Recommend me a new stereo intergrated amp under $500

I've been looking at these too. I was in the Audio Lab in Harvard Square today. He has them on order and is selling for $700 pre-paid. I'm pretty sure he said 700, but my 5-year-old was tugging at my leg. He did say the price is good until Sunday.

 

$700 seems insanely good. I paid $895 for me (that's including free shippign and with no sales tax, which ain't nothing)

 

Tell me about it. I'm going to verify the price tomorrow and I might pull out a credit card. 6.25% sales tax brings it up to ~ $740.

Where'd you get yours?

 

Needledoctor. They actually have it listed at $995 but were happy to pricematch the lower price on other sites.

 

But you end off happier in the end anyway...

I have a all Rega system and the individual components work well together and the whole plays bigger than the sum of its parts.

 

Yea, absolutely. That's the conclusion I ultimately came to. I'm sure the Yamahas and Onkyos are perfectly nice unit, but the Rega is ultimately the closest to what I wanted...basically a power amp with a an input switcher and volumn knob. No EQ, no DSP, nothing I don't absolutely require in the signal path.

 

I was attracted to the same lack of features! And the phono preamp is very good as well, what Rega TT do you have? Next you will likely want the Rega DAC, a new version is about to released with asynchronous USB. I have the older version but I don't use USB anyway. As I indicated the Rega stuff really plays well together.

 

Highly hotroded RP-1... magic voodoo white belt, Groovertracer acrylic platter, Nagaoka MP-110 cart w/ MP-200 stylus/cantilever.

 

I have a RP1 "performance" and a RP6. I wouldn't part with either (the RP6 is paired with my Brio R). After it settles in let us know how you like it.

 

I listened to a Yamaha 2-channel receiver about a year ago during the process of auditioning speakers. The model is R-S700, 100 watts / channel, ~ 500.00 MSRP. It sounded cleaner, louder, deeper and more dynamic than most amplifiers under 1K. It sounded better than the Rega Elicit R, which costs 3K.

 

There's 4 different models ranging in price from $130-$500. Though Amazon sells refurb models of the S700 for $400.

How's the phono stage? Any idea?

Is it the same as the A-S500 but with an FM receiver built-in?

 

Here's the one I am talking about- http://www.crutchfield.com/p_022RS700/Yamaha-R-S700.html?tp=47041
No idea about phono stage.
It is not the same as the A-S500- it played louder and had a warmer deeper bass that the A-S500 in a direct A-B comparison at the dealer on the same speakers (Paradigm Monitor 11, GREAT speakers BTW). It sounded amazing and I often think if it actually sounded better than the amp I have (NAD C356).

 

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www.accessories4less.com

 

Yeah, Amazon has those refurbished for $400. Tempting.

 

I have an AS500 Scored it new for $286 shipped and I adore it. Used for vinyl playback mostly. Recently I got a cambridge 651p $229 phono pre amp and it really wasn't any better at all. That makes me think either the 651p is junk or the as500 phono stage is pretty damn good. I moved onto a Lounge MK III and that was a huge leap but I would say the phono stage is better than most would think or expect on these yamahas.

 

I've had an R-S700 for a few years now, although similar in build to the A-S500, it's not an A-S500 with a tuner. The 700 is a nice sounding unit for the price, but the phono stage is nothing special to speak of, it's the weakest point.

 

I have a practically brand new Consonance M99 Plus 6L6 intergrated A/B amp for $750. Haggling is not frown upon

 

Do you have experience with the A-S series? Is it better?

 

I've not heard one myself.

 

But...I would think or hope the RS700 is a step above the AS500 sonically, I would guess the phono stage is the same shared with all these units in this range as well most of the amp/preamp topology, just the power output stage being greater power with the more expensive ones.

 

My old Adcom GFP 565 preamp phono stage makes the RS 700 phono sound like a kiddie toy, and my guess is the same phono stage is used in the AS500 as well as others in this series, so.....it's nothing special, but..... it is fairly quiet.

 

Everybody is different. Then again, Pure Audio does that for me on my Onkyo. It's nice to have the option. And useful.

 

Well, my impulsive got the best of me. I pulled the trigger on a Marantz PM5005. Amazon had an open box unit in "like new" condition for $375. Should be here in 2 days. Figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try at home. Can always send it back...

 

It's heeeere.

Initial impressions are that this is pretty awesome....

Sampled so far...

First couple of tracks off the new AC/DC record (vinyl, using the built-in phono pre)
Various classical and rock I'm familiar with via Tidal

Versus the old Kenwood surround receiver I was using, I've noticed frequency extension in both directions...a noticable increase in low bass, which is welcome, as my Polk's are rather bass-shy. Lots of crispy top end....things like snare hits are really great sounding. Noticeable improvement in resolution too.

Plenty of power too....my old Kenwood claimed 100 watts per channel, and I was routinely going past 50% on volume... on the Rega even 11 o'clock is louder than I'd want to spent lots of time listenting at...

 

Now you know why so many of us have a Brio-R as our prime mover. And why things like power ratings aren't the last word in performance. Congrats and best of luck with it...