Reasonable Budget Amp

Cambridge Audio A5 Budget Amplifier
If your starting off and want an amp that will do the job, this is a good buy, if you can pick up a good one for around the £60 mark it makes solid sense. The connections for plugs and speakers are solid for the money. The sound is good enough, for the price.
I had one as a second system when I spent a lot of time living in two places. It performed well and has reliable. The phono stage is an optional extra. If you already have a separate phono stage, consider bypassing the one that comes with this amp. Recently my main amp (Audiolab 8000A) gave trouble with dodgy interconnects. While I waited for the parts to get to me I plugged in the old A5 through my B&W 601 speakers the thing sounded flat and 2D compared to the Audiolab, Detail and pace in the bass was very average. Basically, it stopped me listening to my music.

Having said that, Hi-Fi experience is relative. When new, these things sold for around £120 back between 2000 & 2002. My point is that a lot of things happen when it comes to amp quality at A5 money & ones the sell for £500. So my experience is a bit unfair but I put it down because if your shopping around it's the nature of the second hand market that you might come across a much better amp for only a small bit more cash.
Anyway, This is a good little amp for the right money and if paired with a reasonable set of second hand speakers (for as much as you can afford / fit in your gaff) the A5 will serve you well and blow away anyone who has been suffering sounds from a MP3 dock etc. If that's where your at - you will be smiling!

Beware - once you start getting into Hi-Fi there's no going back!