Recommended Integrated Amp for Dynaudio Focus 260

Try the NAD C372/375. I used the C372 with the Focus 110 and 140 with success and use it with Vandersteens now. Fantastic bass, a little on the warm side of neutral but very transparent, with very functional tone controls. Sam Tellig called the C372's bass "Krell-like" if I recall--definitely a word of praise. Bass is rock solid with great impact and pitch definition.

I've been impressed with Marantz CD players but not their integrateds. I owned an older model that sounded a little edgy and had a chronically buzzing transformer. That said, I haven't heard the 8004. NADs are very reliable and a great value used--can probably be had for well under $500.

The NAD C375 IS very high value for money. No doubt. And it has great synergy with Dynaudio.

I've heard the Marantz PM8004 and it made my jaw drop. It was powering a pair of Sonus Faber Cremona Ms ($10K/pair), and doing it perfectly: neutral, fast, totally musical, transparent midrange, smooth airy highs, and complete speed, control, and extension in the bass. PM8004 has a pretty sophisticated 3-band EQ with optimum turnover points and boost/cut range for dialing in subtle changes to the tonal balance. Reviews indicate that the (MM-only) phono stage is excellent as well. The PM8004 is the least expensive Marantz amp with an HDAM gain circuit and made at their Reference series factory in Japan. The amp section has an unheard-of 125 dB s/n ratio and it sounds like it. Details and venue ambience emerge out of nowhere and decay almost infinitely into a very low noise floor.

At the NAD's C375BEE price and power rating, I'd also consider the Anthem 225 Integrated.

Thanks to Ablang, Jaxwired and Johnnyb53 !

Today, I managed to try out NAD 375 integrated with my Dyn 260 as the NAD dealer was nearest to my home.

Fantastic improvement!
Even my non-audiophile mother could tell the difference.
She said the music now sounded "complete"/"full"...meaning to say the low-end issue has been addressed, and the music sounds as a "whole" without the previous thin, weak bass.

Yes,the NAD 375 veers a little toward the warm side of neutral, and this is what I like about it. For me, the tone controls are wonderful and practical.

Conversely, the Marantz PM8004 also sounded highly dynamic, lively and feature-packed, but the NAD 375 (when paired with Dyn 260)produced a mid and high-end that was closest to my PrimaLuna Prologue Premium integrated amp. No significant difference. I loved that mid and high-end sound.

Hence, my final choice 1hr ago was the NAD375, and I'm now having my Starbucks on the ground floor of the mall, with a big NAD box by my side!.


Thanks again for the advice.

Congrats on the NAD! That may have been the fastest thread conclusion in history.
FWIW, I had a NAD C352 and felt it had the same character as you described for the bigger model.