Question Amplifier for Wharfedale Diamond 225

Massimek

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Hello,

I am fairly new to the forum, I'd like to ask if anyone can suggest an amplifier to match a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 225. I mainly stream music via bluetooth ( I used a receiver connected into the the line in) or use Vynils. Currently I am using an old technics amplifier SU-810 but I dont think it is helping to get the best out the speakers.
My budget is max 350 Eur. I listen to music in a standard size living room with high ceilings.

Thank you everyone for all your advices!
Massimo
 
You could do worse than a marantz pm6006
 
Agree with the Marantz PM6006 as a new investment or a used PM6005. These options will bring out the best in the Wharfedales and give you scope for future speaker improvemens.
 
What are you using for your Bluetooth? Is it an external device? If so, what specifically?

€350 is a bit lean.

This is a pretty decent amp with a DAC and 85w/ch -

Yamaha AS501 Integrated Amp with DAC (85w/ch to 8ohms) - €320 to €335 -


https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-S501-Stereo-Vollverstärker-Wandler-schwarz/dp/B00MYDLJ1K/

https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-S501-Stereo-Vollverstärker-Wandler-silber/dp/B00N23DOQO/

A-S501 - Overview - HiFi Components - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

The Marantz PM6006 (€399) is good quality with DAC but only 45w/ch -

https://www.amazon.de/Marantz-PM6006-N1SG-Verstärker-silbergold/dp/B01GQFS7HK/

https://www.amazon.de/Marantz-PM6006-N1B-Verstärker-DAC-Modus-Schwarz/dp/B01GQFK2FA/

Just a bit over your budget though.

Here is a Yamaha Receiver with built in Network Streaming, which would be better than Bluetooth -

Yamaha RN303 Network Receiver - €345 -


https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-R-N303D-Receiver-AirPlay-MusicCast/dp/B073XS9H58/

R-N303D - Overview - HiFi Components - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

Yamaha RN402 Network Receiver - €388 -


https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-R-N402D-Black-MusicCast-Netzwerk/dp/B01KHHC3K0/

R-N402D - Overview - HiFi Components - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

Steve/bluewizard
 
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I have the Marantz pm6005/cd6005 paired with Wharfedale diamond 220's. They sound amazing to me, mind you I am a noobie compared to the other poster's on here.
I have never had the sound above 11 o'clock and it fills my through lounge easily. to be honest I can't understand why people would want the Music much louder anyway.
 
The 45watts the marantz is rated at doesn't give the full picture, it's a very full bodied quite powerful amp
 
Or its bigger brother Marantz Pm7005 if u can stretch to it.
Its above budget and will mean Saving a little more for a little longer but imo, it will dig out a bit more from the speakers and bode well in the future for scope if speaker upgrading becomes a factor
 
What are you using for your Bluetooth? Is it an external device? If so, what specifically?

€350 is a bit lean.

This is a pretty decent amp with a DAC and 85w/ch -

Yamaha AS501 Integrated Amp with DAC (85w/ch to 8ohms) - €320 to €335 -


https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-S501-Stereo-Vollverstärker-Wandler-schwarz/dp/B00MYDLJ1K/

https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-S501-Stereo-Vollverstärker-Wandler-silber/dp/B00N23DOQO/

A-S501 - Overview - HiFi Components - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

The Marantz PM6006 (€399) is good quality with DAC but only 45w/ch -

https://www.amazon.de/Marantz-PM6006-N1SG-Verstärker-silbergold/dp/B01GQFS7HK/

https://www.amazon.de/Marantz-PM6006-N1B-Verstärker-DAC-Modus-Schwarz/dp/B01GQFK2FA/

Just a bit over your budget though.

