Intergrated or pre and power amp

8

81017

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Joined
Jan 28, 2019
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Sweden
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. :-)
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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