I'll take a different approach, first ask yourself what you want the Amp to do - yes - drive speakers but what ELSE to you want it to do?
What are the range of Input Sources?
TV? CD? Turntable? Network Player? Other?
For a near infinite variety of music, Network Streaming is a real plus. These devices generally run in the area of £250 up to about £1500 depending on how far you want to take it. Though in the Premium Class I have seen Network Players as high as US$18,000.
You could potentially ask the same question of the Speakers, what is it you want them to do? Killer Bass? Silky sweet Mid/High? Demolition volume levels? And similar? What you want them to do will determine what speakers you buy.
As a starting point for budgeting, this is how I typically break down a Stereo System.
1x to 1.5x = Turntable
1x = Network Player
1x = CD Player
1x = Amp/Receiver
2x = Speakers
Again this simply establishes perspective in the beginning. When it comes time to shop and/or purchase you can deviate as you see fit.
If we assume the budget you stated is simply for
Amp and Speakers, that totals 3x, or -
£2833 = Amp/Receiver
£5667 = Speaker Pair
So now we have a general proportion of allocated money.
I'm fond of saying -
You can't get what you want until you know what you want.
So think long and hard about what you want the system to do, what features you want it to have, and if there is any new equipment, like a
Network Streamer, that you might want to add to the system.
Though going against, the Amps suggested and implied -
Rotel RA-1592 Integrated Amp w/DAC, 200w/ch - £2095 -
Rotel RA-1592 Integrated Amplifier
As to speakers, any preference for design or appearance?
KEF R11 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
DALI Rubicon 8 Floorstanding Loudspeakers
Totem Forest Signature Floorstanding Loudspeakers
DALI Epicon 6 Ruby Macassar Floorstanding Speakers (Pair) - Floorstanding Speakers - AudioVisual Online
Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 II Piano Ebony Floorstanding Speakers (Pair) - Floorstanding Speakers - AudioVisual Online
Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 II Piano Ebony Floorstanding Speakers (Pair) - Floorstanding Speakers - AudioVisual Online
Taking a slightly different approach -
Tannoy Legacy Series Cheviot Loudspeakers (Pair) - Floorstanding Speakers - AudioVisual Online
Tannoy Legacy Cheviot Speakers (Pair)
I would be perfectly happy with a pair of these -
Revel F208 Floorstanding Loudspeakers
The
REVEL Performa3 F208 (2x8) are very highly rated speakers.
FOCAL are impressively clear speakers.
Focal Electra II 1028 Be Speakers (Pair)
Well under your budget, but I won't say NO to a pair of the
Klipsch Forte-III speakers either -
Klipsch Heritage Forte III Speakers (Pair)
Again going to the extremes to make a point
- JBL S3900 (2x10") -
JBL S3900 Speakers (Pair)
With Speakers, as with Amps, you have to focus on your vision of the speakers, and what you expect to get from it.
You are in a price range, where no matter what you pick, it is going to be good. So the subtlety, the nuance, comes from you and your specific
wants, needs, priorities, and
preferences combined with the
type of sound and
type of music you listen to.
For myself, though it is easy to speculate, the
ROTEL RA-1592 combined with the R
EVEL Performa2 F208 would be a formidable system. Alternately at a low price point, same amp but the
Klipsch Forte-III. Take the money saved and add a higher end
Network Player.
I think the
Rotel and the
REVAL F208 would take you to just under £8000. That leaves you £500 for wire and cable plus other accessories.
The
Rotel and the
Klipsch Forte-III would take in the vicinity of about £6000, and would leave you more than enough for
accessories and a good
Network Player.
Just a few random thoughts for perspective.
Steve/bluewizard