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Decent stereo amp / pre amp on relative budget

I have started putting together a stereo only system. I have a limited budget (and a huge mortgage, two small children, etc.) but I love music and so I am trying to be cost effective and get the best I can. I already have a pair of Paradigm Studio 100 v.3s and I am considering getting the Anthem Statment A2 amplifier. I am wondering whether I would be better off with a pre amp / amp combo or an integrated amp. I believe the former will give me better sound but at a higher price. I do not have a phono -only a CD player. My budget is tops $3500 for the pre-amp / amp. The room size is 20ft long by 10 ft wide by 9 ft high.

I listen to all sorts of music from classical to hard rock

Any suggestions on what pre amps / amps to consider would be most welcome.
smbestbier
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
The number of available high quality used choices available within your price range is staggering.
My advice:
Buy used.
Stick to well know, well respected brands with a long history.
My personal system has a Forte' 4a amp now $600 used.
And an Adcom 750 pre, also about $600 used.
If I had $3000 to spend..
I would personally look for an Audio Research preamp (prolly' a tube hybred)
(actually i would go for a big two box killer Audio Research pre and hang on to my amp for now.)
And some solid state amp from Threshold.
$1,500 per, and a few bucks left over.
Anyway, if you go used, you have a LOT of great stuff to choose from.
Look on AudiogoN.com
Stick to sellers with lots of feedback)
mdhoover
690 posts
 
I'd at least look at the Odyssey line from Klaus Bunge.
elevick
2,439 posts
 
If you like the anthem, check out Sonic Frontiers?????
reubent
3,587 posts
 
Smbestbier,

Do you already have the CD player or will you be purchasing it too? If you don't already have the CD player, you could get a Quad 99 CDP CD player ($800 used) which has built-in remote volume control. Add a Quad 909 power amp ($900 used) and you would have very good sounding electronics and only need a single pair of interconnect cables.

If you already own a CD player that you plan to use, I would personally suggest a high quality integrated amp. I like the simple systems since they require less shelf space and less dollars invested in interconnect cables. You can buy a Plinius 8200 for about $1200 or a Plinius 8100 for $800. The newer mkII versions are a bit more expensive and the 9100 is yet even a bit more at about $1400-1500 used.

There are lots of great choices out there and you could easily get a quality integrated amp for less than 50% of your max budget.

Enjoy,

TIC
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