integrated/pre amp ideas
cstmar01
Posts: 4,424
so after picking up the SRS's I will now be looking for a pre amp to use with them.
At first I was thinking about getting a Burson or Wyred however have been thinking.
I was originally going to set another system up with my Thiel's I have and get an integrated for them. I've been thinking of possibly trying to get an integrated still but use it as so with the Thiels and then use it as a pre amp with the SRS's when I want to run them.
I've been thinking of Rogue for the integrated but wanted to hear some other ideas. I haven't moved yet so I really don't have the extra room right now for both an SRS set up and the Thiel set up until I do (unless they go to my gf's place).
Budget is around 1500 -2000 max and would be doing this in probably a month or two as I have to save up seeing I just bought the SRS's lol. I might do the integrated for now and then get the Burson once I do move or something, not 100% sure.
Associated gear is Parasound HCA2200, Pioneer CDP, Signal Ultra and Audioquest IC's and SDA SRS's and Thiel CS2's.
I'm currently running these through an Adcom GFP 750 but would like to return that back into the main 2 channel room with the Amazings and 5802.
PS I also thought of saving a bit more and getting a Musical Fidelity integrated or even a BAT which I can find around 2500-3000 but would have to wait a bit longer for the funds for that.
At first I was thinking about getting a Burson or Wyred however have been thinking.
I was originally going to set another system up with my Thiel's I have and get an integrated for them. I've been thinking of possibly trying to get an integrated still but use it as so with the Thiels and then use it as a pre amp with the SRS's when I want to run them.
I've been thinking of Rogue for the integrated but wanted to hear some other ideas. I haven't moved yet so I really don't have the extra room right now for both an SRS set up and the Thiel set up until I do (unless they go to my gf's place).
Budget is around 1500 -2000 max and would be doing this in probably a month or two as I have to save up seeing I just bought the SRS's lol. I might do the integrated for now and then get the Burson once I do move or something, not 100% sure.
Associated gear is Parasound HCA2200, Pioneer CDP, Signal Ultra and Audioquest IC's and SDA SRS's and Thiel CS2's.
I'm currently running these through an Adcom GFP 750 but would like to return that back into the main 2 channel room with the Amazings and 5802.
PS I also thought of saving a bit more and getting a Musical Fidelity integrated or even a BAT which I can find around 2500-3000 but would have to wait a bit longer for the funds for that.
Post edited by cstmar01 on
Comments
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Well - I have a NAD c375BEE integrated that I've been using w/ my LSi9s and have been very happy with it. Seemingly endless power reserves and meshes well w/ Signal cables/ICs and my W4S DAC-1.
2 x 150W Continuous Power into 4 Ohms and 8 ohms
200W, 365W, 500W IHF Dynamic power into 8, 4 and 2 ohms, respectively
~$1200 new, ~$800 used I think.
I rarely have to turn the volume past 25% for it be really loud, so I suspect it would do well at driving larger speakers. Also can be used as a pre only.ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place
Home Theater:
KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch
2 Channel:
Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs -
I'm confused Chris, is the integrated to drvie the Thiels or the SRS's? Why would you want to compromise and use an integrated for a pre-amp? What amp are you using for the SRS's?
Is the SRS system a main system in a large room? A small room and you'll listen at lower levels? Not sure a run of the mill integrated will do the SRS's justice.
Sorry, I had a helluva time following your initial post as it's all over the place.
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
The MF or BAT integrated would be a great choice for whatever you want it to run."Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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Sorry, its lunch time so I'm trying to post, do work, and eat at the same time.
The SRS's right now are set up in my HT room as its the largest. I would use the integrated as such with the Thiels as they are pretty easy to drive. I would then use it as a Pre amp for just the SRS's as I have the parasound 2200 to use in the mean time for them.
I was trying to kill two birds with one stone. Seeing I didn't have the extra room for a system of the thiels and the SRS's until I moved I figured, buy integrated now, use as pre amp with SRS's then when I move buy another pre amp and move the integrated into a room for use with the Thiels.
I have right now have 5 pairs of speakers and 3 systems going. When I move I'll have enough room to do a 4th system so it would be two 2 channel systems and 2 HT systems.
