Stereo Amp recommendation 300-500

Well PSB matches very well with NAD AMPs. So as for ur speakers, I would suggest u to go for NAD C326BEE. It's an awesome Stereo Amplifier and will match ur speakers well.

 

Thank You.
 

 

There is a NAD integrated amp a little cheaper than the 326. The 316.

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_745C316BEE/NAD-C-316BEE.html?tp=34948

 

No Phono(turntable) Output though. But the 326 doesn't have one either.

 

Other Integrated Amps to consider and they do have phono outputs if that's important to you.

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_779AM10B/Cambridge-Audio-Topaz-AM10.html?tp=34948

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_642PM5004/Marantz-PM5004.html?tp=34948

 

Or you could go with Stereo Receivers which have a Radio Tuner inside.

Integrated Amps don't have radio turners.

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_779SR10B/Cambridge-Audio-Topaz-SR10.html?tp=47041

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_642SR4023/Marantz-SR4023.html?tp=47041

 

I recently got myself some PSB tower speakers. I got the Marantz PM 5004 integrated amp I'm happy with it. I choose it because I already had the Marantz CD 5004 CD Player and I wanted to match components. I would like to try out the NAD though.

 

You can grab open box returned like new used PM 5004 for $297 off amazon.com if you went that way I would be sure to grab a Square Trade warranty for just in case reasons. $150 off normal price though.

http://www.amazon.com/Marantz-PM5004-Integrated-Amplifier-Black/dp/B003R7KMTC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1309492104&sr=1-1

 

 

You could try going locally used with yard sales or craigslist or maybe even pawn shops.

Not a fan of this path myself because usually stuff is heavily used, breaking down/falling apart and overpriced but you might find a good deal.

 

 

 

Edited by mibutenma - 6/30/11 at 9:04pm

Maybe think about something like this http://www.pacificvalve.us/MDMC84C07.html (which would give you the option of an amp/preamp and a headamp in one chassis).

 

 

Peete.

That amp won't power the PSB speakers.

5 watts per channel.

The PSB are suppose to have at the very least 20 watts per channel power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by mibutenma - 6/30/11 at 10:20pm

Don't buy new. Go shop amps at Audiogon - you'll get a great amp at a great price.

Of course, NAD is a good recommendation. Also check Adcom, Marantz, Bryston, and McIntosh. Yes, McIntosh. You can find some of their solid state amps under $500, like the MC2100 and MC2105. I might even suggest that those will appreciate, but don't hold me to it. But wouldn't it be cool to have a McIntosh in your rig?

If you're curious about tubes, look at the vintage integrateds from H.H. Scott and Stromberg-Carlson. They're well made and were high end stuff 50 years ago. You might want to get one before collectors catch on.

5 tube watts are a lot more powerful than you think...the PSB speakers are 90 db efficient so a 5 W RMS tube amp would likely be a decent match with them. PSB tends to make bright sounding speakers which is why I suggested a low powered tube amp for use with them ( to tame the dome tweeter in the Mk II's). You are correct that 5 W RMS would likely not be enough for really loud sessions but low level and even medium level SPL's could easily be a reality with the Ming Da.

 

Uncle Erik's suggestion of buying used is a wise direction to take provided you can actually find something half decent in that price bracket (vs the Ming Da for instance).....you will certainly gain a lot more bang for buck spent by buying used...the issue however is finding an amp in your price range on Audiogon...not many amps are under 400 USD that do not need some work of some kind ( and/or are mediocre performers at best, like old NAD/Yamaha, Pioneer, Carver etc). I've spent a lot of time lately on Audiogon checking out tube amps,ss amps and planar speakers with very few solid choices in the 400 and under bracket (in SS or tube amp ads).

 

Peete.

 

 

 

 

Edited by Pricklely Peete - 7/2/11 at 8:15pm

Well, Usually PSB Speakers are not at all bright sounding, PSB Speakers are neutral+warm sounding speakers with exceptional Vocals clarity. I have not heard such vocals in any speaker in this price range. May be this Alpha B1 is bright if it is so, so it could be lil bit bright. As for PSB Alpha B1, I would strongly recommend him "NAD C 326BEE Stereo Amplifier". As it is a known fact that PSB matches well with NAD AMPs as NAD is the sister company of PSB's or vice-versa. 

 

Now as far as tube AMP is concern which is only 5 watts/channel I think? It can drive these speakers but till what level I can't say. May be till 10 O' clock, 11 O' clock. That's it. But NAD C 326BEE can drive PSB Alpha 1 till 3 O' clock without losing a bit of juice coz I myself using this AMP but with PSB Image B6 which is almost as same as the PSB's Imagine Series speakers. PSB Image B6 is 150W/channel speakers.

 

Well I'm just going by what PSB says in the owners manual for their speakers and even then they recommend still around 40-50 watts for most listeners or more powerful amps for tower speakers at louder volumes.

And they say at the very least to use over 20 watts so you don't blow the speakers out with low power from clipping.

For KellyBundy110 the NAD,Marantz,Cambridge Audio or other integrated amps that have more power would be a better match.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by mibutenma - 7/3/11 at 5:54pm

I've heard people call PSB flat.

My PSB tower speakers aren't bright either.

And your right the vocals are pretty special that's one of the first things that jumped out to me was the how great the vocals sounded on the PSB speakers.

 

 

 

PSB's are very neutral speaker with warmness all I can say they usually don't add itself anything in the music recording, they tend to show what's there in the music recording and serve u. PSB's speakers not known for bright character. They known for neutral with warmness with very very special vocals.

 

Which series PSB tower u have?

Image T6 it cost a bit but not too much.It's my first real speakers and I'm quite happy I don't even listen my headphones anymore since I got them.

Definitely one of if not the best entertainment purchase I've made.

I was for awhile thinking of going lower Alpha Tower but I finally decided just to get a little better really treat myself to something really nice.

 

 

 

 

Edited by mibutenma - 7/4/11 at 3:48pm

This floorstander has some serious sound quality. Floorstanders gives better imaging, soundstage, bass than standmounts/bookshelves. PSB's Image Series is almost as same as Imagine Series of PSB's in Sound Quality about 60-70%. Though I have read in some online reviews site that Image series is equal to Imagine Series if not better in Sound Quality.

 

Yes standmounts/bookshelves or Floorstanders are any day better than Headphones.

 

Yeah I've seen a few reviews/thoughts of the Image T6 towers being better than the Imagine T

A few who even favored Image T5 over the T6.

The Image t6 does have a midrange driver and a inch bigger woofers than the Imagine T.

The Imagine T tower doesn't have a midrange driver and the woofers are higher up off the ground than T6.

So maybe placement is effecting sound in which people favor different models.

Anyways I'm really happy with the sound of the T6 I'm a bit surprised the company isn't more popular.

 

I see some people buying PSB just for movies/tv ehh I think they cost too much for that.

Music yes. Just movies/TV? I would go with some cheaper tower speakers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by mibutenma - 7/4/11 at 10:40pm

Yes so which AMP u are using with ur towers to power them?