Need amp recommendation

[BDOGG]

Need suggestions for an amp to drive Elac DBR62. Budget is $600. Was thinking about Yamaha AS 501, but I'm reading I might need more power. Open to power amp suggestions and integrated options. I will buy a streamer and I have a Pro-Ject TT. Room is 15x20, I don't typically blast music. I will add a subwoofer eventually, probably next year.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Go with the Yamaha. It’s a well-built and, in my opinion, good looking amplifier that will handle the Elacs' impedance drop without any trouble. Its technical design remains virtually unchanged from Yamaha’s tried-and-true approach from decades ago -a solid, reliable, and conservative choice.

It also features variable loudness compensation, which I believe you’ll come to appreciate a great deal.

 

[Blumlein 88]

I might suggest an AVR. Stereo integrateds just aren't a good place in the market these days. Something like this:

Denon AVR-S670H

5.2-channel home theater receiver with Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Apple AirPlay® 2, and Amazon Alexa compatibility

www.crutchfield.com

You get about as good an amp. Don't worry about unused channels. If you get a sub later this will make that easy to add. It has some room correction capability. It has built in DACs, digital inputs, pretty much everything you need other than speakers. Drawbacks are the user interface on such devices can be more complex initially. I know it makes no sense, they sell you 5.1 channels as cheap or cheaper than 2 channels. It is just where the integrated/receiver market is.

 

[BDOGG]

Thanks for the input. In the future I want to go with a modular setup with some monoblock power amps and a preamp, but for now I hope the Yamaha will do the job.

 

[mhardy6647]

I might suggest an AVR. Stereo integrateds just aren't a good place in the market these days. Something like this:

Denon AVR-S670H

5.2-channel home theater receiver with Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Apple AirPlay® 2, and Amazon Alexa compatibility

www.crutchfield.com

You get about as good an amp. Don't worry about unused channels. If you get a sub later this will make that easy to add. It has some room correction capability. It has built in DACs, digital inputs, pretty much everything you need other than speakers. Drawbacks are the user interface on such devices can be more complex initially. I know it makes no sense, they sell you 5.1 channels as cheap or cheaper than 2 channels. It is just where the integrated/receiver market is.

The only issues I'd raise with an AVR -- 1) more stuff innately to go wrong stuffed into one, not inexpensive box, and 2) more heat per unit volume (even if some of the AVR features aren't being used).

That said, I do use this dump-find monstrosity as the go-to two channel power plant for the less important, less sensitive/harder-to-drive loudspeakers at my house.



It is not too fully packed inside (cf. "modern" AVR construction)

 

[BDOGG]

That thing looks like the 90's, and it's awesome.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Thanks for the input. In the future I want to go with a modular setup with some monoblock power amps and a preamp, but for now I hope the Yamaha will do the job.

It will -and it’ll look and feel great in the process.