Amplifiers with digital inputs

[dave2010]

Are there many amps with digital inputs as well as analogue?
It might be irrelevant as maybe inbuilt DACs won't do as well (SQ wise) as externals anyway, but I'm just interested to know what's available.

Currently I'm running a Bantam Gold T amp, but I'm wondering if I'd be better with a regular amp with (say) up to 6 inputs - which could be more convenient. I could continue with my Caiman, and use that to switch in digital inputs, but I was just wondering if any amps do this directly.

I'm looking at models up to (say) £600 (new) - though perhaps would consider second hand. I notice one report on a Marantz PM7003 (maybe NLA) which seemed very good. The Yamaha AS500 seems to get good write ups too, though I don't think either of these have digital inputs.

[Roy S]

My Sony DA1200ES has digital input, but the analogue sounds much better (it has a phono stage). You can pick these up cheap on e-bay these days but they're not really 'hi-fi'

[Jac Hawk]

You need to look at A/V amps mate they come with optical coaxial SPDIF and HDMI

[Martinh]

Hi Dave,

This is the only stereo amp that I know of that has digital inputs (2 coax and 2 optical).

Not sure if it's any good though.

http://www.uk.onkyo.com/en/products/tx-8050-43158.html

Martin

[Mark Grant]

XTZ make an amplifier with digital inputs, XTZ Class A-100 D3 Integrated Stereo Amplifier :

http://www.audiosanctum.co.uk/Integrated-Amplifiers/XTZ-Class-A-100-D3-Integrated-Stereo-Amplifier-Black.html

http://www.audiosanctum.co.uk/Integrated-Amplifiers/XTZ-Class-A-100-D3-Integrated-Stereo-Amplifier-Silver.html

http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx234/server9/forum-pictures/imagephp.jpg

never heard it yet though...
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[howardc1951]

I've got an Onkyo DVD receiver which has optical and coax inputs as well as analogue inputs. I recently started using my caiman to feed the Onkyo analogue inputs and it's definitely better but hardly a night and day improvement.

[Martinh]

Wow, that looks nice - there's a link to the HIFI Choice review too...

http://www.xtz.se/public/file.php?REF=2823f4797102ce1a1aec05359cc16dd9&art=746&FILE_ID=20100507131633_1_12.pdf

[twelvebears]

Wow, that looks nice - there's a link to the HIFI Choice review too...

http://www.xtz.se/public/file.php?REF=2823f4797102ce1a1aec05359cc16dd9&art=746&FILE_ID=20100507131633_1_12.pdf

Seems a bit of a steal for £600....

[tfonseca]

lyngdorf TDAI2200 which is great, but quiet out of your budget.

[Bluedroog]

HK do one very similar to the XTZ with digital inputs too, I think it's the Harman Kardon 990.

[Mark Grant]

A discontinued Sony TA-FA1200ES would be worth trying if you can find one second hand
http://www.sony.lv/product/hfc-amplifier/ta-fa1200es/tab/overview#tab
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[sburrell]

Funnily enough, I was about to post this as a new thread: a review on Macworld of combined amp/DACs:

http://www.macworld.com/article/1165666/review_four_desktop_amplifiers_dacs.html

Also, they're looking for diminutive-sized DACs for a future review of DACs for Macs: Stan, maybe you could send them one of yours?