Better Integrated Amp?


Hi, I'm looking at my first set up and have been advised by people on this website to get an integrated amp (including phono stage). I'm looking at the Quad Vena 2 which I would have to get second hand due to cost, and the Denon PMA-800NE which I could buy new whilst still being the cheaper option. I'm open to other suggestions to just wanted to get your thoughts on which amp I should go for or if I should look at some others too.
oliverben5672
Okay I will try and find a speaker first and then circle back to an amp which matches it well. Speakers are hard to find out about atm as we are in lockdown I cannot go into any store to listen to them so I’m only going off reviews and peoples opinions on here.
Total budget wise I’m really wanting to keep it under 1,000 total, I was planning on splitting that equally between turntable, amp and speaker but maybe I should prioritise one over the others?
The debut carbon evo turntable is £450 which is a lot of the budget but I was considering the Rega Planar 1 as a cheaper alternative £250, (or the Rega Planar 1+ which has built in Phono preamp and then finding an expensive pair of active speakers but I’ve been told to stick to Passive if possible). Pretty much all of the amps recommended come in around the £350 mark which is about right if I’m splitting it equally.
So considering speakers then, if we’re splitting equal and looking at passive there’s £200 left if I go with the carbon evo, £400 with the RP1.
A few that seem popular and well reviewed are the Elac Debut B5.2, Dali Skeptor 2, KEF Q150, Fyne Audio F302 and Klipsch R-41M which are around budget range. If were to look for an active one for the RP1+ I’d probably go for an edifier. Again open to all advice and really appreciate your guys help, I am completely new to this so would be lost without you
Imo, with that limited of budget, I would consider an alternative. I would consider reallocating the funds toward primarily speakers and pre/amp or integrated. Source temporarily could be phone/laptop for digital, and if it is your pleasure, an inexpensive analog setup. 

There is no demand, rule of system building in which one has to balance the cost of elements of the system. If you plan on upgrading over time, buying everything budget ensures you will have to sooner upgrade everything, and possibly get arguably poorer sound in the meantime. 

Just remember this; the spectrum of sound quality is enormous, much greater than most audiophiles know. You can have many years of upgrading if that is the goal. There is no performance ceiling, not practically. The fact is that you can select any number of products and you will be at the starting line of what you could determine to be a marathon experience over a lifetime. No one here knows the outcome of the recommendations they are making. It's all guesswork. But, the system built will be beginner level; nice, thrilling for you! 

The only way to learn of sound quality and better over time is to keep building rigs (or plow time/money into the recordings/media, but that is tempered by a hard limit on the system's quality). 
Hi,

I'm an audiophile from PORTUGAL,

I recommend I have Yamaha a-s1100, it is excellent or 1200, 2100,2200 etc. etc

above average sound and build quality


Good luck


.
Hello Oliver,
I have tried most levels from budget to crazy expensive. Nothing, and I mean nothing has impressed me like a chines small company called Audio-GD. It is owned and lead by a genus analog engineer goes by Mr. Kingwa. Do not be turned down by thier very basic website, those guys are serious audiophile systems engineers and I highly recommend Audio-GD to anyone. It is not only the best vale for money, there platforms produce a level of musicality that it truly intoxicating and very difficult to find by another system. 

If you need help, lt me know. 
At that budget, I am going to suggest Vintage Receiver with Vintage Speakers (or used newer speakers) to start, and upgrade in the future.

Vintage Receiver will give you several inputs, volume and balance, and MM phono built in. I also suggest getting one with ’loudness’ built in IF you listen at low volume at times. Get one with preamp out, or a tape loop, so you have the option of going out to self powered sub and back into receiver for mains.

Speakers: Vintage or Newer Used have two advantages:

1. less cost
2. buy local pickup and listen at sellers before committing, and get right to return

Speaker Type:

1. Efficient. Start trying to find higher sensitivity higher ___ db/1 watt/ 1 meter for a few reasons.

a. they need less power, saves money now and future upgrades
b. less needed power = smaller amp, lighter, less heat, greater flexibility of location
c. when you try tubes, higher efficiency speakers will keep you in the category of less watts per channel, thus more affordable, smaller, lighter, less heat, flexibility of location

2. Avoid ports, if port, front facing, to avoid muddy reflections from sides, rear surfaces.

3. remember idea of out to self powered sub then sub to amp (or back to receiver) then to main speakers, gives advantages to both amp (or receiver) and advantages to main speakers.

4. IF trying 3 above, I recommend a pair of self-powered subs, front firing, adjacent to mains, to preserve stereo location of bass player. Bass fundamentals and the related overtones give directionality.