Need some advice on the PS Audio HCA-2 Amp
mlebler
Posts: 29
My current setup is an HK-3490 powering a pair of Monitor70's. I recently came across a PS Audio HCA-2 amplifier for $500 and need a bit of advice because I'm rather new to the audio world. My HK-3490 powers my m70's very nicely but I want to try new things out and perhaps even build another stereo setup in the near future. Here are my questions:
-Is $500 a good price for a mint PS Audio HCA-2? Are these amplifiers still good by todays standards?
-Would there be any problem using my HK-3490 receiver as a pre-amp or would a dedicated pre-amp be better?
-What are some budget friendly pre-amps available ($300 or less)? What should I be looking for?
-I run most of my music from my computer through the Coaxial digital out, if I get a pre-amp without digital inputs would running analog be a downgrade in performance? I notice a lot of pre-amps don't have digital so I'm wondering if I that's something I should be looking for?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Marc
-Is $500 a good price for a mint PS Audio HCA-2? Are these amplifiers still good by todays standards?
-Would there be any problem using my HK-3490 receiver as a pre-amp or would a dedicated pre-amp be better?
-What are some budget friendly pre-amps available ($300 or less)? What should I be looking for?
-I run most of my music from my computer through the Coaxial digital out, if I get a pre-amp without digital inputs would running analog be a downgrade in performance? I notice a lot of pre-amps don't have digital so I'm wondering if I that's something I should be looking for?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Marc
Post edited by mlebler on
Comments
-
mlebler thanks for posting the link.Its been a long time seeing them amps i had all but forgot about them dudes.But yeah that amp will surly open up your M70's they like power and running them with 200 watts will open up the sound stage big time.as for the price i would say its a fair price they are asking.Pre-amps, many out there,from what i have been seeing in here most of the guys like Adcom Pre amps.Maybe some of the old timers in here will pop in here with a lil more info on the Adcom pre amps.I am using the H/K3490 as a pre-amp with Emotiva UPA-1 mono blocks with Polk Monitor 70s and Luv the sound i am getting in two channel.There are a lot of great amps out there new and used for not a lot of money.Good luck.
-
The more I hear about these amps and given the price he is asking I definitely find myself wanting to run out an get it. The PS Audio HCA-2 runs 8 ohm power at 150 watts rms. This is 30 watts higher then my current receiver. From all the reviews I've been reading on the amp I realize the quality of the sound will be improved with the the HCA-2, but I'm left wondering why??? Is the HCA-2 really that much more powerful then my 3490 and why is that??? 30 watts doesn't seem like that big of an improvement in power. Should I expect the amp to run my m70's that much louder or just expect the quality of sound to be improved?
As for the whole running digital vs analog from my computer, what would you guys recommend? Should I be looking for a pre-amp with digital inputs? I was running analog from my computer to my HK 3490 but was getting a lot of noise, running it from my computer's digital coaxial output to the 3490's digital input solved that problem. However, most of the preamps I've been coming across only have analog inputs...Should I even be concerning myself with this?
Thanks for the great replies! -
The more I hear about these amps and given the price he is asking I definitely find myself wanting to run out an get it. The PS Audio HCA-2 runs 8 ohm power at 150 watts rms. This is 30 watts higher then my current receiver. From all the reviews I've been reading on the amp I realize the quality of the sound will be improved with the the HCA-2, but I'm left wondering why??? Is the HCA-2 really that much more powerful then my 3490 and why is that??? 30 watts doesn't seem like that big of an improvement in power. Should I expect the amp to run my m70's that much louder or just expect the quality of sound to be improved?
As for the whole running digital vs analog from my computer, what would you guys recommend? Should I be looking for a pre-amp with digital inputs? I was running analog from my computer to my HK 3490 but was getting a lot of noise, running it from my computer's digital coaxial output to the 3490's digital input solved that problem. However, most of the preamps I've been coming across only have analog inputs...Should I even be concerning myself with this?