Here is a Yamaha Receiver with built in Network Streaming, which would be better than Bluetooth -

Yamaha RN303 Network Receiver - €345 -


https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-R-N303D-Receiver-AirPlay-MusicCast/dp/B073XS9H58/

R-N303D - Overview - HiFi Components - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

Yamaha RN402 Network Receiver - €388 -


https://www.amazon.de/Yamaha-R-N402D-Black-MusicCast-Netzwerk/dp/B01KHHC3K0/

R-N402D - Overview - HiFi Components - Yamaha - UK and Ireland

Steve/bluewizard
Thank you Steve!

I use a little Esikin:
https://www.amazon.it/BLUETOOTH-Tra...=1532679277&sr=8-1&keywords=esinkin+bluetooth


The -Yamaha 501 was on my radar, I am pleased you mentioned.
 
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Hello,

I am fairly new to the forum, I'd like to ask if anyone can suggest an amplifier to match a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 225. I mainly stream music via bluetooth ( I used a receiver connected into the the line in) or use Vynils. Currently I am using an old technics amplifier SU-810 but I dont think it is helping to get the best out the speakers.
My budget is max 350 Eur. I listen to music in a standard size living room with high ceilings.

Thank you everyone for all your advices!
Massimo
Thank you!
 
Thank you Steve!

I use a little Esikin:
https://www.amazon.it/BLUETOOTH-Tra...=1532679277&sr=8-1&keywords=esinkin+bluetooth


The -Yamaha 501 was on my radar, I am pleased you mentioned.


For those interested, here is an english language (UK) Version of the Bluetooth Receiver -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Streaming-Wireless-Receiver-Speakers/dp/B01CZVCYU0/

The Yamaha AS501 is probably best value and within budget. Based on the German Amazon Links I provided, the Marantz PM6006 is a bit over your budget. The Marantz is indeed a very good amp, but you are paying for it in less power and a higher price. But if you are willing to pay the extra money, that is indeed a very popular amp.

Steve/bluewizard
 
— As an Amazon Associate, AVForums earns from qualifying purchases —
Thank you Steve and everyone else for your help and advice.

Somehow I was inclined to try the Marantz 6005 or.6006 until I found this video yesterday.



In the comments it.seems that many more users experienced the same.
Has anyone seen this and do you know if it is due to how the amp is connected rather than a general manufacturing fault?

Last question:
Is there a huge difference between the pm6006 UK and standard version in terms of sound quality?

Thank you!
 
Some great suggestions here, I wouldn't worry too much about the Marantz reliability video posted. They sell thousands of these and a small percentage will be faulty and people love to complain. If you buy it new you'll have warranty whatever happens so not a worry.

I've owned the Yamaha A-S501 and only have good things to say about it, if you are considering vinyl the phono stage in the Yamaha is excellent. Worth keeping in mind.

I would consider upgrading the Bluetooth receiver to one that is compatible with aptX, the higher resolution and less latency standard for BT streaming. But that's for the future, just get an amp and enjoy that for now :)
 
Thank you Steve for the great advice, also about the BT, you are right indeed.
BTW the Sony is still up there, so I'll sit on these two for a moment and make my mind.
You have all been extremely helpful!
 
Thank you Steve and everyone else for your help and advice.

Somehow I was inclined to try the Marantz 6005 or.6006 until I found this video yesterday.



In the comments it.seems that many more users experienced the same.
Has anyone seen this and do you know if it is due to how the amp is connected rather than a general manufacturing fault?

Last question:
Is there a huge difference between the pm6006 UK and standard version in terms of sound quality?

Thank you!

Look at the vast majority of any type of AV equipment on the forum and you will always find people posting their problems with reliability. People who are happy rarely go and post about it, hence the figures are often skewed towards the failures.
 
Hi there!

So I finally purchased the Marantz PM6006 UK edition.

Before I set it up I'd like to ask if anyone could advise the best method to connect my Bluetooth Receiver to play Spotify premium
Link of BT receiver here below:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Streaming-Wireless-Receiver-Speakers/dp/B01CZVCYU0/

My doubt is as follow: this BT device can connect to the AMP via RCA or 3,5 jack.
This means that in this way I will connect to one of the analogue line IN such as CD etc.. ( does this means that this way the sound does not go via the internal DAC?)

