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Favourites: integrated amplifiers

Our picks, plus the dealer favourites

January 2005

AudioEnz picks

NAD C320BEE $699

A flexible integrated amplifier, including a headphone socket, at an affordable price. Reviewed in the context of a system, reviewer John Groom found a sweet and focussed sound, able to portray the space around an instrument. Now $100 lower in price than we reviewed, the 320BEE is an audiophile bargain. AudioEnz review

Rega Brio $1000

The Brio is “a sweet and clean amplifier that is lively and well balanced,” said reviewer John Groom. A favourite of several AudioEnz contributors, the Brio gets straight to the heart of the music and offers up an enjoyable listen. An amplifier best buy. AudioEnz review

NAD C372 $1799

A big and beefy amplifier, outputting 150 watts, the NAD C372 should drive almost any speaker with ease. Reviewer Brent Burmester found that he was “very pleasantly surprised by the level of detail retrieval. Rhythmic nuances lost through other amps in the same budgetary ballpark remain very much intact. Soundstage width and horizontal placement is very strong, and colouration is very low, without the trade-off of compressed or homogenized sound.” Now $200 lower in price than when we reviewed it, the 372 offers a lot of amplifier for the money. AudioEnz review

Naim Nait 5i $2650

Like other Naim products, the 5i amplifier brings out the pace, rhythm and timing within the music. Rated at 50 watts, the 5i has a wonderful quality of construction and finish, both for the amplifier and the remote control. More universal than previous Naim products with phono sockets alongside the traditional Naim DIN sockets, the 5i is a sophisticated amplifier at a more real world price. AudioEnz review

What the dealers say

Living Sound, Nelson

Marantz PM-7200 $1499

There’s a plethora of integrated amplifiers in the audio marketplace at present. Prices range from a few hundred dollars through to the super integrateds that rival the cost and performance of top pre/power combos.

Some however, stand head and shoulders above the crowd in their respective price brackets. The Marantz PM-7200 is one such product. It’s music making is pure Marantz, smooth and detailed, with good dynamics. A nice balance between flexible operation and room filling power add to its appeal.

It’s not fussy regarding various speaker brands, and with a good floorstander, it will deliver plenty of volume without losing any of its composure. For those that value quality over quantity, the PM-7200 can be run as a Class A 25 watter.

Rotel RA-1062 $1699

Lively, fast and full of boogie. Rotel’s latest 60 watter is a true champion. Our favourite combination with this amp is it’s obvious partner, Rotel’s RCD-1072 compact disc player and a pair of New Zealand made Image 412 speakers. If your feet ain’t tappin’ to this setup brother, you’re dead! Bass lines are well defined, drums have punch, and cymbals ring through with a bell like tone. No oven trays here.

Synergy is the Holy Grail of hi-fi, and this trio get you there big time for a very modest financial outlay.

Perreaux Radiance R200i $8199

Pure class is the first impression you get laying eyes on this no compromise high-end super integrated from Perreaux. It’s exemplary looks however, are only the beginning.

With a top quality CD source (nothing under 5k need apply for the job) and speakers from the likes of Sonus Faber, Image or Magnepan, this amp is capable of taking you and your music collection to uncharted new heights. Nothing is blown out of proportion or euphonically pepped up. It just allows what’s coming from the source to pass through undefiled to the speakers.

Deep bass, crystal clear highs and huge dynamic swings are par for the course with this dual mono, 200 watter. With it’s fully microprocessor controlled pre amp section, it shows you can have your cake and eat it too.

The Real Music Company, Wellington

Cambridge Audio Azur 540A $700

As our entry level integrated amplifier with all knobs (A+B speakers, headphone socket and tone controls) the Azur540A is wonderful bargain. Rated at 50 watts into eight ohms, and boasting an oversized transformer with six inputs (one with optional upgrade to phono stage) this amp performs at a level far in excess of the meagre price asked therefore has to be one of audio’s great bargains. Another strengths of the amp is the ease with which it fits into any system, driving most speakers with ease and when matched with the companion CD player, the Azur 540C ($600), connected with a quality interconnect, you have a starter system that is a remarkable bargain. An easy to use remote control completes the package.

Rega Brio $1000

Take away all the knobs of the Cambridge (and the remote capability), use musicians to design your circuitry and you have a winner in the $1000 Rega Brio. By not offering the myriad of tone control etc circuitry, and letting the design team concentrate on obtaining the highest possible sound quality at this price range this remarkably robust performer has been a mainstay of our integrated amplifier range for a number of years.