Thanks for the great replies!
Its that the HK even though its a good reciever may not truly provide its rated wattage (though its known for being quite close). The dedicated amp will be better because thats all it has to do, provide power.
Regarding a pre-amp, if your using your computer I would for now keep the HK 3490 as your pre-amp using coaxial to it. You wont find a pre in the 300 dollar range that has coaxial. You would need to get BOTH a pre and a dac that converts coxial to analog (or usb to analog which is prefered). Thats another 150 min on top of the purchase of the pre.
So keep the HK for now use it until/if you want to step up to a DAC and pre which you would want to budget between 500-700 to truly do it right. Not worth it for you right now, whereas the amp will be.
The HK is a nice piece and I have one with my Monitor 60's."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
Thanks for the advice ES! Ya, I figure just the amp will do me good for now, I can always upgrade to a dedicated preamp in the future.
In the future, if I do decide to get a dedicated preamp for my computer setup, would skipping a DAC and simply running analog from my computer to my preamp be a wise decision? Or would I be much better off with a DAC? What does the DAC accomplish anyways? If it converts the signal from digital to analog, why not just run analog straight from my computer to the preamp and skip the DAC? If my (future) preamp has digital inputs would I still need a DAC? Sorry for all the questions, but like I said, I'm new to the game. Thanks again. -
In the future, if I do decide to get a dedicated preamp for my computer setup, would skipping a DAC and simply running analog from my computer to my preamp be a wise decision? Or would I be much better off with a DAC? What does the DAC accomplish anyways? If it converts the signal from digital to analog, why not just run analog straight from my computer to the preamp and skip the DAC? Sorry for all the questions, but like I said, I'm new to the game. Thanks again.
Skipping the DAC would be bad. Most computer soundcards are super crappy compared to a dedicated DAC. There are lots of threads on this forum talking about it so I wont repeat the why's. Lots of time the soundcards introduce noise into the system (like you experienced).
You do have another option I had somewhat forgotten.
If you were to purchase a Squeezebox Touch (wired to a router, or wireless) you could use the Digital Audio Converters in it which are quite good and send that signal to a pre-amp, or use coaxial to your HK if you still have that. That allows your computer to be on one side of the room and your setup on another if thats something you wanted to explore."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
Ahhh, it all makes sense now, thanks!
Now what about all this business about bi-amping? Is there any way of utilizing the HK 3490's internal amp while in preamp mode? I would guess no. I'm guessing to bi-amp I'll need two things:
1) A preamp with 2 outs or pre-outs
2) Two amplifiers -
Ahhh, it all makes sense now, thanks!
Now what about all this business about bi-amping? Is there any way of utilizing the HK 3490's internal amp while in preamp mode? I would guess no. I'm guessing to bi-amp I'll need two things:
1) A preamp with 2 outs or pre-outs
2) Two amplifiers
Dont worry about bi-amping, its not worth it in your application, and the HK probably wont allow it if your using its pre-outs. Make your life easier
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »Dont worry about bi-amping, its not worth it in your application, and the HK probably wont allow it if your using its pre-outs. Make your life easier
haha, but its all a learning process for me right now, I love furthering my knowledge of these things.
So would I be right in my assumptions? To bi-amp you would need a preamp with 2 outs or pre-outs and two amplifiers? If its a lot more complicated then that don't bother explaining it, I'll just do some more searching on the subject matter myself.
When would bi-amping cross the line between "not worth the trouble" to "worth it"? -
A couple more things I can't quite wrap my head around:
Would you only use a DAC if your preamp does not have digital inputs? Or is a dedicated DAC (like a dedicated preamp with dedicated amp scenario) better than having a preamp with built-in digital inputs? I just want to know where I can cut-corners and where I shouldn't. It seems to me having separate, quality, dedicated tools, specific to the job is the better way to go in a stereo setup...at least that's the impression I'm getting.
