Power Amplifier advice (Europe until 1.100 euro)

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by roxy17, Mar 6, 2023.

  1. roxy17

    roxy17 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    athens (GR)
    Hi,
    I would like to replace my vintage Harman Kardon PM645 power amplifier with something new. Interested in rock music, electronic music and classic music also! I also want to be able to offer bass sound. Music from CD and turntable mainly (i use a separate phono preamp), very rare to hear streaming from Spotify etc. I have read about Cambridge audio CXA81 but any other advice would be well acceptable.
    Thks
     
  2. ChefBrunch

    ChefBrunch Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hawaii
    What speakers you have now?

    The Harmon Kardon has great numbers for a lower power amp.

    I don't think you'll get much better sound unil you go up a little more in price.

    If you don't need a lot of inputs maybe you'll love the TEAC 505 integrated. The hypexNcore sounds great and can deliver for Electronica music.

    Or maybe a new NAD with hypex purifi
     
  3. Oelewapper

    Oelewapper Plays vinyl instead of installing it on the floor.

    How much power do you need and what speakers will you be driving with it?

    FWIW:
    As a fellow European, I’ve also been looking for a power amp in that pricerange about a year ago.
    But it seemed there wasn’t much to choose from…
    Eventually I decided to pony up some more dough and got a Parasound A23+ (€2100).
    Sounds great and easily drives my speakers.
     
    Glmoneydawg likes this.
  4. Glmoneydawg

    Glmoneydawg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ontario Canada
    Yep better to spend more upfront than spend less and waste time and money trying to correct the mistake.
     
    gakerty likes this.
  5. Pmds55889397

    Pmds55889397 Forum Resident

    Why not get a proper integrated amp like Exposure, Naim or Rega.
     
    MGW, MC Rag and frimleygreener like this.
  6. Naka9

    Naka9 music first audiophile

    Location:
    Portugal
    Exactly! :)
     
  7. popol_vuh

    popol_vuh Guest

    Not because I personally have it, but Quad's power amps such as 909 (or older 606, if it's refreshed) and the power amp that replaced 909 (the name escapes me) are incredibly good amps for the money they cost and a used 909 wold be below your budget. I'd always buy these in a heartbeat, true bargains and work very well even in context of much more expensive systems. Stuff like NAD, Harman Kardon, Yamaha etc. don't even come close and I wouldn't even look at cheaper Teac stuff, class D stuff and similar. If you fon't need as much power as 909 gives, power amps by Sugden and Exposure are great and used should fit yout budget.
     
    Iving likes this.
  8. Pmds55889397

    Pmds55889397 Forum Resident

    ^^this

    Always partner same brand pre & poweramps if you choose separates.
     
  9. Oscillation

    Oscillation Maybe it was the doses?

    Last edited: Mar 7, 2023
  10. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    Avoid class D amps like the plague if you want deep bass. Nothing is worse for electronica and the lowest two octaves of bass IME. It’s likely your current HK amp is capable of better bass than many class D options.

    The aforementioned Parasound is a better choice. The Marantz PM14S1 is also good if you can find one within your budget. That Vincent linked above is probably nice as well.

    Given your current speakers, I wouldn’t choose anything less than a class AB amp of 75WPC into 8 ohms.
     
    roxy17 and McLover like this.
  11. roxy17

    roxy17 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    athens (GR)
    Thank you all for your opinions, which I found so much helpful!:righton: Current speakers : Infinity RS 3001 (44HZ-22KHz, 6 ohms two way) vintage also! Have to read about all you mentioned above! Your opinion about these speakers and their usability for contemporary power amplifiers will be very appreciated. Unfortunately as I am now face a very serious health issue, I can't invest to a high value HI-FI.
     
  12. Mad shadows

    Mad shadows Forum Resident

    Location:
    Karlskrona- Sweden
    It might be beneficial but it's in no way mandatory.
     
    Iving likes this.
  13. roxy17

    roxy17 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    athens (GR)
    FYI, not interested in separate pre & poweramp, just on power amplifier. Power needed, i think no more than 80w at 8Ω.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2023
  14. GyroT

    GyroT Forum Resident

    Location:
    Italy
    Sorry to hear about your health, hope you find the amp and some peace of mind.
     
    jonwoody, Helom and roxy17 like this.
  15. bever70

    bever70 Let No-one Live Rent Free in Your Head!

    Location:
    Belgium
    So you would need an INTEGRATED poweramp?! Because you can't do much with just a power amplifier....
    Look for a Parasound Hint on the 2nd hand market.
     
  16. Pmds55889397

    Pmds55889397 Forum Resident

    This makes no sense
     
  17. roxy17

    roxy17 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    athens (GR)
    For me everything advised in the previous messages is very important for my searching!
     
  18. roxy17

    roxy17 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    athens (GR)
    Sory to mention but 2nd hand for Parasound Hint integrated in my place (Greece) is almost absolutely rare to find!
     
    bever70 likes this.
  19. MC Rag

    MC Rag Forum Resident

    Rega Elex r
     
    GyroT likes this.
  20. MC Rag

    MC Rag Forum Resident

    OP is looking for an integrated amp
     
    jonwoody likes this.
  21. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    I like the Elex-R as well. It’s a bit on the warm side, very musical and has decent current capability.
     
    GyroT and MC Rag like this.
  22. MC Rag

    MC Rag Forum Resident

    And it should be in budget for the OP. Currently selling for £750/€840 in the UK since the Mk4 version came out.
     
    GyroT likes this.
  23. MGW

    MGW Less travelling, more listening

    Location:
    Scotland, UK
    To try to cut through some misconceptions in the OP's post. What the OP currently has is an integrated amplifier (pre-amplifier and power amplifier in one box). In order to replace it, OP, you will need either:
    1. An integrated amplifier (hence some of the suggestions above), or
    2. A pre-amplifier and a power amplifier.
     
    GyroT likes this.
  24. Pmds55889397

    Pmds55889397 Forum Resident

    But asking for a poweramp :D
     
    bever70 likes this.
  25. roxy17

    roxy17 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    athens (GR)
    What I am looking for is an amplifier (1 piece only) that can be offer me good sound quality (warm and bass friendly) to my system, but please limit will be 1.100 euro. (The reason I am only searching in euro, is because of the huge import taxes I should have to pay if I order from USA, Canada, U.K, or everywhere else outside Eurozone.
    Thank you again all
     

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