Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Integrated AMPs

Hi folks,

Right now I'm auditioning a Denon PMA-2000 IV R integrated amp. This thing is sweet. I read a lot of great reviews about it in other places, but nothing in these forums. I think one reason for that is that most people seem to be into the multi-channel thing around here. I was just wondering if anyone else is using this amp? I'm thinking about trying other amps, and just wondering if maybe anyone else has a/b'ed it with anything else. I'm using m60's and playing mostly older rock. I've heard a lot of good about the Creek 5350 SE, but it doesn't sound like it rocks too well. :-)

Thanks!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Denon beast literally weighs over 50 pounds. I had to help the UPS man get it in my house, and I strained my back a little getting it set up!

Can't help you with the Denon comparision, but I just bought a Rotel RA-1062. It's supposed to arrive on Monday.

sgt,
Good for you!.........I've been researching that integrated and the one made before it for over a year now. I've not seen it in person but it sure looks interesting. I have always had one of Denons recievers for about 12 years. Zero problems and stone quiet between songs. Odd thing, over at Audiogon there are very few reviews or comments about it but what I could find is positive.

Ned,

Check this out:

http://www.audioreview.com/Integrated%20Amplifiers/Denon/PRD_115755_2717crx.aspx

make it a little easier.

bigjohn

Thanks SGT., I'll take a closer look tomorrow or tonight when the movie is over....it is "intermission time" right now for S.W. Attack of the clones.
BigJohn.....you are making it easy! Maybe someday I'll learn how to do that computer magic.

Spiff, I bet you are soooooooo anxious for that to arrive...Rotel looks sharp!

There are many good integrated amps on the market. The basis for your selection will be budget, required features and of course, availability. The last factor is much less these days, with the online availability from almost anywhere.

I would first determine your budget, and list the features you want. Then research online (as you are now doing). My tastes are for music, with little interest in HT. There are products available from the usually mentioned companies (what are termed mass market) including Onkyo, Denon, Sony, etc. You can also find Vecteur, SimAudio, YBA, Linn, Rega, Creek, Arcam, and a host of others that will perform admirably.

One caution about weight, as with cost, it is not always a guarentee of quality.

Thanks for the info. I'll have to check into some of these others. I've considered Creek, and I already have a Rega Planar 3 but hadn't considered one of their amps.

I just got my Rotel RA-1062 today. I'll get it hooked up and let you know what I think. (It may take a day or two as I'm going to be pretty busy tonight.)

Way to go Spiff!...you lucky dog...errrrrr, bear. I totally look forward to the day when I get a new amp of some sort.

The long term plan is to have my M2i's running off the RA-1062 with a Hsu STF-1 taking care of the lower end. But that is a little ways off. Right now I'll just have my Snell's and no sub.

That Integrated ought to wake things up a bit.....so I have read. It is my understanding an integrated has more grunt than a reciever. Enjoy.

That's only because of the miniature pigs bred specifically for amplification found inside.

We'll see. It's got to be better than the $35 Sony reciever I am currently using, no?

I would think hamsters would be better than pigs, cuz hamsters can run all night and never get tired. Although, I'm sure pigs would give it a bit more squeal. :-)

OK...first impression.

Wow...what a difference.

I only quickly threw on (actually it was still in the dvd player) the terrific CD, We Get Requests by Oscar Peterson (Thank you very much for the suggestion Alan!), and was immediately taken by the clarity and openness that was lacking before. This is how I remember my Snell's sounding like! Bass has more punch, but the biggest difference is the openness and clarity. Nice. So glad I got this integrated. Score another hit for Rotel.

About nine years ago I bought the top of the line Onkyo Integra receiver. Nine years ago it cost about two grand. Weighed an absolute ton...and sounded sweeeeet. It made my Snells heavenly. Over the past couple years the Onkyo was replaced by Rotel separates, and the Snells were replaced by my current Axioms. The Snells got relegated to "bedroom" speakers, and I had an old JVC RX-660V receiver powering them. That was then switched out for a used Sony receiver I grabbed for $35. I didn't think much about it as my bedroom music listening was rare. I've recently begun listening to music more in the bedroom, and was struck at how muted my Snells sounded. Not at all as good as I remembered them. I chalked it up to my ears adjusting to how great my Axioms sound.

Well, the fates shone upon me, and Roger asked me to hook him up with some better sound for his computer gaming. I figured the first step would be to find an inexpensive 5.1 reciever, then some speakers. I scoured ebay for cheap recievers and couldn't find anything I was interested in. Then I was struck with a brilliant idea. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Move the Sony reciever on to Roger's computer, and get an integrated amp for the bedroom?

Now I'm smiling, and he's half way to a smoking gaming experience!

In reply to:

---

SNIPPED: Then I was struck with a brilliant idea. Move the Sony reciever on to Roger's computer, and get an integrated amp for the bedroom?

Now I'm smiling

---

Craig:
I think your keyboard went KaPlooey.

You wrote that you were struck, (well read above) when obviously you meant to write that you STUCK Roger with the old receiver so you could buy yourself a new Rotel.

Well, of COURSE you're smiling, you sneaky devil!