Should i replace my stereo amplifier? and with what?

[Eastgrove]

Hello friendly ASR people!

I have from the information i have read from this forum bought a dac/headphone amplifier and headphone that i am satisfied with. But when i try to read up on different stereoamplifiers and/with DACs i feel completely lost. When i look at the reviews that Amir have done there is i limited options that is recommended in a lower pricerange.

What i have today is:
Speakers: Dali Ikon 7 mk1
Amplifier: Arcam A65 Plus

My problem is that my Arcam have ha "crackling" noise from turning the volume knob and a glitch on the right speaker out. I have found a company that is willing the repair it but the examination cost will be 65€ and i dont know what the end cost will be to fix it. A guesstimate would be around 175€.

So my questions is how much a amplifier with the same performance whould cost today?
I would also need to buy a DAC. for example Topping D10 for my current setup so thats another 100€. So if a future amplifier would have a integrated DAC that would be worth atleast 150€ for me(one less thingy).

Amirs measurements showed that the Yamaha WXA-50 did decent and has a lot of nice features.

If i decide to go for a new Amplifier with intregrated/seperated DAC what other options is there?
My budget is a maximum of 700€.
It would preferable ba a all in one solution because it looks nicer and is more user friendly(way higher WAF).

 

[Kevin1956]

Not sure of the pricing in Europe, but I would suggest looking at this:

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/r-n803/index.html

 

[JeffS7444]

Have you also considered an A/V receiver such as this?
http://www.denon.com/en-us/product/av-receivers/avr-x2700h
Denon and Marantz AVRs can be configured to work with as few as 2 speakers, and still allow the use of Audessy room correction. Halfway decent DACs and amplifiers tend to sound pretty much alike, but room correction can make a substantial sonic improvement.

Downside: Some functions may assume the presence of a TV set and be tricky to navigate without one, but for simply changing sources and volume it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Eastgrove]

Not sure of the pricing in Europe, but I would suggest looking at this:

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/r-n803/index.html

I have looked in to its little brother. Seen alot of comments that it isnt good value for money. But i do like how it look and it tick all boxes.

 

[Kevin1956]

I have looked in to its little brother. Seen alot of comments that it isnt good value for money. But i do like how it look and it tick all boxes.

I don’t think it’s little brother has YPAO room correction, and therefore doesn’t have YPAO Volume, both features I highly recommend. Value for money is something only you should decide, since the money is yours!

 

[Eastgrove]

Have you also considered an A/V receiver such as this?
http://www.denon.com/en-us/product/av-receivers/avr-x2700h
Denon and Marantz AVRs can be configured to work with as few as 2 speakers, and still allow the use of Audessy room correction. Halfway decent DACs and amplifiers tend to sound pretty much alike, but room correction can make a substantial sonic improvement.

Downside: Some functions may assume the presence of a TV set and be tricky to navigate without one, but for simply changing sources and volume it shouldn't be a problem.

I will use it connected to a TV so navigation wont be a problem. It is a little pricey thou.

 

[Wes]

what kind of volume knob is it? can you clean it with Dexoxit or similar?

 

[ZolaIII]

@Eastgrove take a look at Denon PMA-XXXNE lineup and how it suits you. Shouldn't be nothing special regarding performance (SINAD of 82~86 dB) still not bad either, does have a DAC (Optical/Coaxial input only), sub out and cetera.

 

[JeffS7444]

I will use it connected to a TV so navigation wont be a problem. It is a little pricey thou.

I just intended that model as an example. But at least in the USA, AVRs are often available at substantial discounts once newer models are announced.

 

[Eastgrove]

what kind of volume knob is it? can you clean it with Dexoxit or similar?

I have no idea. But that is the smaller problem. The glitch is the reason i feel forced to do something about my amplifier.

 

[Chrispy]

Can you describe the glitch in the right speaker terminal more?

 

[Eastgrove]

Can you describe the glitch in the right speaker terminal more?

Maybe glitch isnt the right word. It sound as it has a little to little power. No bass, lower treble and all around more hollow.

 

[Eastgrove]

@Eastgrove take a look at Denon PMA-XXXNE lineup and how it suits you. Shouldn't be nothing special regarding performance (SINAD of 82~86 dB) still not bad either, does have a DAC (Optical/Coaxial input only), sub out and cetera.

Interesting. Are they measured om any website?

 

[Wes]

Yamaha

 

[ZolaIII]

Interesting. Are they measured om any website?

PMA-50 whose mesured hire properly:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-measurements-of-denon-pma-50-amplifier.7940/
This is for PMA-600NE:
https://stereotest.nitschkeverlag.de/images/measurement/001767-0.jpg
You probably can find and for others including older NE and AN series.
Like I said 82~86 dB SINAD for analog line in (and eventually little more when using digital and DAC in it).

Edit: talk with more experienced people hire to try to get the one you already have fixed.

 

[Eastgrove]

PMA-50 whose mesured hire properly:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-measurements-of-denon-pma-50-amplifier.7940/
This is for PMA-600NE:
https://stereotest.nitschkeverlag.de/images/measurement/001767-0.jpg
You probably can find and for others including older NE and AN series.
Like I said 82~86 dB SINAD for analog line in (and eventually little more when using digital and DAC in it).

Edit: talk with more experienced people hire to try to get the one you already have fixed.

Thanks for the measurements. Im leaning towards having my old amplifier repaired.