Thread: Intergrated or pre and power amp
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January 28, 2019, 04:40 AM #1
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Intergrated or pre and power amp
I´ve come to the point where i have to make what i called a blind choice. I don´t have the chance to borrow/take home a bunch of pre/power and intergrated amps. I must state that i have a limited budget otherwise i would go all out on pre/power amp and replace the Audioquest SKY rca.
My system consists of the following:
Nad M50 streamer
Audio research DAC 7
Infinity Kappa 9 Santos
Siltech Golden ridge G5 Digital
Siltech Forbes lake G5 RCA 1m
PAD Dominus 3m speaker cables
Audioquest SKY 1.5m RCA
Audio research LS17 preamp
The Audioquest SKY a great cable for the value but it´s miles off compared to the Siltech. My problem is that i can´t find a Siltech rca/xlr G5 that´s 1.5m, i need 1.5m to go between a pre and power amp. I´m wondering if there is a big integrated tube amp that will sound just as my ARC LS17 with a power amp? The plus side with an integrated would be that i save on interconnects between pre and power amp, and my big worry would be that the Audioquest SKY would choke the sound compared to running Siltech to an Integrated amp.
All tips and ideas are welcome. :-)
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January 28, 2019, 06:41 AM #2
Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.
Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.
Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE
NAD C 658 streamer.
First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)
Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.
Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.
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January 28, 2019, 02:21 PM #3
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Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
Welcome to AS.
You are probably alrady aware, whatever amp you get had better have some current, if not, the 9's will shut it down. Impedance swings realy low.
If it was me, and, you like the LS17, I'd just spend the money on a power amp. Maybe look into Pass which is solid state with a tube like character with plenty of current and power. I've also heard of guys having good luck with tube front end and Class D power amps.
Not so tube like but in an integrated with a lot of drive and value, look at Hegel, a variety of price points.
Aside from saving on cables, if going with an integrated you could then sell the LS17 to help with purchase.
I won't throw too much at you not knowing your budget or what may be available to you.Aurender ACS10 w/Audioquest Diamond USB, Esoteric N05xd
Mark Levinson #526, 534 & JBL 4367's
Clearaudio Performance DC w/Maestro cart
Clarus Concerto & their Crimson cables
HT: Marantz AV8003, Linn 5125, JBL SAM3ha, Revel s30,
SVS PC13 Ultra
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January 28, 2019, 02:29 PM #4
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Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
I thought of another great value in power amps, ATI. They sound great and can feed the starving 9's what they crave. Look at the 3000 series and up. I have not heard the Class D series but from their other amps I'd have full confidence in them. If not available in your country though, freight could be a deal breaker, the ATI are beasts. The 3000 series are A/B and on the warm side of neutral as well, although full frequency, especially in the bottom end.
Aurender ACS10 w/Audioquest Diamond USB, Esoteric N05xd
Mark Levinson #526, 534 & JBL 4367's
Clearaudio Performance DC w/Maestro cart
Clarus Concerto & their Crimson cables
HT: Marantz AV8003, Linn 5125, JBL SAM3ha, Revel s30,
SVS PC13 Ultra
Transparent, Analysis Plus & Tributaries. PS Audio filtering
Sony XBR-75X940D & BDP
Parasound P6, MBL 8006b, Artisan speakers/subwoofer
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January 28, 2019, 02:42 PM #5
Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
81017 welcome to the forum
Flemming
Lumin X1
Rotel Michi S5
Focus Audio FS788
Inter connect : Nordost Tyr 2 ( 2 Meter )
LS cable : Yter
Power Cables : Nordost Frey 2 ( 2 Meter )
Nordost QB8
Fibercable for feeding the Lumin X1
Rack : Finite Elemente Pagode
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January 28, 2019, 02:49 PM #6
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Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
why do your cables cost more than your amp/preamp?
Brinkmann Bardo w/ EMT HSD-006 cart, MSB Reference DAC --> Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL --> Ampzilla 2000, 2nd Edition --> Fyne Audio F1-12
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January 28, 2019, 03:56 PM #7
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Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
May I recommend auditioning the T+A PA3100HV....
T+A MP3100HV, T+A PA3100HV. Custom made Furutech cables with ETP-609 distributor with NCF outlets, Harbeth 40.2 Anniversaries.
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January 28, 2019, 06:02 PM #8
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Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
A great looking high current, high bias amp that might be worth investigating is Coda's recently reviewed Continuum #8.
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January 29, 2019, 03:41 AM #9
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January 29, 2019, 03:54 AM #10
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Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
Kappa 9´s are easy to drive as long as you DON´T put them in what i call stupid mode, which will as you pointed out will drop to 0.5ohms and blow power amps.
Yes i do like the LS17, it´s just that i would have to find another cable on the same level as the Siltech that has to be 1.5m if i´m to buy a power amp. I have Audio Research on my mind in terms of power amps.
I have a friend who has Hegel, i wasn´t impressed. Your idea of a class D amp sounds interesting :-)
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January 29, 2019, 03:54 AM #11
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Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
I´ll check it out. :-)
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January 29, 2019, 03:58 AM #12
Re: Intergrated or pre and power amp
Aavik U-150 sounds fantastic, you need expensive pre/power combinations to better it. (IMHO)
Moon 700i V2, YG Acoustics Hailey, Aurender N10, dCS Rossini, Oppo BDP103D (audiopraise board), Ansuz Mainz 8 D2
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January 29, 2019, 08:35 PM #13
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Looks like Future Audiophile has a review of that Ever unit, looked like same model number.
Streamer selection