If that even make any sense! lol:redface: -
Why not get a pre-amp and run the Parasound amp with either the Thiels or the SRS's? Why complicate things with running the integrated on the Thiels and then having to hook up the integrated as a pre for the Parasound to run the SRS's?
Many of your higher end integrated's don't have pre-amp capabilities anyway.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
As far as an integrated goes...MF is hard to beat, IMO.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
As far as an integrated goes...MF is hard to beat, IMO.
BDT
+1.
MF A5s pop up on audiogon for ~$1300-$1500
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
The MF A5 at $1500 used is a fine match for the SRS's. I would avoid class D integrateds, the two times I heard them paired with SRS's they sounded flat.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
The A5 looks awesome it has a ton of features and I really like MF from what I heard. I was thinking of even going with a Tri Vista or KW500 as long as I saved up enough. (then again I'm not sure if I want to wait that long as I would like to get something sooner than later). There is a Tri Vista right now for like 2400 which IMO seems like it would be a good one.
The BAT I wouldn't want to run on the SRS's as an integrated but the MF could work. I know people that run the BAT integrated on some tougher loads and they said it runs out of steam pretty quick.
and Brock my line of thinking was I have to get either a integrated or pre amp sometime. I figured I could do an integrated now as my budget would be less for it and then save up more for the pre amp later to pair. Seeing I would probably be moving once I have all the funds for the pre I could just move the integrated with the Thiels to another room and be set to go with that. Seeing the integrated would be less in terms of money I could get it quicker seeing I've been moving my GFP 750 back and forth depending on which system I want to listen to and it gets annoying at times.
A pre amp that I've had in mind for awhile is the BAT 32SE which I've heard and really liked but didn't like the price lol... -
You still haven't answered my questions?
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Why not get a pre-amp and run the Parasound amp with either the Thiels or the SRS's? Why complicate things with running the integrated on the Thiels and then having to hook up the integrated as a pre for the Parasound to run the SRS's?
Many of your higher end integrated's don't have pre-amp capabilities anyway.
H9
sorry :redface:
well here's the thing.
My main two channel at this point was the Amazings, Adcom 5802, Adcom 750 pre, Esoteric DV50, TT ect.
I was planning on going with either Parasound, Pass or BAT finally for a system for my main 2 channel. However upon getting the SRS's I want to swap them in and out for the 2 channel rig. (the place I'm planning on moving to will have a huge open space and I was going to use the system for both the amazings and the SRS's and just swap in and out depending on what I wanted to hear. The Thiels would go into a 2nd bedroom, My A9's into a HT room and my Paradigms for the Bedroom HT set up).
This would then cause a problem with Pass as I can't use the Pass Lab amps (x350 was my choice) on the SRS's but could use with Amazings. I wanted to keep the pre in the same family as the amp. The Parasounds I was looking for JC1's but again Mono blocks so don't work for SRS's but work for Amazings.
Finally the BAT I was looking at the VK500 which is dual mono and I doubt would work.
So I've been now looking for amps that would work and be a good fit with both the Amazings and the SRS's. Depending on the amp would help determine the pre amp.
Seeing I know I am going to need an integrated for the Thiels down the road I figured why not get one now, and then figure out later what to run for the main 2 channel as my pre amp would be dictated by the amp I choose. The Parasound was intended to be my HT amp and used with my A9's which I was doing until this last weekend when I picked up the SRS's. Seeing the Parasound is common ground it works great and my largest room is my HT room. So I have them set up there. -
Holy Crap, I thought I was indecisive!!! :eek::eek:
Good luck
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
I was thinking of even going with a Tri Vista or KW500
Either one of those and you'll retire whatever else you're using now and call it a day. However, both are dual mono (non-common ground), so no worky with the SRS's.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Run, don't walk to the Wyred 4 Sound preamp. A big time upgrade over my respected, but somewhat old school AA DLC.
WesLink: http://polkarmy.com/forums
Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d -
Either one of those and you'll retire whatever else you're using now and call it a day. However, both are dual mono (non-common ground), so no worky with the SRS's.
