Integrateds with separable pre/power

[JayNudel]

Hey folks, help me with a hypothetical question. Right now I am running a Hegel H160 integrated into Vandersteen Treos. The one issue that I do have is that my room kind of messes with the bass response from maybe 60-90hz; that being the case I lust after a pair of Quatros with their integral bass management and high-pass filter that usually goes between preamp and power amp. Will eventually probably end up with a pair of tube monoblocks but for several reasons (rack space, being away sometimes and not wanting the wife to have to deal with tube issues) I might look for another solution in the near term. I can use my H160 as a preamp into any power amp, but might also look into an integrated with separable pre and power sections. The Accuphase and Luxmans have, but it's controlled with a switch, which I am not in love with - you're playing music and somebody presses the button and the un-rolled off bass is sent to the speaker amps, which would likely lead to big trouble. So I might consider an integrated which is sonically not inferior to the Hegel (and that sets a high bar right there) but which either uses jumpers between pre and power sections or a rear-mounted switch. I think also it would need to be at least 120wpc, as my room is quite large. So far I have found Bryston and Mcintosh; any other possibilities come to mind?

[Mike]

Two come to mind: Ayre 5 series and Gryphon Diablo 120. The new Ayre 8 series integrated might be worth considering too.

[JayNudel]

Thanks!!!! I had heard one of the older Ayre integrateds with my speakers and it didn't slay me, but it wasn't really a fair match - 60wpc is really not enough for these speakers in a large space.

[Mike]

Thanks!!!! I had heard one of the older Ayre integrateds with my speakers and it didn't slay me, but it wasn't really a fair match - 60wpc is really not enough for these speakers in a large space.

The Vitus RI-100 is another one worth considering. 300 watts.

[CPP]

Can you do anything with your room, have you performed any measurements? maybe some treatments, are you using your Sub in combination with you're current setup ? just throwing out ideas before you rush out and spend $14,000

[KeithR]

I believe the Dartzeel is - even has separate transformers for each section. Well, I know it can be used with a different power amp.

[JayNudel]

CPP, yeah, I hear you. Not much I can do with the room due to WAF issues. And yes, I have measured, sadly the response anomalies are well above the sub range, and I don't want to run the speakers thru a low-pass crossover. In truth it's not awful, but.... I can obviously deal with this in the digital realm if I want to, but am listening to good bit of analog these days as well.

Anyway to clarify what i am looking for: Amp with pre out and power in. I don't think any of the ones folks suggested above have that. if you take a look at the rear of the Bryston B135 cubed or the Mcintosh MAC6700, that's what I need. Only negative for me with the Bryston is no XLR inputs, which is not a deal-killer, but I'd prefer to have at least one if possible.

[CPP]

Maybe the PASS INT-60. The rear panel includes one set of preamp RCA and XLR outputs,
Naim Supernait 2

[JayNudel]

The SuperNAIT 2 would work, but it's only 80wpc. I greatly doubt that would be enough for me. But keep 'em coming!

[deangale123]

You have a room node typically occurs at around 70 Hz , it can cause a huge suck out of frequency quite wide ( in bass response terms). Try moving your speaker's out or in a little bit and if you could as suggested try a bass trap in the corners. Changing electronics and using equalization won't cure it.

Sent from my SM-T113 using Tapatalk

[bobwah]

darTZeel CTH8550. Can be used as a integrated or pre or power amp.
Cracking amp

[KeithR]

CPP, yeah, I hear you. Not much I can do with the room due to WAF issues. And yes, I have measured, sadly the response anomalies are well above the sub range, and I don't want to run the speakers thru a low-pass crossover. In truth it's not awful, but.... I can obviously deal with this in the digital realm if I want to, but am listening to good bit of analog these days as well.

Anyway to clarify what i am looking for: Amp with pre out and power in. I don't think any of the ones folks suggested above have that. if you take a look at the rear of the Bryston B135 cubed or the Mcintosh MAC6700, that's what I need. Only negative for me with the Bryston is no XLR inputs, which is not a deal-killer, but I'd prefer to have at least one if possible.

Honestly, I still don't understand why you would need this flexibility.

[Jack]

Keith

If you will look on the Vandersteen site at the requirements for hooking up either Vandersteen audio subs or their speakers with built in subs it would make sense to you. The HP filter has to go in-line between the preamp and amp sections. What he is looking for did not use to be all that uncommon to the point that several cable companies including Audioquest used to sell after-market jumpers to replace the u-shaped metal ones. As I used Vandersteen subs for over 15 years I made the same search he is making several times. The only one if found even remotely "reasonable" in price was McIntosh. The Treo is a very power hungry speaker if you want good bass response. It's efficiency is well over rated. I owned a pair for over a year with the subs.

[JayNudel]

What Jack said. The Vandersteen Quatros require this ability, as do other Vandersteen models. or of course you can use a separate pre and power amp, but I would consider a good integrated if I can make that work. One advantage of the hi-pass filter is that it will substantially reduce the power requirements for the amp, which is a good thing. The Vandys are indeed somewhat inefficient; they are not a tough load impedance-wise but they need power, and I use them in quite a large room. For the Treos, in my room, I don't think I'd go lower than 150wpc, which is what I have now. BTW there is a new contender for an integrated that will work with Quatros: the upcoming Aesthetix Mimas, which will even include a compatible high-pass filter. Should be a very good choice, if I decide to stick with an integrated.

[Jack]

Jay

That looks like an interesting option plus being a hybrid gives you a little flexibility to tailor the sound with the preamp tubes.

[JayNudel]

The Mimas looks fantastic but apparently will not have a set of fixed-level preamp outputs, which happens to be something else I need. (no tape loop or fixed outs.. one my life's main pet peeves, along with traffic circles. ) Still kind of where I was, otherwise - Bryston and Mac will work, others not. I am leaning towards just taking the plunge and going with separates.

[JayNudel]

Someone just mentioned to me that Ayre can install the requisite filter in their integrateds... can anyone confirm? That would be a nice solution, if so. The Ax-5 Twenty looks great, only thing I might want that it doesn't have is a set of preamp outs, but I can live with that.

[sharkmouth]

Soulution https://soulution-audio.com/series5/...ted-amplifier/

[JayNudel]

Doesn't look like it would work, at least not without some mods, and not much of a space-saver. Also, I am rich, but probably not quite that rich

[Odyssey]

Soulution https://soulution-audio.com/series5/...ted-amplifier/

The 530 Integrated was my gateway drug into the soulution experience.

[sharkmouth]

Le Roy, I first bought the 520 pre in /12, I now have the 511 & the 560. I can't justify the price of the 7 series but I can fully relate to your statement above.

[JayNudel]

Decided... Going with the Ayre Kx-5 Twenty pre. Will keep my Hegel for now as a power amp, replace it down the line with something., probably tubed. I would have gone with the PS Audio BHK pre but in my setup I really gotta have the fixed-level outputs. Auditioned the Ayre with my speakers at Audio Connection in NJ and it was just amazing.