So, the price tag for the Amp is about £300? Confirm?
Can you give us a direct statement of you working budget?
How is the current system letting you down? What do you need that it is not giving you?
Confirm that you do not need a lot of gadget and gizmos -
Bluetooth, Network Streaming, DAC, etc...?
The
Marantz PM6006-UK is about £300 (just under) and a good amp, but it has 45w/ch. I believe the PM6006-UK also has a DAC.
Marantz PM6006 UK Edition Integrated Amplifier
The
Yamaha AS501 is about £270, has 85w/ch and a DAC, plus Phono-In and Sub-out.
Yamaha A-S501
Yamaha AS501 Amplifier with DAC - Superfi
With Speaker with 89db Sensitivity, I don't see the Marantz as being under powered. During my party days, I used a 45w/ch Pioneer and it worked fine. Though I was throwing house parties not RAVES.
For some reason, at
PeterTyson, the
Yamaha AS801 (£549) with 32bit DAC is actually
less than the
Yamaha AS701 (£599) with a standard DAC -
Yamaha A-S701
Yamaha A-S801 Integrated Amplifier
Well above your implied budget, but at least worth knowing about.
Other place have slightly different prices -
Yamaha AS701 Amplifier with DAC - Superfi
Yamaha A-S801 Amplifier - Superfi
Both amps are 100w/ch.
If money is exceptionally tight, you probably won't find a better bargain than this -
Yamaha AS301 Integrated w/DAC, 60w/ch - £189 -
Yamaha A-S301
Everyone is walking a fine line between Quality and Price. Some want top quality and are willing to make sacrifices on other areas to get it. Others want best value, and in making that choice there are slight compromises in other areas.
Given that you have
Harman Kardon, that implies you are looking for Best Value, as H-K offer a LOT of amp for modest money. But ultimately that is a decision only you can make on the purchase of a new Amp.
In basic Integrated Amps, the
Marantz PM6006-UK and the
Yamaha AS501 are probably the best amps to consider to consider in the roughly £300 price range. To make the decision, you simply have to sort out your priorities.
Steve/bluewizard