I'm planning on piping my electronic collection of music into my upstairs living room using a Squeezebox. I've got a nice pair of B&W speakers that I can use for this purpose - but what I'm really looking for is a very basic AMPLIFIER (no need for radio on this piggie) with SPDIF in to drive the speakers. Nothing fancy required. The only other component might be a CD player. No TV in the room at all. Any recommendations on a basic amp?

You say basic... But what price range?

From personal experience, I would say 'go with a Sherwood Newcastle amp' - the one we have at home is great, and while it's a little outdated now, I'm pretty sure the quality remains as high as it is for our model.

Alternatively, and with scope for future upgrades and perhaps integration into an HTPC environment, perhaps something Denon? http://audioreview.com/PRD_299659_2718crx.aspx (though that model is about £550 :S )

My friend has an almost-solely Acoustic Solutions setup, and he's always lauding the merits of the hardware.

Perhaps something like the Yamaha RXV450? It does Dolby Digital EX so I guess it'll do SP/DIF. The main problem I have finding models which meet your requirement(s?) is that they are a bit vague when it comes to the fineries of the specifications for all these amps... So it's hard to recommend any one without personal experience (I don't thiiiiiiiink the Sherwood amp we have has SP/DIF, though I'm probably wrong as it has just about everything else... It's almost rooted into our hifi cabinet though, I can only just pull it forward enough to plug phono leads into the back of it, and even then it's guesswork where to push them in).

Unless you want a standalone D/A it may be tough to find a 2 channel amp with a digital input. Digital connects really took off in consumer gear with 5.1 sound so the economy of mass production may make a 5.1 AV receiver (or preamp) cheaper than a 2 channel with digital in. Technology marches fast in this field, so for a 2 channel application you could get a firesale price on "obsolete" 5.1 Dolby digital gear because it doesn't have DTS or extra side channels. I got a Dennon Dolby Digital decoder.. essentially a preamp with multiple digital inputs, on overstock for <$100 a few years ago.

Any particular reason you are set on using the digital output instead of analog?

@christopher:

Price range - I'd prefer as inexpensive as possible. I mean, this thing doesn't need to do any 5.1 decoding at all, just have either a TOSLINK or digital coax input.

@DonP:

I guess I don't really NEED to use the digital output of the Squeezebox, but I feel better about only amplifying the signal once. The Squeezebox has it's own volume control, and I don't like setting one volume level and then using the amplifier/receiver to increase that level again. Two gains in series are very annoying to me. At least, with the digital out from the Squeeze, you're looking at a line out, which has no amplification associated with it.

Is there a place for clearance receivers with digital inputs that I should know about? Or is this more of the leftovers at major stores that you're talking about?

For both of you - I'd also like it to look very clean. I don't need six bajillion knobs/buttons on the front of the thing. For example, I used to have an old Marantz amp that was just the basics, not much in the way of digital enhancement, etc - just basic knobs. If I can get something like this WITHOUT the digital connection, that'd probably be preferable. Old skool.

I got it at ubid.com. THat's an online auction place that tends to draw manufacturers liquidating last years models, or refurbed returns.

Cerebus, you can't describe amps by features only. The most basic amp is a monoblock and there is no limit to the price of these.

Well, the fact is that I don't have any specs to give you - I'm clueless about what would satisfy my needs - which is why I'm asking here. I know it's stupid to buy a component based on how it looks, but that's part of the package. I can tell you that I can ABX LAME APS easily vs. lossless, but not MPC extreme vs. lossless - so I have a decent critical ear.

I'll check out ubid - thanks.

Any feelings about AudioSource?

OK, based on other stuff that I've read in other posts, I think I might like an Audiosource AmpTwo - the cheapest I can find one right now is around $250 new. I'd like to spend less than that if possible. The specs on it, however, are really what I'm looking for: 1-2 selectable audio inputs, a volume control, and about 80W/channel, 8 ohm speaker impedance. Are there any other brands I should look at, or is this my best bet? My goal is to sit a Squeezebox2 on top of this thing and that'll be the entirety of my living room stereo.

You have to match with speakers and musical tastes.

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/c...h&item=c1mw21ee
MegaWorks 210D
Very basic. Thow away satellites, hide the sub, turn its volume down, and all you'll have visible is wired remote control.

You're aware that the Squeezebox has analog out, aren't you? So you don't really need a DAC unless you're trying to upgrade the sound. Also, the new Squeezebox2 due out at the end of the month incorporates a higher quality DAC, so (in theory) should sound better than the SB1.

That said, I've been looking for about the same thing as you. The best bet, especially for the money, is probably the Panasonic SA-XR50 receiver. It has everything you don't want (it's an inexpensive home theater receiver) but many people have raved about the sound when used in two-channel systems. You're not likely to find many reasonably priced amplifiers with digital inputs and internal DACs except in the home theater realm, where digital input is expected, so the Panny may be your best bet. Of course, if you accept a two piece system you can use just about any DAC you like and then just about any integrated amp. Not likely you can do it for less than the cost of the SA-XR50, though.