Why is it so hard to find a integrated amp with the 3 things I want ?

[Davvy]

It was a lot harder that I thought to get everything I wanted with WI-FI, HDMI for ARC or least optical and third thing I want is Tone controls like Treble & bass.

AudioLabs 6000a play (I like this unit a lot and the look, simple to use but it just doesn't have tone controls) $1600

Rotel A12 MKII or the next higher up the A14 MKII and then the RA-1572 MKII (all good units but are all lacking WI-FI but has Bluetooth, but BT sucks no thanks. How am I suppose to stream music to this if I don't want to use BT ? At these prices it seems mind blogging to me has no WI-FI.

Cambridge Audio CXA81 (once again no WI-FI)

Marantz model 40n (has everything but I might have to use the app Heos to use my Spotify ? I'm not crazy about Heos either.

I've also looked at what NAD and Emotiva has to offer and for what I'm looking for it's lacking even more.

Maybe someone has another suggestion at around $3000 or less.

 

[Swerd]

The Denon DRA-800H has all the features you mentioned:

• 5 HDMI Inputs & 1 HDMI Output with 4K Capability and ARC Support
• WiFi music streaming
• Bass & Treble tone controls on the front panel

It's a 2-channel receiver with 100 wpc (at 8 ohms, over the full audio frequency range of 20 Hz - 20 kHz, at 0.08% total harmonic distortion, while driving 2 channels).

Price is significantly less that $3,000.

DRA-800H - Refurbished - 2.2 Ch. 100W 4K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in | Denon - US

Denon

www.denon.com

 

[TLS Guy]

It was a lot harder that I thought to get everything I wanted with WI-FI, HDMI for ARC or least optical and third thing I want is Tone controls like Treble & bass.

AudioLabs 6000a play (I like this unit a lot and the look, simple to use but it just doesn't have tone controls) $1600

Rotel A12 MKII or the next higher up the A14 MKII and then the RA-1572 MKII (all good units but are all lacking WI-FI but has Bluetooth, but BT sucks no thanks. How am I suppose to stream music to this if I don't want to use BT ? At these prices it seems mind blogging to me has no WI-FI.

Cambridge Audio CXA81 (once again no WI-FI)

Marantz model 40n (has everything but I might have to use the app Heos to use my Spotify ? I'm not crazy about Heos either.

I've also looked at what NAD and Emotiva has to offer and for what I'm looking for it's lacking even more.

Maybe someone has another suggestion at around $3000 or less.

What you are looking for is call an audio visual receiver, and they are plentiful. The old Baxandall tone controls are now historic. They always were of limited value as the turnover frequency in the unit you had was never in the place it needed to be. The state of the art has progressed beyond that. I think you need to get up to date.

 

[Davvy]

The Denon DRA-800H has all the features you mentioned:

• 5 HDMI Inputs & 1 HDMI Output with 4K Capability and ARC Support
• WiFi music streaming
• Bass & Treble tone controls on the front panel

It's a 2-channel receiver with 100 wpc (at 8 ohms, over the full audio frequency range of 20 Hz - 20 kHz, at 0.08% total harmonic distortion, while driving 2 channels).

Price is significantly less that $3,000.

DRA-800H - Refurbished - 2.2 Ch. 100W 4K AV Receiver with HEOS® Built-in | Denon - US

Denon

www.denon.com

Yeah I know of it, I read so so things about it like heating up etc... I'll think about it.

 

[Davvy]

What you are looking for is call an audio visual receiver, and they are plentiful. The old Baxandall tone controls are now historic. They always were of limited value as the turnover frequency in the unit you had was never in the place it needed to be. The state of the art has progressed beyond that. I think you need to get up to date.

I'm not looking for a AVR, just because you don't think tone controls is nessasary doesn't make them obsolete, it's just a opinion. But with that said I might just get the AudioLab 6000a a try them out. What I'm worried about is getting a future pair of speakers that needs a little tone fixing, I mean isn't that a possibility ?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think most integrated amps try to be like “analog separates”.

Adding amps inside the chassis with the preamp already makes them feel like an AVR.

Adding more features on top of that like HDMI-ARC, USB, DAC, and WiFi might make them feel even more like AVR’s.

 

[John Parks]

This may have most, if not all of the features you are looking for. Tone controls would be in Dirac Live and on-the-fly adjustment.
Arcam SA30 Stereo integrated amplifier with built-in DAC, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay® 2 at Crutchfield

 

[lovinthehd]

I haven't seen any value in most 2ch integrated amps in general. May as well get an avr or separates IMO since you're generally not going to get a full featured integrated amp these days.

 

[Davvy]

I haven't seen any value in most 2ch integrated amps in general. May as well get an avr or separates IMO since you're generally not going to get a full featured integrated amp these days.

It's starting to look that way.

 

[lovinthehd]

It's starting to look that way.

Curious, just why did you think of an integrated amp as a viable way to go initially?

 

[Davvy]

Curious, just why did you think of an integrated amp as a viable way to go initially?

No initially I was going to get a AVR, but if I'm doing a two channel then why would I get a class D amp AVR then ?

