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Thread: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Lo people

    I've been garnering good advice on amps recently but am struggling to fulfill the actual deal.

    What I need is a stereo amp, NO pre amp, so an integrated amp, from a good reputable company, that I can pick up on ebay or similar.

    Budget is between £30 and £150. Minimum 4 source inputs.

    Have been looking for Nad 3020's on the bay, but they're going for a tad more money tha I feel is justified for them. Might get lucky but not so far.


    What other's should I be looking at.

    Have had a Cambridge Azure but it's died and it unfixable.

    Power from 30W to around 100w per channel It'll never be on flat out tbh. It's used for music, TV, Guitar Hero and Wii.

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

  2. #2
    Formerly known as Zap. Stephen C's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Which Azur did you have?
    I was going to suggest the Cambridge Audio Azur 340ASE

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Azure 640

    trouble is they don't seem to last as long as perhaps they should. I've read several online failures, and while it's inevitable that some should die.. I'm not entirely confident in them.

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

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    Grumpy and VERY old :( g8ina's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Stick out for a NAD. Im on my third - not cuz they die, cuz folk kept offering me silly money for them. I now have an original 3020A, boot sale, 20 quid.
    Cheers, David



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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    I'm surprised at the Cambridge failing. I've got a DVD drive that is not only years old, but still a cracker of a drive. But then, it's a DVD not an amp.

    Other than Cambridge, I too would have said NAD, but then, I'm hopelessly out of date.

    One other thought is to hunt around for good quality old equipment. A friend of mine keeps threatening to part with an old Quad setup he's had unused in his loft, together with a pair of LS3/5As. It works perfectly, apparently. And no, I've got first dibs on it if he ever gets off his chuff and sells it.

    But you can, with care, pick up some right gems at pretty silly money.

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    Senior Member kushtibari's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    NAD 3020 is getting a bit oild now so reliability might be an issue. Harmon Kardon, Sony, Rotel make some very decent well built kit thats available for decent money.

    Theres a German seller on Ebay - think its leipzig or something like that who always has a rake of decent old Japanese 70/80/90's stuff.

    Some of the older Arcam amps are well within budget as well. Decent amps with a nice sound.

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    Zak33 (19-07-2010)

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    boop, got your nose stevie lee's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAD-C340-Integ...item2c55dce313 £25

    or

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAD-C352-Integ...item4aa30964bd 99p

    cant go wrong for 99p unless it doesnt work, then you can go wrong.

    I have a C340 connected to PC along with some B&w 601's. Very atmospheric in games, the windows sounds make a very solid 'ding' noise too.

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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    I have a 10 year old denon pma-250se sitting here that needs a good home.

    Perfect for what u want and will be cheap as chips.

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Quote Originally Posted by stevie lee View Post
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAD-C340-Integ...item2c55dce313 £25

    or

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAD-C352-Integ...item4aa30964bd 99p

    cant go wrong for 99p unless it doesnt work, then you can go wrong.

    I have a C340 connected to PC along with some B&w 601's. Very atmospheric in games, the windows sounds make a very solid 'ding' noise too.
    oh but that they stayed at those prices by auction end....

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Quote Originally Posted by kushtibari View Post
    NAD 3020 is getting a bit oild now so reliability might be an issue. Harmon Kardon, Sony, Rotel make some very decent well built kit thats available for decent money.

    Theres a German seller on Ebay - think its leipzig or something like that who always has a rake of decent old Japanese 70/80/90's stuff.

    Some of the older Arcam amps are well within budget as well. Decent amps with a nice sound.
    Arcam......oh good idea

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Quote Originally Posted by abaxas View Post
    I have a 10 year old denon pma-250se sitting here that needs a good home.

    Perfect for what u want and will be cheap as chips.
    and you have PM

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

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    Bonnet mounted gunsight megah0's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    If you are handy with diagnosing faults I have a Sherwood tuner/amp sitting here.

    Turns on and appears to operate fully.....but no sound is produced.

    Might be a simple fix
    Recycling consultant

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    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    ty mega0.. very kind but I'm looking for something a tad further up the audio tree if you catch my drift?

    thanks tho

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    I've always found Rotel offer excellent bang for your buck and produce a very nice sound.

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    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed


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    Re: Integrated Stereo Amp suggestions needed

    Quote Originally Posted by GheeTsar View Post
    I've always found Rotel offer excellent bang for your buck and produce a very nice sound.
    Go back far enough and I'd have to disagree. They were cheap as chips, and sounded hard as nails .... IMHO, of course.

    I looked at a Rotel, and ended up buying a Yamaha. This was, oh, 1970-something. Still got it, and it still works a treat, too.

    But Rotel did improve a LOT since those days.

    Not sure I'd put them in with NAD though, and certainly not with ArCam if Zak find find a good one. And on the ArCam line, what about AudioLab (preferably 8000S)? Or even Musical Fidelity Or Naim Nait?

    Or you could delve back into the depths opf time and look for a decent Lecson pre/power combo?

    Just be careful with the older gear, for problems with things like input selectors, and noisy (dirty) volume controls.

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