Recommendation for a music amplifier (low-end)?

[sjcguy]

I found a Denon AVR3803 for $100, and many more. That has remote control, am/fm, sub xover, dac, digital inputs. He can get an AppleTV to add Airplay capability and sill has money left to buy a sub. How does the airport express work?

 

[shnjb]

I found a Denon AVR3803 for $100, and many more. That has remote control, am/fm, sub xover, dac, digital inputs. He can get an AppleTV to add Airplay capability and sill has money left to buy a sub. How does the airport express work?

Sweet deal!
I will try searching this, AVS forum, and Craigslist to see what I can find.
But I'm just worried that I will pick up a lemon and not even know it because of my untrained ears.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I found a Denon AVR3803 for $100, and many more. That has remote control, am/fm, sub xover, dac, digital inputs. He can get an AppleTV to add Airplay capability and sill has money left to buy a sub. How does the airport express work?

+1. As long as it supports DTS (not needed here, but for sake of timing of other features) OP should be fine
I would go with similar option of any "simpler" setup, simply because there is NO evidence whatsoever that "simple" setup would be any better and there are real bench measurements of AVRs which display very high quality/very low noise signal path.

 

[shnjb]

How does something like this compare to the setup with the pioneer bs22?

 

[markw]

That Denon 3803 is a nice receiver but it's about ten years old. It doesn'rt have HDMI. That wasn't even on the horizon when this was made.

But, my 2802, a year older, is still working fine. Your call.

 

[shnjb]

Apparently the airport express already has a dac so I'm just going to go with an integrated amp. Probably not gonna add sub depending on how it sounds

 

[j_garcia]

How does something like this compare to the setup with the pioneer bs22?

For that price you might as well go with the Aperion Allaire and possibly even add a sub. Never heard of those guys either, so I'd be at least a little hesitant.

Allaire Bluetooth - Allaireâ„¢ Wireless Speakers - Speakers By Family - Aperion Audio

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/89094-aperion-audio-allaire-bluetooth-bookshelf-speakers-preview.html

 

[shnjb]

For that price you might as well go with the Aperion Allaire and possibly even add a sub. Never heard of those guys either, so I'd be at least a little hesitant.

Allaire Bluetooth - Allaireâ„¢ Wireless Speakers - Speakers By Family - Aperion Audio

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/89094-aperion-audio-allaire-bluetooth-bookshelf-speakers-preview.html

Sorry. That was a distraction.

I've posted this question at several places in hopes of crowdsourcing expert opinion and there have been many many many recommendations.

Lepai: ~$20
Dayton DTA-100a: $70
Lepai LP7498E 200W: $130
Dayton APA 150: $150
Yamaha RX-V375: $189
TEAC AH-01: $299
emotiva mini X: $219
Topping TP60: $220
Yamaha RX-V475: $400
Denon AVR-1913: $400
Denon E300: $400
Yamaha CRX-N560BL: $450

I rather like the Yamaha RX-V375 and TEAC AH-01 so far.
They seem like a lot of functionalities for very little money.
Lepai or Dayton100a seem like good deals but I don't know if I will like having no sub.


But having no experience buying these things, I really have no idea lol... it seems very subjective.

Not that many reviews have measurements.

I'm guessing the differences are power, noise, and the frequency/power profile right?

And then creature comforts like remotes, # of inputs, airplay, etc.

 

[j_garcia]

Sorry. That was a distraction.

I've posted this question at several places in hopes of crowdsourcing expert opinion and there have been many many many recommendations.

Lepai: ~$20
Dayton DTA-100a: $70
Lepai LP7498E 200W: $130
Dayton APA 150: $150
Yamaha RX-V375: $189
TEAC AH-01: $299
emotiva mini X: $219
Topping TP60: $220
Yamaha RX-V475: $400
Denon AVR-1913: $400
Denon E300: $400
Yamaha CRX-N560BL: $450

I rather like the Yamaha RX-V375 and TEAC AH-01 so far.
They seem like a lot of functionalities for very little money.
Lepai or Dayton100a seem like good deals but I don't know if I will like having no sub.


But having no experience buying these things, I really have no idea lol... it seems very subjective.

Not that many reviews have measurements.

I'm guessing the differences are power, noise, and the frequency/power profile right?

And then creature comforts like remotes, # of inputs, airplay, etc.

More or less none of the small integrated amps have remotes. You'll need to go to something like the compact systems or a full size receiver/integrated to get that. I feel it is definitely a benefit to have it.

Even without a sub output, you can still integrate a sub into any 2ch system; an output just makes it easier. Either way, most of these amps do not have bass management for the sub aside from the AVRs so you will be blending the sub manually in most cases. That's one of the benefits of the APA-150 IMO, it DOES have a low pass for the sub, which is a nice feature for the size/price.

Denon 1912 refurb for a good price (bought one of these for my dad, it is nice):

DENON AVR-1912 7.1ch Network A/V Home Theater Receiver w/ Airplay | Accessories4less

Or even the Marantz 1402:

MARANTZ NR1402 Slimline 5.1ch AV Receiver w/HDMI & 3D-ready | Accessories4less