and it's 70W/ch with no mention of the impedance. The gullible and those that can't afford a real high current amp see this advertising and they think they are getting something really special for a lower price range. Just look at the prices at the Denon USA web page for the integrated amps where all of them are stated in 4R output with no mention of 8R output until one digs deeper into the specs.Why bother with these wimpy integrated amps in the first place?
It's the same with many of these underpowered amps with "High current." They cost $650 in Canada for the Denon PMA-600NE and it's advertised as, "Advanced Ultra High Current Power." The manufacturers hype them up to make peeps believe they are buying something really high powered and the emagazines hype them too when it's simply another small amp. Look everywhere for this amp and it's 70W/ch with no mention of the impedance. The gullible and those that can't afford a real high current amp see this advertising and they think they are getting something really special for a lower price range. Just look at the prices at the Denon USA web page for the integrated amps where all of them are stated in 4R output with no mention of 8R output until one digs deeper into the specs.
To be honest on August 7th when I googled the Denon PMA-600NE and I saw the 70W/ch rating and because class AB amps are pretty much always rated into 8 Ohms (8R) I thought it was rated at 70W@8 Ohms/ch. That confused me and I made the mistake of saying they should sound the same. What Denon is doing by rating them at 4 Ohms is sneaky and devious if not misleading. Because I thought it was a 70W@8 Ohms/ch I thought it should sound the same as the Cambridge Audio CXA80. I was wrong and did not double check the facts thoroughly. The difference in power output explains the difference you heard in the bass output. You've been mislead by Denon and the sources that rate this Denon so highly. It's happened to me in the past decades ago when I was unaware of the situation and had little experience cutting through the fog of purchasing audio gear. It's not your fault you trusted multiple sources all stating the same high opinion of the Denon. You did what you are supposed to do in good faith.And even here, half of you think I'm a lunatic for hearing different amps and that I need to get brain surgery for even mentioning that amps sound differently.
Reason why I splurged on a buckeye 502mp… let’s go 500W and see the difference shall weTo be honest on August 7th when I googled the Denon PMA-600NE and I saw the 70W/ch rating and because class AB amps are pretty much always rated into 8 Ohms (8R) I thought it was rated at 70W@8 Ohms/ch. That confused me and I made the mistake of saying they should sound the same. What Denon is doing by rating them at 4 Ohms is sneaky and devious if not misleading. Because I thought it was a 70W@8 Ohms/ch I thought it should sound the same as the Cambridge Audio CXA80. I was wrong and did not double check the facts thoroughly. The difference in power output explains the difference you heard in the bass output. You've been mislead by Denon and the sources that rate this Denon so highly. It's happened to me in the past decades ago when I was unaware of the situation and had little experience cutting through the fog of purchasing audio gear. It's not your fault you trusted multiple sources all stating the same high opinion of the Denon. You did what you are supposed to do in good faith.