Thread: Hifi amplifier question

Originally Posted by superquag

But if you want musicality & warmth... then a 5 to 10 watt valve amp is the only way to go.

absolutely - was just talking about balancing out sharp / clinical amps.

Fwiw I'd love some big valve monoblocks but I've yet to hear some I like that I cam afford. The ones un my price range either have a limited range (you loose the bass) or go a bit muddy.

I was sure there would be an amp thread on here ... a few months back all my audio gear went for a swim .... For the last 20+years I've had an old (well it was new when I got it) yamaha natural sound amp, richter unicorn center, series I ricther wizards as mains and richter hydras as rears. They have been used every single day for the last 20+ years and never needed to be touched (no tv we have ever owned has had the sound turned up). For music I had an old NAD CD player ( it sounded fabulous)....

anyway, I'm looking around at the amps... I'm NOT and audiophile .. I'm not interested in buying "exotics" that my wife will struggle to use and operate ... I've been looking through the amps on ebay ... The NADs (which I was keen on) are either very expensive (high end) or the reviews you read online aren't that great.

Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver, THX Select2 Plus Certified 751398009341 | eBay

I spotted an Onkyo which I thought could be brilliant.... I read the review that all said "really good ... pitty the thing dies and is unreiable" .... sigh ... Well that is why its avaialbe "refurbished" I guess

Yamaha RX-V681 AV Receiver - 7.2CH 90Wx7 with Dolby Atmos and DTS-X | eBay

what do people think of the modern yamahas ... This seems to have good features and enough power. I'll not be upgrading from a 5speaker surround system (I drive my wife crazy enough with speakers all over the place as it it without going to Atmos) ...

I spotted a pair of brand new Richter Dragons on ebay last week with a mark on one speaker for $995 that I clicked "buy it now" on the second I saw them ..... Then found out they are WAY bigger than I was thinking when they arrived This means I better not try to push my luck any further .... certainly I wont mention I'd like to get a subwoofer as well for a while ... But hey, on the plus side ... The Dragons are brilliant!

seeya,
Shane L.