I suggestyou to test:
Nad 326,
Mara 6004/5,
Denon 720 with your speakers in shop.
Insane test :
Marantz Pm 6004 vs
Quad 34 + 306 vs
Yam AS 500 on
B&W 603 floorstanding
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Yam as 500 in direct comparison with
pm 6004 shows more dry, although more diffuse and detailed high frequencies, similar bass punch, but more fatiguing listening overall, for me. I tested this
AS 500 for a week at home , but then I changed with
Marantz PM 6004 .
Yam AS 500 is a very complete amp, but doesn't meet my preferences for a warm sound with my
B&W; is a beautifull vintage looking amp, with a lot of features, but no good vol and tone knobs and a delicate front plate for fingerprints when you touch ...
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Some months ago I did some measures: CD PinkF Dark Side otm - absolutely high volumes ( there were no neighbors! ) , with vol knob at 15 o'clock , (max is 17 hours) and source direct ; in the peaks I digitally tested (average) : Vmax = 14 V/ch and Imax = 1.7 A, for a maximum power of almost 25 W/ch; I generally listen to 9:30 hours max, with my wife coming & asking me for a lower volumes....I've to say that, while the
Quad 34 + 306 that I owned before for 20 years , with the same
B&W towers, and at a little lower volume, was going in protection (I had to unlock it using the back button) and also warmed up a bit on the smart front radiator, the
Marantz instead was almost cold and never gone + in protection. The Quad was also sounding a little harsh and with harder highs, at these levels, while the
Pm 6004 has retained a good liquidity on the mid & highs, which were still confortable...; anyway, in everydays normal cd listening, at 9:30, I get only an output of 1 W/ch max on peaks, more punchy bass and similar mid vs
Quad!
Just a few thoughts :cheers:
