RecruitingGuy Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 All, I posted here a couple of weeks ago about setting up a modest office TT system. Your input was great, and I appreciate that! Very close to locking down either a Pro-Ject or Music Hall TT. And my total budget has gone over $700. What do you do. Now it's time to pick out the perfect amp. Again, it's not a big office, and it will never be played at a level you can hear more than 15 feet away, so high-power is not necessary. 2/3 of the time I'll listen through headphones, 1/3 of the time through speakers "at a reasonable level." The two sources will be turntable (either Pro-Ject or Music Hall most likely) and my MacBook for digital (so having a DAC, though I don't really know what that is, seems like a nice option ) So I am looking for an amp (or pre-amp / amp combo). My budget is pretty firm at $400 or less. Options I've seen and liked: Cambridge Audio Azur 351a with a DAC ($299 refurbished) Marantz PM5004 ($359) Re-built vintage NAD 3120 ($400 - rebuilt by someone who comes highly recommended and really knows his stuff) OR - go with a nice pre-amp / T-amp combo (which would probably come out to about $250-$300) - of which I assume there are all kinds of combinations. Given all the parameters I've thrown out there, please let me know suggestions you have, especially if I am missing something that I should obviously be considering! I really appreciate it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 My opinion only and not based on any real facts but If it was my money it would be the Cambridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 My opinion only and not based on any real facts but If it was my money it would be the Cambridge Jingoist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Avatar Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 not a helpful post, i know, but the marantz looks the nicest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Azur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 depending on what headphones you use, you might want to add an external headphone amp at some point. Nothing fancy required to get good results. I have a PM8004 and it ran my ATH-M50s and AKG Q701s with no issues/complaints, but I picked up some higher impedance HE-400s and pretty much have to run those on my Schiit Vali. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Jingoist! Empiricist actually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Good point about the headphone amp though and another option for that if you have the space is a good but cheap cassette deck as some of these tended to have surprisingly good headphone amps in them, I'm thinking anything decent quality 3 head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecruitingGuy Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 Thanks for the advice guys! For the record, I have the ATH-M40x headphones - they serve me very well for now. Not sure if that factors into what I would want to get, or not? What about a combination like this - which is substantially less than those above:Rolls VP 29 pre-amp (plug headphones directly into it): $50 PLUSSMSL SA-60 TPA3116 amp: $80 - amazon.com That's only $130 total, which is attractive, but would the Azur 351a just blow that combo away, basically? Again, thanks for all of the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I wouldn't bother with that stuff. get the Azur. The onboard headphone output will drive your current headphones with no problems. If you ever decide you want to sink some money into better headphones, head over to head-fi.org and read up on which sets will require an external amp and which are easy to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecruitingGuy Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 Cool, thanks. Found the Marantz on a "B-Stock" special at Music Direct. I assume B-Stock=refurbished? So at $299, it's the same price as the Azur 351a. http://www.musicdirect.com/p-278937-marantz-pm5004-integrated-amp-b-stock.aspx Still go with the Azur? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 B stands for Blemish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 B stock could mean a cosmetic defect or damaged packaging. Both models have similar specs, but the marantz includes an on board phono stage with no digital input and the Azur has an onboard digital input but no phono stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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