Given Rega’s turntable fame it is no surprise to find a built in phono stage alongside the other four line inputs. Rated at 38 watts into eight ohms this is another amp that tells the story that these ratings are no where near as important as the result as the Brio effortlessly drives most loads.

Basically you need to move a long way in other brands to get the all important timing this winner delivers, so time and again it out performs the opposition in out listening room.

Naim NAIT 5i $2650

The Nait (as in Naim Audio Integrated) amplifier has been a darling of the hi-fi press for twenty years. Noted for the remarkable musical deliver of detail while displaying considerable control rarely found in an integrated setting, this is the entry into the Naim world that has introduced many a novice to just what a musical experience genuine hi-fi can be.

Now even more user friendly with the inclusion of phono plugs alongside the traditional Naim DIN plugs, phono can be added with the addition of one of Naim's outboard phono boxes. Interestingly a Naim power supply for connecting an iPod is also available, again transforming the delivery from the little boxes to listenable levels. A remote control is included.

The recent removal up the upgrade circuitry from the Nait alongside sonic enhancements has not only reduced the price of the new Nait 5i by some $1100 but has somewhat remarkably produced an even finer amplifier. The now legendary Naim rhythmic drive and musical vitality is to be found here in abundance making the Nait 5i the pick of our integrated amplifier stock.

The Listening Post, Christchurch

Yamaha AX-596 $899

The Yamaha AX-596 integrated amp is the underdog of quality hi-fi amps - I just can't help admiring it. Sounds corny you say? No, it sounds good. It has guts. But guts in a good way: plenty of raw power. At 100 watts RMS (real watts), it is perfect for an entry-level setup for an apartment, say, or for those making their first foray into the world of hi-fi. Everyone likes the underdog.

It's simple and hardworking. It does the job it was designed to do, and does it well. With precisely six inputs and a built-in phono stage, so there is no need to panic, your turntable need not lay forlorn and gathering dust in a corner. The CD Direct feature bypasses the input switching and tone controls for cleaner CD playback, and the Pure Direct feature removes the tone controls on the other inputs. This is not something to bet taken lightly. Oh no. Remember that this is a so-called 'budget' product. Yamaha have gone to incredible lengths to make sure that this remains a quality product, worthy of their marque. How many other integrated amplifiers at the same price point have a remote and A+B speakers? And more importantly enough power to drive both A and B speakers. The tone, balance, selectable rec-out selector and headphone socket can be tastefully hidden behind a flip-down panel. All the functions are available from the remote. Ok, so the styling is 'austere', and comes in black, black or black. Ask yourself, though... for about $900 what more could you need from your stereo amp?

It sounds great, and will last a lifetime. All this for a piffling sum of money. Those looking for a great value stereo amplifier would be hard pressed to beat the Yamaha AX-596.

NAD C320BEE. $699

Our favourite junior hi-fi amplifier would most certainly be the NAD C320BEE. With far more finesse than you’d expect from an amp at this price point, and a bundle of power rock out with, this little amp can perform fantastically across the musical board.

Many budget amplifiers sacrifice either power or precision, making them a “Rock” amp, or a “Jazz” amp. This is fine if you enjoy only one genre of music, however if you have more eclectic taste you are going to be disappointed. Not with the NAD C320BEE it’s an all round beauty, pure and simple!

The Perreaux Radiance 200i. $8199

The saying “good things come in small packages” could be applied to the Radiance R200i At 13.5 kg and no larger than most decent CD players it makes you wonder if all the specs could add up.

With 200 watts (continuous per channel), dual mono power supply, class A/AB, both balanced and unbalanced RCA inputs, direct input for home theatre use, fully microprocessor controlled and a funky remote with too many things to mention here.  I can’t think of any amp out there that can boast that kind of specs and size of the R200i. 

Did I mention the looks and build quality? Nothing short of stunning.

So, does it perform like the specs would suggest? Yes, and then some.

We’ve listened to a number of 200w amps and found many lacking in one way or another. Harsh top end, sluggish bottom end or just plain dull. Then there is the other extreme where they sound so processed, (very un-natural).

But not the R200i, it’s rich and full with great detail and spaciousness. The speed and timing gives that “I’m there” feeling. One of our staff has owned one for over 18 months now and still enjoys every moment.