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I've seen the Yamaha RN602 recommended a few times. While I agree it is great value I do wonder if it represents the best sound quality value for money. I have read that it needs to be carefully paired with speakers.
You can get a better amp than the Yamaha, but there are only two ways you can get it -
- Spend more money
- Accept less amp
Or in some cases, do both.
As to speaker matching, no better or worse then any other amp.
My room size is approximately 5m x 3.5m and the system will be positioned near a bay window. It's not ideal, but its what I've got to play with. ..
That is a relatively small room. Will the speakers be placed on the Long Wall or the Short Wall, because that will make a difference. Speaker playing down the length of a 16ft (5m) room will do better than speakers playing across a narrow 11.5ft (3.5m) room.
One followup question regarding system 2 that you recommended - how would this compare to the Bluesound Powernode 2 which has an integrated amp?
The PowerNode-2 is a workable solution, but while the power is adequate, it is on the low side. BUT ... the Bluesound PowerNode-2 is £800. That eats a lot of your budget.
Bluesound POWERNODE 2 Hi-Res Wireless Music Streamer / Amplifier
Though they are not real forthcoming with the details, the power on this device seems to be in the range of 50w/ch to 60w/ch to 8 ohms, though given the size, I have to wonder if it is not a Class-D amp.
Some of the other systems I've been recommended include:
1) CA CXA60 + Monitor Audio Silver 1;
2) Marrantz PM8005 + Focal Aria 906;
3) Abrahamsen V2.0UP + IPL Acoustic M1 (assuming 2nd hand);
4) NAD C338 + B&W 686 S2
5) Pioneer N50A + Rotel A10/NAD C326 + Monitor Audio Bronze 2.
6) NAD D3020 + PSB Imagine Mini
I'm sure these are all good systems, but they seem to be all over the maps. You need to think about specifically how much power you need, and specifically what features you need. You imply that your music will be collected on a USB-Stick, kind of pointless if the amp you choose does not have a USB-Media Input.
For example -
Marantz PM8005 is a nice amp ...but... NO DIGITAL INPUTS, 70w/ch (~£500, £999 retail).
Rotel A10 - no digital inputs and only 40w/ch, ~£390.
NAD D-3020 - nice, 30w/ch, digital inputs, compact, no Network Streaming, Class-D amps, ~£450.
Of course, if an amp were to have a USB-Media input that would imply that it also had a built-In DAC.
So, you have Music Files, and you have an amp, now you have to figure out how to get the Music Files to play on the Amp. That doesn't happen by magic, you have to have an amp with that specific capability, whatever that specific capability might be.
Some Amp do have USB-PC inputs, which means you can collect all your music on a computer and connect the USB-out of the Computer to the USB-in of the Amp, but that comes with complications of its own.
And while USB-Media is an option, Network Streaming is a lot more versatile. From what I have gathered, the Bluesound Smart Device App will allow you to construct Play Lists. You may or may not be able to do that with USB-Media. But that's up to you to determine. The
POINT IS, If you collect all your media on a USB Stick, then the Amp you have to pick has to be an amp that supports USB-Media.
I've also recently spotted the Emotiva BasX TA-100 which on paper seems to be a high quality amp. At this stage I'm trying to reduce down to a couple of options that I can then try out and hunt for deals on.
Very good high value amp, assuming you can get it at a decent price -
TA-100 | Emotiva
* 50w/ch to 8 ohms
* Digital Inputs
** 1 – digital coax (S/PDIF); 24/192k.
** 1 – digital optical (Toslink); 24/192k.
** 1 – digital USB (DAC input); 24/96k; no drivers required.
** 1 – Bluetooth receiver (requires optional AptX Bluetooth dongle).
* Analog Inputs
** 2 pairs – stereo analog line level inputs (CD, Aux).
** 1 pair – stereo phono inputs (switchable; moving magnet or moving coil).
** 1 tuner – FM (with external antenna input; 50 station presets).
While the
Yamaha RN602 is not a prefect amp, it does everything you need and more, and has decent power. If you don't feel you need Streaming, then you need an amp to accommodate you Media in whatever form you choose for it to be in - on a USB-Stick or no the Network or on a Direct Connect Computer.
The question isn't is
THIS a good amp, whatever that amp might be, but rather does this Amp do what you need done in the way you need it done?
Steve/bluewizard