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AMP for me.

86.6.199.44
Posted on June 18, 2015 at 08:14:48
WildStyle*
Audiophile

Posts: 21
Joined: May 11, 2015
 Hi,
I'm going to get Cerwin Vegas XLS 215.
I need an amplifier for it, but not just any...There are certain requirements.

Optical or USB. Best if both, So I can plug it into my PC.
CD player.
Network player.
Turntable.

I was looking at marantz PM8005 doesn't have optical or usb, but as far as I understood you can combine that with the NA8005 network player and I can use network player as my DAC. Since it has both optical and usb.

Not that advanced in speakers and amps, so Help is greatly appreciated. :D

 

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RE: AMP for me., posted on June 18, 2015 at 09:52:07
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I use a Marantz NA7004 network player. I can with all sincerity recommend that unit. It does have the inputs you need and one HECK of a good sounding DAC.

I have the Marantz 8004 and it too is very nice. Very full and lush sounding. Excellent or should I say - proper dynamics, tone, etc... And the midrange control is a lot of fun to have.

One caveat is my PM8004 has a VERY polite top end. So if those speakers are top end shy it could sound rolled off. Many a day I actually crank the treble up to full.

But tonally, imagining, dynamics, etc.... one very nice sounding amp. But again a very polite top end. And the NA7004 is great!!!!

charles

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 18, 2015 at 13:13:29
Mr Peabody
Audiophile

Posts: 1109
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Joined: August 14, 2010
 Take a look at the Parasound Halo integrated, it has built in DAC and quite a value at it's price based on performance. KEF was using this unit to drive their speakers at Axpona 2015, including the Blade 2.

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 18, 2015 at 13:22:59
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 CV speakers are super-easy to drive- keep me posted on which AMP you decide to purchase.

 

The new NAD 3020, posted on June 18, 2015 at 16:06:09
G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8489
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: May 23, 2023
 Is a compact all in one solution. not the ultimate in audiophile, but worth a peek.
Gsquared

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 19, 2015 at 07:46:38
WildStyle*
Audiophile

Posts: 21
Joined: May 11, 2015
 After overlooking my budget...Can't quite grasp everything... :(
I do want my speakers. And I can get them. It's the amp where I am running short. :D Just cause I can doesn't mean I should...

Marantz is what I want, but it doesn't seem like the best company to buy bit by bit, but rather everything at once kinda deal. Constantly evolving by the time you get the last par it won't be there no more.

Now I still need to power the speakers...Temporary solution so to say. But no more than 100 for a temp solution.
People say that Cerwin vegas are easy to drive, but what sort of wattage I am looking at as a minimum? Even trough I suppose I can get one of those cheap 2400Watt amps and use ugh... banana plugs to 3.5mm LOL. Uhm...Yeah I rather get a weaker one with optical or usb. :D Any suggestions? 100 or so for amp with optical(spdif) or USB.

 

Get a Crown XLS-1000 and you're done..., posted on June 19, 2015 at 08:26:29
rlw
Audiophile

Posts: 3347
Location: Near West Palm Bch, FL
Joined: August 29, 2006
 *Plenty* of power, reasonably low cost, lightwieght Class D...
-RW-

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 19, 2015 at 10:25:25
Mr Peabody
Audiophile

Posts: 1109
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Joined: August 14, 2010
 Don't dismiss Marantz if that's what you really want, although the model numbers might change the units may have some improvements but still similar in price points and what the unit would match to. For example if I bought a 5002 integrated and waited to buy a new CD player I could still match it to a 5004 CD player.

To be honest the regular Marantz may be a good match for your CV's but a reference integrated would be a bit overkill, IMO. Meaning I'd consider the 11s to be "high end" where CV is not generally recognized as a "high end" speaker. You typically want to match your gear within a range of performance, unless knowing you will upgrade in the near future.

If I had only $100 to spend I'd look for a used home theater receiver, you won't need the latest home theater features and an older receiver would still have a built in DAC. Marantz makes excellent HT receivers, this may be a great option for you to have both Marantz & digital inputs.

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 19, 2015 at 12:57:43
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Please don't get a cheap AV receiver. your CV speakers are capable of very good sound, don't feed them with crap just because they "aren't high-end speakers".

If you're low on cash at the moment get a good sounding vintage integrated with decent power output (you need to keep two 15inch speakers per side in check) until you can get something better / newer.

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 19, 2015 at 22:30:54
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I was thinking this, too, but at 2500$, probably a bit of a stretch for the OP.

After all the CVs are Real good at turning electricity into sound. So you don't need the Parasounds fairly robust amount of power.

The OP also didn't mention the space in which the speakers would be used. Some kind of a large room? Small? A den or multi-use living room?

Any way to get an integrated amp of say 50x2 and a DAC? That may be an inexpensive path forward.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 20, 2015 at 07:54:02
WildStyle*
Audiophile

Posts: 21
Joined: May 11, 2015
 Oh so that how marantz move on. I was confused on to what that 5 at the end means. :D I'm not looking at the marantz 11's That's well over 1k I think. I did consider both 5005 and 6005, but That mid knob on 8005 is tempting.

I have a fairly small room, well at least for now. but not planning on changing speakers any time soon. :D

While looking for a solution, I stumbled upon small DAC's basicly wires go in different wires go out connects to whatever you need it to connect, might work. Assuming they are any good?

First I need to see how much I will earn this month cause work is a mess right now. Not a bad kinda mess, I just don't know exactly how much I am getting paid, there is talk of another bonus.

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 20, 2015 at 09:52:45
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 WildStyle, delayed gratification can be a good thing, especially if you need to worry about what you will be paid. Why not save for what you may want once you understand what that is? Time is on you side. You can use it to learn and sharpen your judgement.

db

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 20, 2015 at 12:53:07
WildStyle*
Audiophile

Posts: 21
Joined: May 11, 2015
 Nah, it's not that. I have been putting money aside for months, to get speakers, Wasn't all that fancy and all I was doing was research, it just so happened that I have been getting bonus from work for the last 2 months. So I came to XLS 215 not XLS 15. And that where the other bonus comes in, didn't really plan for any fancy amp but getting a temp one for a bit... That second month bonus was pretty nice. Maybe I overyped it, but as I said been told that we will get another bonus and this one real hefty one, oh YEAH! So all in all Doing good money wise. I just don't want to spend any money that I haven't put towards speakers. While bonus money is my random spending money...Well in any case, as I said depends on what I get next month.

 

Sources are more important than your amp, posted on June 20, 2015 at 16:22:31
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Don't take short cuts on your sources. Save up for a good DAC or Marantz NA7005. I've found amps come and amps may go. But a good source seems to always stay with you.

Just my thought of the day.

charles

 

RE: AMP for me., posted on June 21, 2015 at 09:39:01
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 You know, for about 700$ you can get the OUTLAW Receiver. plenty of power unless you are eviction / raid minded with great quality and features. FM is not quite dead, yet!
including bass management so you can easily add a sub.

A DAC can be had for 200$ or so and careful looking at the pre-owned stuff may yield a good deal.
Too much is never enough

 

Second the Outlaw, posted on June 21, 2015 at 16:25:51
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I would go for the Outlaw receiver and the NA7005 DAC.

That's economy and quality.

 

RE: Second the Outlaw and, posted on June 22, 2015 at 06:21:44
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 It's only my opinion, but I wouldn't commingle too many sources. Meaning I would keep the DAC and amp separate. For several reasons. Interference, changes in DAC quality or compatibility issues and if it just goes boom!

charles

 

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