Spend less than $500 for receiver or amplifier with these suggestions

Question. I read your column about $300 bookshelf speakers and want to build a stereo system to play CDs and listen to music from my phone. I already have the CD player. What would be a good but affordable receiver or integrated amplifier to use with them?

Answer. The speakers I discussed in the column have undemanding power requirements. That makes it easy to build the basis of a good system without spending a large portion of your budget on a receiver or integrated amplifier.

Sometimes when readers contact me for recommendations they use the words receiver and integrated amplifier as if they are interchangeable. While both a stereo receiver and a stereo integrated amplifier do the same job of powering your speakers, a receiver includes a tuner for listening to the radio and an integrated amplifier does not. Keep this in mind when making your choice. Despite the usefulness of the tuner, stereo receivers are no longer common and there are many more integrated amplifier models on the market. Multichannel surround sound receivers are still very popular for building home theater systems.

A good choice (and perhaps the only good choice under $200) is the Yamaha R-S202 stereo receiver. It will pair well with any of the $300 bookshelf speakers I mentioned (the Polk Signature S20, Q Acoustics 3020i and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+.) The R-S202 has built-in Bluetooth but no phono preamp, so if you want to add a turntable in the future you will need an external phono preamp or a turntable that has the preamp builtin. At only $149 it is an excellent value

and is easy to find either online or at stores like Best Buy. usa.yamaha.com

One of the reasons I frequently recommend Cambridge Audio is they have not abandoned the premium, yet affordable hi-fi market. If you are looking for something a bit more exclusive check out the $225 Cambridge AXA25 integrated amplifier. There is no Bluetooth so you will have to add a $20 Bluetooth receiver device to listen to music from your phone. For $399 the Cambridge Audio AXR85 receiver has a very strong and exceptionally clean-sounding amplifier, as well as Bluetooth and a phono preamp for connecting a turntable. Of course, since it is a receiver it also has a radio tuner. cambridgeaudio.com

The $399 Denon PMA-600NE integrated amplifier belongs on your shopping list as well. It includes a high quality digital-to-analog converter for outstanding CD playback (use your player’s digital connection) along with a phono preamp and built-in Bluetooth. It looks fantastic, too! usa.denon.com

Given the cost of the speakers and how easy it is to drive them, I do not think it makes sense to go above $500 for your receiver or amplifier. Enjoy your new system!

Question. I enjoyed your article answering the question about transistor radio recommendations. I have to disagree on one small point. You make mention of integrated circuits vs. transistors. I should remind you that integrated circuits are composed of transistors, albeit smaller ones than discrete transistors.

Answer. I received several emails from electrical engineers making this very point. What you say is true and I probably should have mentioned that integrated circuits include transistors and other components, but larger discrete transistors and their associated circuitry have lower noise and have higher current handling ability. It leads to higher performance capabilities and better sound, the reasons audiophiles prefer them.

Contact Don Lindich at www.soundadvicenews.com.

USA.YAMAHA.COM Yamaha R-S202 Stereo Receiver.