The PM6006 also have 3 digital line (1 coaxial and 2 optical) that if I understand correctly will send the signal through the internal DAC.

Back to the question :) What is the best method to connect this BT receiver which would result in the best sound signal out of the speaker, via the analogue or digital?

Thank you for your help and sorry if my question sound silly :)
 
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Can't see a digital output on the BT device. It's analogue out only into the amplifier.
 
and you're absolutely right on that.. I am just thinking if maybe I should use a different adapter that has a digital line into the amplifier...and if that would make a difference rather than going into the analogue line..
 
I would suggest a Chromecast Audio with Toslink cable, if Internet available and you want a digital signal. As to the difference you ultimately are the only one who can tell that.
 
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Best adapter for spotify into your amp is a Chrome Cast Audio (CCA) IMO for £30. With a CCA there is no music data sent between your phone and the CCA so there is no loss of quality like there would be using Bluetooth (depending on the type). The CCA has an inbuilt app that connects directly to spotify via the wireless internet (direct to your router) and your phone/tablet then acts as a remote control only.

The CCA also has both analogue and digital out via a combined 3.5mm socket so you can buy two cheap cables (3.5mm jack to 2xRCA and a 3.5mm optical to TOSLINK optical) and then see if there is a difference using the Marantz dac compared to the one built into the CCA.

The only issue is that you will need a premium spotify account which is £10 per month unless you have a student in the house then it is possible to get it for £5 or if there are 2 or more people in the house that use it there is a 5 license family pack fro £15 per month.

Finally, if you have other devices that you want to play spotify on then you just add another CCA and you can then play music through them individually or group them for the same thing on all speakers.

Hope this helps.

Edit - Sorry @Fred Smith got there first, messages crossed in the ether.
 
Google ChromeCast-Audio is about €38 to €40 but it is Network Streaming of Audio for full fidelity. For that price, and especially if you listen to established services like Spotify, it is probably the best choice for the least money.

Google Chromecast Audio ab 37,83 € | Preisvergleich bei idealo.de

GOOGLE Chromecast Audio Streaming-Gerät, Schwarz

Google Chromecast Audio Streaming Player (Streaming & Mediaplayer) günstig kaufen

To the extent that I am aware, the ChromeCast-Audio has a single 3.5mm output, but that can be used at either Analog or as an Optical Output. Even the Analog output should outperform your Bluetooth.

The ChromeCast-Audio does not have a separate App to operate it, rather it integrates itself into existing Apps. So, if you are running the Spotify App on your phone, it will have a new option to 'cast' music to the ChromeCast-Audio.

As others have implied, your Smart Phone/Pad/Tablet are simply a remote control device for the Music Streams. The music travels directly from your Network to the ChromeCast, it is not streamed directly from the Smart Phone. In fact, once you start a stream, you can shut your phone off and the Stream will continue.

Since Network Streaming is Lossless, what you hear will be as good as the original content. Though the absolute latest Bluetooth with APT-X-HD can sound pretty good, it still uses a lossy compression.

Something to consider.

Steve/bluewizard
 
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Thank you everyone,

At the moment I have a traditional Chromecast and spotify premium.
I connected the TV via Toslink cable to the digital line of the AMP and I have to say the quality is indeed much better than via the BT device I owe although to my great disappointment I am having the same issue I reported in the video above: a buzzing noise on the left speaker from both digital lines.

I knew some other people reported it and I took the risk. I will test for the next couple of days to see how much it bothers me and decide what to do..
 
Hi everyone,

Just to let you know that I returned the Marantz. After carefully listening with many sources this amp was not a game changer from my current amp, the old Technics Su-810. I decided that probably I will save more money and buy a higher spec amp later on. Thank you all for your help.
 
Right decision. Very little to be gained in a sideways move for that you would need to move up the ladder a fair way. Reading your posts your problem is going to lie with picking a bare bones basic amp like the Regas and buying a separate DAC or going for a one box solution.
 

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