AV123 ELT525M's - Integrate/Receiver under $250

[corbin]

Hi everybody. I currently have a pair of Polk RTi8’s powered by a vintage Sansui G-9000, and although the receiver is great and the speakers are okay I need something smaller since I now live at college in a dorm. Since I already have stands I have decided on a pair of ELT525’s… my only problem is that I will need to buy a new receiver/solid state integrate since my 1977 Sansui doesn’t supply consistent power. I only have about $250 to spend on this endeavor and I have luckily found a Cambridge Audio A500RC for $160 on Audiogon. I would like to get this amp but I’ve read that its sound is on the warm side which doesn’t seem like a good match for the ELT525’s. So I need either confirmation that the match will be fine or recommendation of another amp under $250. Music is mostly rock.

What about these?

Rotel RA-840BX2
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1259432337&/Rotel-

Onix A-60
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1258166269&/Onix-A-60

The lack of seller feedback on those two kind of scares me though. Is that typical on Audiogon?

My guess is that the Onix is the best out of these three. I know the MKI doesn’t have a headphone input but the MKII does. Does anybody know which generation this one is?

 

[lsiberian]

Hi everybody. I currently have a pair of Polk RTi8’s powered by a vintage Sansui G-9000, and although the receiver is great and the speakers are okay I need something smaller since I now live at college in a dorm. Since I already have stands I have decided on a pair of ELT525’s… my only problem is that I will need to buy a new receiver/solid state integrate since my 1977 Sansui doesn’t supply consistent power. I only have about $250 to spend on this endeavor and I have luckily found a Cambridge Audio A500RC for $160 on Audiogon. I would like to get this amp but I’ve read that its sound is on the warm side which doesn’t seem like a good match for the ELT525’s. So I need either confirmation that the match will be fine or recommendation of another amp under $250. Music is mostly rock.

What about these?

Rotel RA-840BX2
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1259432337&/Rotel-

Onix A-60
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1258166269&/Onix-A-60

The lack of seller feedback on those two kind of scares me though. Is that typical on Audiogon?

My guess is that the Onix is the best out of these three. I know the MKI doesn’t have a headphone input but the MKII does. Does anybody know which generation this one is?

Look at a pro-amp like the Behringer EP2500 or a used QSC amp. You will get a lot more headroom for rock that way.

 

[ju10503]

I have an Onix CD-5 and am very happy with it. The Onix A-60 and A-120 are probably good, but I have no experience with them.

AV123.com currently has a garage sale going with A-60 for $35 and A-120 for $45 BUT they are functionally defective in unspecifiable ways (I've called a few times and they won't tell). They charge $$$ for shipping, like $40, so add that to the prices plus whatever it may cost to fix.

Other options are a used Cambridge Audio Azur 340A (mine is on auction at Audiogon) or a used NAD 315BEE at Spearit.

New here, so cannot post links.

Good luck.

 

[corbin]

I think I've settled on a Bada DC-222 hybrid... thanks everyone.

 

[ju10503]

How's that Bada(ss) amp doing?

 

[Lordoftherings]

I think I've settled on a Bada DC-222 hybrid... thanks everyone.

Hi corbin,

Should be great (try "The Fifth Element" on blu-ray), I'll bet you'll be totally satisfied, corbin.

 

[Seth=L]

Hi corbin,

Should be great (try "The Fifth Element" on blu-ray), I'll bet you'll be totally satisfied, corbin.

Mr. Dallas?

 

[Lordoftherings]

Mr. Dallas?

That's exactly right; "Corbin Dallas" from "The Fifth Element", play by Bruce Willis.