Need help looking for amplifier

[franck31]

Hi buddies!

I'm searching for an amplifier capable of driving my Klipsch SB1 speakers. I don't really care much about HDMI or TOSLINK since I can buy a DAC. I'm looking for a solid base so I can upgrade to better speakers someday.

Here are the options I'm considering:

• NAD 316BEE
• NAD C320
• Marantz SR560
• Denon AVR2310
• Pionner A20
• FOSI V3 + P3

Are any of these a good option, or should I look at something from AliExpress like SAML, Ayima, Amplifiers are not cheap in my country, so I really need opinions before making a purchase.

Thank you!

 

[XpanD]

Where are you from, and do you have a (rough) budget in mind? Don't have any recommendations myself, but that should help get the topic started.

 

[xaviescacs]

Solid means durable and reliable? What about including Yamaha? I've had the NAD 316BEE, no problems at all with it after 18 years. I can't say the same with Pioneer. Do you have a turntable?

 

[franck31]

South-America, Argentina. There is no much options and this options are arround 300-500 US dollars.

Solid means durable and reliable -> yes, I mean a solid base so tomorrow I can get better speakers

Do you have a turntable? -> no I want to use it with my media center my PC with a DAC or something like that

 

[xaviescacs]

Then, my personal choice would be a NAD without DAC and phono input. It's also relatively small and in my experience is rock solid. The 316BEE isn't very powerful though, and that could limit your choices in the future, but unless space is very big or you expect high SPL, I don't think it will be a problem.

In fact, my truly personal choice would be a Yamaha WXA-50 and use its app to play music, and not a computer. I hate computers as music players, but that's me.

 

[zonk]

Yamaha seems to be quite solid. Amir tested a Yamaha amplifier recently. Don't know if it is in your budget
Yamaha-A-S701-stereo-amplifier

 

[franck31]

Thanks so much for your recommendations! I can buy the Yamaha AS-301, which fits my budget and is available in my country.

The WXA-50 is pretty expensive here, around $980 USD. Maybe I could search for the AS-701 at the same price.

This might be a newbie question, but I don't understand why the FOSI audio amps rank so high. Do they sound better than these AB amplifiers, or is it more about cost/performance?

Thanks!

 

[gwing]

Thanks so much for your recommendations! I can buy the Yamaha AS-301, which fits my budget and is available in my country.

The WXA-50 is pretty expensive here, around $980 USD. Maybe I could search for the AS-701 at the same price.

This might be a newbie question, but I don't understand why the FOSI audio amps rank so high. Do they sound better than these AB amplifiers, or is it more about cost/performance?

Thanks!

They rank high because the rankings are based on SINAD measurements (their noise and distortion) and the FOSI amps are really good low distortion amps at a good price.

However all the top amps have distortion so low that there is no audible difference between them so choice between the amps can be made freely for price/appearance/available power/reliability - whatever is most important to you.

 

[franck31]

Thanks so much for your recommendations! I can buy the Yamaha AS-301, which fits my budget and is available in my country.

The WXA-50 is pretty expensive here, around $980 USD. Maybe I could search for the AS-701 at the same price.

This might be a newbie question, but I don't understand why the FOSI audio amps rank so high. Do they sound better than these AB amplifiers, or is it more about cost/performance?

Thanks!

Maybe in the future, I will play CDs or even vinyl, but to start, I will use my PC via TOSLINK or Chromecast Audio

Based on these prices, what would be the best choice here?

• Yamaha AS-301 -> 512.36 €
• Yamaha AS-701 -> 917.09 €
• Yamaha WXA-50 -> 890.21 €
• NAD 316BEE -> 465.38 €
• NAD C320 -> 345.20 €

 

[Mike_Trueman]

If you want a good cheap amp look for the SMSL AO300 amplifier with DAC. (I use these amp daily)

Here is my personal list of good amps with prices from Europe:

Audiolab 7000A
1299€
The ARCAM A15
1250€
Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II
1200€
Rotel A12MKII
1100€
Marantz MODEL M1
1000€
Marantz STEREO 70s
1000€
Cambridge Audio CXA61
850€
Rotel A11 MKII
800€
Denon Home Amp
800€
NAD D3045
750€
Sonos Amp
700€
Audiolab 6000A
625€
Pro-Ject MaiA S3
599€
Yamaha A-S701
550€
Sabaj A30a
500€
Yamaha A-S301
350€
WiiM Amp
350€
SMSL AO300
300€

 

[franck31]

If you want a good cheap amp look for the SMSL AO300 amplifier with DAC. (I use these amp daily)

Here is my personal list of good amps with prices from Europe:

Audiolab 7000A
1299€
The ARCAM A15
1250€
Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II
1200€
Rotel A12MKII
1100€
Marantz MODEL M1
1000€
Marantz STEREO 70s
1000€
Cambridge Audio CXA61
850€
Rotel A11 MKII
800€
Denon Home Amp
800€
NAD D3045
750€
Sonos Amp
700€
Audiolab 6000A
625€
Pro-Ject MaiA S3
599€
Yamaha A-S701
550€
Sabaj A30a
500€
Yamaha A-S301
350€
WiiM Amp
350€
SMSL AO300
300€

Im not in Europe, Im in South-America (Argentina) so my list is limited to what I can find using shiping via amazon or local resellers.

• Yamaha AS-301 -> 512.36 €
• Yamaha AS-701 -> 917.09 €
• Yamaha WXA-50 -> 890.21 €
• NAD 316BEE -> 465.38 €
• NAD C320 -> 345.20 €

 

[xaviescacs]

The Yamaha WXA-50 is a different beast. You have to decide if you want the DAC inside the AMP or not. Personally, unless you want a fancy thing like an RME, I would prefer the DAC inside the AMP. I mean, why not?

As for the rest of devices, more price means more power but also more connectivity, you may want/need or not. I would wait to buy a stand alone phono amp if any day you have a turntable, specially because you can control its quality independently of the amp, specially because at least the Yamahas have quite poor phono amp.

So you are faced with the classic decision of how much power do you want/need. Some will say as much as you can buy. That's not my path, but again that's me.

Again, I'll stick to the NAD 316BEE or the Yamaha WXA-50 taking into account power/price and capabilities. If you want to pay for more power the Yamaha AS-701 is your choice.

 

[xaviescacs]

Fresh news! NAD 316BEE review from Amir!

 

[Karlaka]

Im not in Europe, Im in South-America (Argentina) so my list is limited to what I can find using shiping via amazon or local resellers.

Hi Franck. How are you? I'm also argentine, but I write in English so as not to violate the forum rules. Have you bought an amplifier yet? If not, if you want, write me privately (or here) and I can give you some opinions. In fact, I have NAD, Fosi, Roksan, etc. amplifiers, so maybe we can come to some conclusions that might be useful to you.
Regards!