Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Amplifier recommendations for M60's - stereo only

I've got a pair of M60's that I use mostly for listening CDs. I listen to all kinds of music in an average room at an undemanding level of volume (one which you could talk over). I am only interested in 2 channels stereo. Budget is around 400$. I have narrowed down choice of integrated amplifiers to NAD 320BEE and Cambridge Audio A500. I would appreciate any feedback/recommendation from current owners.

If you're not in a big room, and don't play it loudly, I might suggest the Rotel RA-02. It's a 2-channel integrated amplifier. (msrp $499 - but who pays msrp?) It'll produce some clear, beautiful sound. If you want a little more power, you might look on Ebay or audiogon.com for a used RA-1060. That will bump you up to 60/channel. (msrp $699)

http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/ra02.htm
http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/ra1060.htm

aside from the great Rotel, you can get a Cambridge A500 for about 400$ CAD, which is about 300$ US.

very good, 70 watts rms I believe. Very good construction.

There's also a NAD but I can't remember the model #. It's about 450$ CAD.

Just picked up a Yamaha M80 amplifier - 250 continuous watts per channel into 8 ohms in AB mode, dynamic power 380 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 30 watts per channel in pure class A mode. Cost $100. You may want to check your local Penny Saver for a used amp. One of these would work nicely with a pair of M60s.

I have a Cambridge A-500/P-500 combo driving a pair of M60's and the sound is sweet! IMHO, Cambridge amps (as separates or bi-amped as in my set-up) provide more than ample clean power for driving the 60's, are well-constructed, and very reasonably priced, not to mention the cool blue indicator lights on the brushed silver faceplate model! Happy shopping.

so, I ran m80s of an integrated NAD and they sounded ok at low volumes. If you can double your budget, I would look for an odyssey stratos (maybe you can get used a tad cheaper). At louder volumes and espeically bass there is a big difference. If you are really interested in just low volumes it may not be that noticable.

Thank you all for your input. I have decided to go with Cambridge A500/P500 combination.

Questions for Joe90:

1. How did you bi-amp your system? I have a500 connected to high section and p500 driving woofers. Have you tried the opposite combination (p500 for high section and a500 for woofers)?
2. Have you tried to run speakers with only a500, and if you did, is there a lot of difference compared to the combination?
3. And lastly, what kind of speaker wire are you using?

Thanks, Milorad

1. I have the A500 driving the high end, and P500 driving the low end. This was the recommended installation set-up provided by staff where I purchased the gear, as well as in the Cambride manual. I have not tried the opposite.

2. I used the A500 alone for the first several months, before adding the P500 to my system. I don't recall there being a night or day "jaw-dropping to the floor' difference in sound, after adding the P500. The effects were more subtle, like a perceived increase in clarity/dynamic range (I say "perceived' for all the scientific method people on this board...I did not do blind comparisons!). I also added a sub to my system several months after adding the P500, which I found really filled out the bottom-end nicely.

3. I'm using 10' lengths of Kimber 4PR for the upper end, and Kimber 8PR for the lower.

Cheers and happy listening.

I agree with Joe90 100%. I have demoed the same setup and it was great. Lots of detail. Not as much slam when used for HT but for stereo listening it was great. Seemingly lots of low level detail when bi-amped. I was almost ready to buy 2 P500 to biamp drive my speakers but a deal came up that I couldnt pass up. Ended up with a used Bryston 4B ST from Audiogon for the same price a 2 P500's. The Bryston still has 15 years warrantee left, no dings or scratches. I use Kimber 4TC myself. They look pretty.