 

[Davvy]

I appreciate people helping me but the Denon DRA-800H or the like won't be even close to audiophile quality. I'll admit they that I'm new to this stuff but I've been researching for a couple of months. I've read often that AVR's for two channel setup is good but not great. Now if you guys say that it's almost just as good then, I'll won't bother any more and just get a decent AVR then.

I really like the Rotel A14 MKII but it doesn't have WI-FI. Can someone tell me how are people who are people semi-serious about quality audio how are they streaming it to units like the Rotel A14 MKII ($1600) for example ? Without using a wire and USB connection, I would be forced to use the Bluetooth is that how folks stream to units like the Rotel A14 MKII with their android phone cause that's what I have as a phone.

I forgot to mention the Rotel does have wireless aptX would that be give me Cd-quality according to what I've read. Is that people are using then and should it be good enough though ?

 

[lovinthehd]

Audiophile quality means what particularly? Especially since that's not a particularly good use of that term....an audiophile is a person who likes hi fidelity sound reproduction....

I've used avrs for 2ch stuff for ages....works great. I have had 2ch receivers and separates, but always avoided the integrated amps myself as they were just.....limited.

I use Chromecast Audio units for streaming to my older gear, works great, too bad it was discontinued. I don't want just bluetooth myself, even tho it has come a long ways, just prefer wifi/dlna options.

 

[lovinthehd]

No initially I was going to get a AVR, but if I'm doing a two channel then why would I get a class D amp AVR then ?

There are very few class D avrs. What are you referring to particularly?

 

[Davvy]

There are very few class D avrs. What are you referring to particularly?

I'm sorry I was under the impression that cheaper stuff used Class D amps, and higher quality stuff used AB amp. Originally I was going to get a Onkyo TX-NR6100 avr. I'm still learning so go easy on me, I don't want to buy anything until I have a somewhat a decent knowledge of what's good and that's why I'm asking questions.

Do you think a avr like the Onkyo TX-NR6100 would give almost as good sounding audio vs something like AudioLabs 6000a or the Rotel A14 MKII ?

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm sorry I was under the impression that cheaper stuff used Class D amps, and higher quality stuff used AB amp. Originally I was going to get a Onkyo TX-NR6100 avr. I'm still learning so go easy on me, I don't want to buy anything until I have a somewhat a decent knowledge of what's good and that's why I'm asking questions.

The highest quality external/power amps now use purifi/hypex modules (class d) that are leading the way....judging by price alone is a fool's errand.

 

[Davvy]

The highest quality external/power amps now use purifi/hypex modules (class d) that are leading the way....judging by price alone is a fool's errand.

Well I wouldn't be buying the highest quality stuff first of all. This is the video that I was refencing.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well I wouldn't be buying the highest quality stuff first of all. This is the video that I was refencing.

Good grief grandpa bullshit Paul

 

[Cos]

I appreciate people helping me but the Denon DRA-800H or the like won't be even close to audiophile quality. I'll admit they that I'm new to this stuff but I've been researching for a couple of months. I've read often that AVR's for two channel setup is good but not great. Now if you guys say that it's almost just as good then, I'll won't bother any more and just get a decent AVR then.

I really like the Rotel A14 MKII but it doesn't have WI-FI. Can someone tell me how are people who are people semi-serious about quality audio how are they streaming it to units like the Rotel A14 MKII ($1600) for example ? Without using a wire and USB connection, I would be forced to use the Bluetooth is that how folks stream to units like the Rotel A14 MKII with their android phone cause that's what I have as a phone.

I forgot to mention the Rotel does have wireless aptX would that be give me Cd-quality according to what I've read. Is that people are using then and should it be good enough though ?

The features seem somewhat antiquated, AptX is close to CD quality sound, AptX HD is better, and there is AptX Low latency. I was checking to see what version of bluetooth it has listed, they don't say anywhere in the manual.

Your wishlist definitely lends itself to a receiver as you will find all those options. I am sure with a solid reciever, you would be hard pressed to hear an audible difference between that an a comparable priced integrated amp.

Class D is not the downgrade you have read. I am very happy replacing my front 3 from Parasound Halo's to the ATI I am currently using. I can't hear a difference and the Class D is lighter, silent and doesn't cause tweeter buzz on my Personas.

Only thing I could find close to your criteria is the Marantz Model 40N, which you already found and at that price point, you could get a really nice receiver.

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm not looking for a AVR, just because you don't think tone controls is nessasary doesn't make them obsolete, it's just a opinion. But with that said I might just get the AudioLab 6000a a try them out. What I'm worried about is getting a future pair of speakers that needs a little tone fixing, I mean isn't that a possibility ?

If speakers need equalizing then they are lousy speakers, and you should not have bought them. In any event, AVRs and AVPs have equalizer functions, which are far better and more versatile than the old Baxandall tone controls.

It is clear to me that you have a lot of misconceptions and that you need to do a lot more study of system design before you spend any money, otherwise it will disappear down the drain. It is adherence to good engineering practices and skillful implementation that builds superior systems.