New amp...Watt to do?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Bolster, Nov 9, 2019.

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  1. Bolster

    Bolster If it ain't broke try harder.. Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    I've had my Yamaha A-S501 just over 4 years now and I'm getting the upgrade bug (no known cure) again.

    I originally thought about upgrading to the Cambridge Audio CXA80 and CXC, as it's now being discounted. However as the matching network player is still a bit pricey, it's a quite a bit over my budget and grounds for divorce.

    A more wife friendly option is the Marantz PM, CD and NA6006 series. The only thing that bothers me is the low power output of the PM6006 when compared to the A-S501. This may or may not be a bad thing as my listening room is just over 3 metres square, plus the Marantz amp is said to be mellow sounding according to some reviews.

    Any ideas, should I pull the trigger?
     
    CrazyCatz likes this.
  2. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    You'll need to enter the $1500+ range of integrateds to get a notable improvement IME. I recommend trying to audition a Rega Elex-R somewhere. I'm not certain it'd be better, as I couldn't compare them side-by-side, but I liked what I heard with the Elex-R driving some Maggie .7s.
     
    hi_watt and Bolster like this.
  3. Archimago

    Archimago Forum Resident

    Let's see.

    Your Wharfedale Diamond 230's in your profile are quite efficient speakers at 88dB/W/m (8 ohms nominal). The Marantz PM6006 are rated at 45W into 8-ohms.

    What you could do is plug in some numbers to a calculator like this:
    Amplifier Power Calculator
    And see how much power you might need. So for example, 88dB/W/m, sitting 3m (~10') away which is more than what you'd be doing, average 80dB SPL, 12dB headroom, you only need 1.5W power with burst to 23W. So for those parameters, the Marantz seems just fine.

    Another thing you can try is what I talked about awhile back with estimating power needs like this:
    Archimago's Musings: MUSINGS: How much amplifier power do you really "need"? Why not test for yourself?

    Most folks (~70%) seem to be happy with <25W based on the survey results.

    All the best...
     
    timind, warp2600 and Bolster like this.
  4. D700

    D700 Just Add Scotch

    Location:
    USA
  5. DEG

    DEG Sparks ^^^

    Location:
    Lawrenceville Ga.
    Class D power amps are much improved these days, they don't hardly way much, and the sonics are said to be fantastic. Or check out Schiit products - made in the USA and are great, I have their mid line d:a and it sounds excellent! Happy shopping!
     
    jeffsab likes this.
  6. Bolster

    Bolster If it ain't broke try harder.. Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Thanks, that's plenty to for me to check out.
     
    timind likes this.
  7. The Pinhead

    The Pinhead KING OF BOOM AND SIZZLE IN HELL

    Lateral move.
     
    head_unit likes this.
  8. rebellovw

    rebellovw Forum Resident

    Location:
    hell
    I'd give tubes a shot.
     
    BrentB likes this.
  9. sotosound

    sotosound Forum Resident

    How is Schiit pronounced?
     
    Heckto35, jeffsab and BrentB like this.
  10. sublemon

    sublemon Forum Resident

    there is a cure, and that is to buy a great amp... once you have a great amp it should be one of the components you don't need to change until it dies or etc.
     
    timind likes this.
  11. sublemon

    sublemon Forum Resident

    look for a used pass labs amp and a good preamp
     
  12. jawaka1000

    jawaka1000 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Netherlands
    ****
     
    Heckto35, hi_watt and Veni Vidi Vici like this.
  13. rockclassics

    rockclassics Senior Member

    Location:
    Mainline Florida
    Exactly how you would expect.

    Rhymes with bit.
     
    Heckto35 likes this.
  14. Balthazar

    Balthazar Forum Resident

    Keep the Yamaha and shop for new speakers if you want a big change.
     
    Shiver, warp2600 and head_unit like this.
  15. head_unit

    head_unit Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles CA USA
    Agreed
    Also super duper agreed. That Yamaha seems very nice, I'd focus on upgrading the speakers. If you don't think you can, wait and save up more. Really, you don't seem dissatisfied with your system, you just have the upgrade bug. And, nothing against your Wharfedales which I'm guessing are good for the money, but there is a lot of improvement available on the speaker side whereas those current speakers might not be revealing enough for an amp upgrade. Just my gut feels.
     
    Archguy and jeffsab like this.
  16. Bolster

    Bolster If it ain't broke try harder.. Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Just one
    Not entirely sure about the speaker upgrade route, but what I will say is that I have never been entirely convinced by the AS501 and have generally found it a bright for my taste and also tiring over extended listening.

    I used to have a Pioneer A300R and this always returned a warm sound and was seemed very capable despite its low(?) power.

    I guess I'm looking to the marantz to recapture that warmth, do you think this amp will play nicely with the wharfedales?
     
  17. As you are in the UK give Cyrus amps a listen. I Love them and i am sure you will find a local dealer who will let you audition their range of amps.
     
  18. weavzy

    weavzy Needle Dropper

    Get a Yamaha AS1100.

    I got a mate who had the 501. He upgraded to the As1100.

    ...last time i saw him he was trying to make out with it...

    Ok, That's not true, but the massage is clear: He loves it.

    And I love mine...but like a brother...nothing weird.
     
  19. Bolster

    Bolster If it ain't broke try harder.. Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    oooh those meters!
     
  20. warp2600

    warp2600 Forum Addict

    Location:
    Hungary
    Great thread title.
     
    Melvin likes this.
  21. onemug

    onemug Forum Resident

    With that small of a room, I'd put the emphasis on the quality of the 'whats per channel'(*) more than the amount of them.



    * someone had to do it. :D
     
    Bolster and The Pinhead like this.
  22. The Pinhead

    The Pinhead KING OF BOOM AND SIZZLE IN HELL

    So it's what, 1.5X 1.5 ?!

     
    Bolster likes this.
  23. Bolster

    Bolster If it ain't broke try harder.. Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK

    Agreed, so the question is 45 Marantz watts or 85 Yamaha watts? ... or something else :sigh:

    Also re room size its 3m x 3m
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2019
  24. Bolster

    Bolster If it ain't broke try harder.. Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK
    Ha ha looks about the right size... however, my bad, the room is 3m x 3m which is still a bit on the small side.
     
  25. The Pinhead

    The Pinhead KING OF BOOM AND SIZZLE IN HELL

    This is not mockery. This little amp is all it would take to pressurize your room. Please convince your wife to let you put the system in the living room.
     
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