Need help to upgrade amplifier from Marantz PM8005

[pindranil]

Hi,

After more than 10 years of living with my Marantz 8005, I am exploring upgrade options. I have a small listening room (about 12 feet X 12 feet). And listen almost exclusively to Western Classical and Opera. My budget is up to 6L. Open to pre+power but mostly looking at integrated. Was looking at the Denon PMA3000NE or the older PMA A110 (found some NOS online)…Was also looking at the Luxman 505Z…also need recommendations on matching speakers for the new amp. I listen mostly to CDs (have a large collection of 15000+ CDs and 2 Denon 1700 SACD players) and records (a modest collection of 2500+ records and a Technics SL1200 Mk4 and a Reloop Turn 5, both with VM95ML / Shibata cartridge / styluses).

 

[ajuvignesh]

What are your speakers?
I would suggest you to look at sugden class A, Pass labs Class A, Tube amps if it can drive your speakers well.

 

[pindranil]

What are your speakers?
I would suggest you to look at sugden class A, Pass labs Class A, Tube amps if it can drive your speakers well.

Hi I have concept 20 bookshelf speakers but need to change them too…not into Tube amps yet never having heard any…why do you suggest Class A? Any thoughts on any standard class AB amplifiers?

 

[ajuvignesh]

Hi I have concept 20 bookshelf speakers but need to change them too…not into Tube amps yet never having heard any…why do you suggest Class A? Any thoughts on any standard class AB amplifiers?

class A generally has a soothing sound which works well for music like Jazz, classical, opera etc. Class AB is also good. Any Class AB amp up to a certain wattage is class A. But pure class A has more usable watts. Don't get discouraged by their low wattage like 10 W, 20 W. A 20 W class A can be equivalent to a 100 W class AB amp.

 

[Beast_of_burden]

Given the budget of 6L, the Denon A110 is definitely a contender. I have lived with lower end Denon PMA1500 for years, but it’s on a par with the Marantz. It’s a terrific amp but if you are looking for even greater refinement then it has to be either Luxman or Accuphase, IMO. Lately I have been researching Accuphase and it’s tops on my list of contenders along with Sugden A21SE(affordability). There is that heirloom quality about the Accuphase.

For Class A, field narrows a lot but has its charms. Like SET amps, class A SS is a slippery slope I suspect although I don’t have much experience with SS class A. Sugden A21SE, but speaker selection is important. Pass INT25 by all accounts has no faults. Luxman 550 and 590 now no longer available. Accuphase E700, much higher priced. Pricey, but can’t go wrong with any of these.

 

[bhooshaniyer]

300b tube amplifiers. parallel set design