Thanks for letting me know Jesse. I didn't realize that. -
Holy Crap, I thought I was indecisive!!! :eek::eek:
Good luck
H9
LOL !!!
The MF intergrateds are pretty sweet, but as Jesse said, no common ground. Of coarse you could use that as an excuse to try out a new set of speaks.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
I didn't mean indecisive like that other clown with the SDA's and Emo and the neighbor, etc (audiocr8ve). I just meant you have a lot of combinations, gear, rooms, rigs, etc., to make a decision about.
I thought deciding on which tubes to use in one of my 4 tube pieces was agonizing! :eek:
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Seems to me an A-1 would greatly broaden your connectivity options.Too much **** to list....
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Seems to me an A-1 would greatly broaden your connectivity options.
from my knowledge the A1 won't work with the original SRS's. otherwise I would jump right now it. My serial numbers are below 5000.
and Brock its crazy. I like to have choice to listen to something different. In the future once I get this all figured out I was going to play around with low watt tube amps and high eff. speakers to see how I like it lol.
Never ends.
and I can never figure out what I want...and then when I get close I go and buy something else to throw it all off, like the SRS's (which I love so they are not going anywhere) -
Seems to me an A-1 would greatly broaden your connectivity options.
Can't be used with original SRS's at all no matter what serial number one has.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Can't be used with original SRS's at all no matter what serial number one has.
H9
ah I thought I read a thread somewhere that if you had over 5K for a serial it was possible.
My mistake.
:redface: -
ah I thought I read a thread somewhere that if you had over 5K for a serial it was possible.
My mistake.
:redface:
You are thinking some 2B's and 1C's and CRS's that certain serial numbers and above can utilize the AI-1. I'm sure you got a good deal but that's one of the advantages of getting later model SDA's. If you are going to use some higher end amps many of them aren't common ground so you could build a nice stout AI-1.
When I move up the Pass Labs line my 1C's can use the AI-1 so I'm set when I go that direction.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Can't be used with original SRS's at all no matter what serial number one has.
H9
Ahh. Did not know that.Too much **** to list.... -
Can't be used with original SRS's at all no matter what serial number one has.
H9
According to the info on the AI-1 carton, the SDA SRS above #5001, both channels, can use it. I suspect that these are actually 1.2's that were still labeled as SRS's.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
According to the info on the AI-1 carton, the SDA SRS above #5001, both channels, can use it. I suspect that these are actually 1.2's that were still labeled as SRS's.
That would make sense
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
How much power are you looking for.
The Integrated I use and love for it's simplicity is the Exposure 3010S2. Don't let the watts per channel fool you. This thing is a tank and works extremely well with the SDA's.
Stats and info from website:
• Input Impedance : 17K Ohms minimum (line input)
• Input Sensitivity : 250mV
• Pre-amplifier Output : 1V for rated input (gain + 18dB full volume)
• Frequency Response : 20Hz - 20KHz ? 0.5dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion : <0.03% at rated output, ref. 1KHz
• Signal to Noise Ratio : >100dB, ref. rated output
• Channel Separation : >60dB, 20Hz - 20KHz
• Mains Supply : 110/120V or 220/240V, 50/60Hz (factory set)
• Power Consumption : <400VA, 8 Ohms load, both channels driven
• Dimensions - H x W x D : 115mm x 440mm x 300mm
• Net Weight (unpacked) : 12kg
1. 110 watts RMS per channel into 8 Ohms
2. Six line inputs
3. Option to fit a MC or MM phono module
4. Bi-wiring compatible
5. Separate pre-amp output with class A buffer stage
6. Remote control
7. High quality capacitors used in the signal path
8. Uniquely tuned short signal and power supply path PCB
9. Cascode circuitry utilised for improved power supply immunity
10. Fast bipolar transistor output stage for dynamic and vivid performance
11. All aluminium casework and extruded front panel to control resonance and stray electro-magnetic fields
12. Three-year guarantee -
well seeing the integrated would just be used as a pre on the SDA's I wouldn't care about output for them. The integrated for the most part would be with the Thiels and I know they don't need a ton of power at all.
Exposure is cool I've heard them before and forgot all about them. For their price they are really nice...
