Good amp with Monitor Audio Platinum PL100 II?

[JustAnAudioLover]

Hi there!

I currently have the possibility to purchase a pair of Monitor Audio Platinum PL100 II speakers, second hand, for € 1990. Given that's the price the new Gold 50 go for new, it seems like a pretty amazing price.

Now, my current "amp" is a Denon X1700H receiver. I listen to speakers at a pretty low volume, living in an apartment. For reference, with my current Monitor Audio Bronze 200 (88 dB / 2.83 V @ 1m ; 8 Ohms) I set the volume to about 40~45%, sometimes I go up to 50%.

I was wondering it this amp would work well for the PL100 II? They are rated for 88 dB (1W @ 1m ; 6 Ohms) with a recommended power of 120W.

And would it leave some sound quality to the table compared to an actual, high-quality stereo amplifier? Something like a high-end Naim or NAD for instance. I'm wondering as I can't seem to find any definitive answers on that matter - some people say the difference in sound quality between an AVR and a good integrated stereo amp is HUGE, while other say no one should be able to tell them apart.

Any though? Thanks in advance!

 

[DVDdoug]

some people say the difference in sound quality between an AVR and a good integrated stereo amp is HUGE, while other say no one should be able to tell them apart.

An amplifier doesn't normally have a "sound" (ignoring tone controls, EQ, room correction, etc.). Or of course if you are overdriving an amplifier into clipping/distortion. If there is a difference it's usually noise (hum, hiss, or whine in the background).

On the other hand, speakers (and different rooms) always sound different.

See Audiophoolery.

With both speakers rated at 88dB they will have equal loudness at the same volume settings (assuming the amp can drive the lower 6-Ohm load). But if one has more bass it it will sound "more powerful".

The volume control percentage doesn't tell you anything. Some program material is louder than others and different amplifiers have different gain, etc. Typically, the amplifier will hit its maximum and clip at less than 100%.

 

[JustAnAudioLover]

So when you have a warmer-sounding amplifier, the 'warmer' aspect is created by voluntarily adding some noise into the output?