So it leaves me wondering why (if the above is indeed the better setup)? Why would having all these components between the speakers (Digital Computer>>>DAC>>>Preamp>>>Amp>>>Speakers) be better then the simpler setup of: Digital Computer>>>Digital Receiver or Preamp>>>AMP>>>Speakers??? -
haha, but its all a learning process for me right now, I love furthering my knowledge of these things.
So would I be right in my assumptions? To bi-amp you would need a preamp with 2 outs or pre-outs and two amplifiers? If its a lot more complicated then that don't bother explaining it, I'll just do some more searching on the subject matter myself.
When would bi-amping cross the line between "not worth the trouble" to "worth it"?
Technically bi-amping requires you to send a the signal from your pre-amp to a equalizer. You then split that signal and send only the high frequencies to one amp and the lows to another. Then you run speaker wire from the amp with the signal for the highs directly to the highs, same with the lows. This also requires you to physically pull the crossovers out of your speakers and run direct from the amp to the speaker.
In most cases its just not worth it at all unless the speakers were setup for bi-amping by design (Polks use it as a marketing gimmick as do most manufactures).A couple more things I can't quite wrap my head around:
Would you only use a DAC if your preamp does not have digital inputs? Or is a dedicated DAC (like a dedicated preamp with dedicated amp scenario) better than having a preamp with built-in digital inputs? I just want to know where I can cut-corners and where I shouldn't. It seems to me having separate, quality, dedicated tools, specific to the job is the better way to go in a stereo setup...at least that's the impression I'm getting.
So it leaves me wondering why (if the above is indeed the better setup)? Why would having all these components between the speakers (Digital Computer>>>DAC>>>Preamp>>>Amp>>>Speakers) be better then the simpler setup of: Digital Computer>>>Digital Receiver or Preamp>>>AMP>>>Speakers???
This question is totally dependent upon how much your willing to spend as well as how revealing your system is. Normally dedicated components (pre-amp, DAC, amp) will trump components that do multiple things (reciever), but not always. Keep in mind what you hear on Monitor 60's with a new setup v. your old one might not be the same as what you would hear with LSi 7's.
Its best to just get the amp and then start reading new threads as the pop up about pre-amps and dac's to learn more. Your setup is pretty decent for right now and honestly if you were going to do anything I would replace your Monitor 60's with LSI 7's and a small sub and you could be very happy while you start learning about DAC's and pre-amps "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
EndersShadow wrote: »Technically bi-amping requires you to send a the signal from your pre-amp to a equalizer. You then split that signal and send only the high frequencies to one amp and the lows to another. Then you run speaker wire from the amp with the signal for the highs directly to the highs, same with the lows. This also requires you to physically pull the crossovers out of your speakers and run direct from the amp to the speaker.
In most cases its just not worth it at all unless the speakers were setup for bi-amping by design (Polks use it as a marketing gimmick as do most manufactures).
This question is totally dependent upon how much your willing to spend as well as how revealing your system is. Normally dedicated components (pre-amp, DAC, amp) will trump components that do multiple things (reciever), but not always. Keep in mind what you hear on Monitor 60's with a new setup v. your old one might not be the same as what you would hear with LSi 7's.
Its best to just get the amp and then start reading new threads as the pop up about pre-amps and dac's to learn more. Your setup is pretty decent for right now and honestly if you were going to do anything I would replace your Monitor 60's with LSI 7's and a small sub and you could be very happy while you start learning about DAC's and pre-amps
Awesome, thanks again.....my research continues.......At least now I can keep up with some of the terminology and technical jargon people talk about......Cheers! -
Awesome, thanks again.....my research continues.......At least now I can keep up with some of the terminology and technical jargon people talk about......Cheers!
No worries.
P.S. there is a very nice DAC shootout going on that Assimilated is doing. I would read through that thread as it talks in detail about a variety of dac's that are in the sub 500 dollar price range and would be a very good learning thread for ya.
P.S. if I havent already said it, Welcome to Club Polk!"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
