Overwhelmed with options

Shizelbs

Okay folks, I just got some SDA SRS 2s. Its quite apparent to me that the gear I have driving them is not doing them any justice. I am ready and willing to spend some money on more worthy gear to have a nice 2 channel system. The thing is, I don't know WTF I am doing. I have been combing through review after review after old posts on all sorts of forums only to realize I need some help on this one. I guess I just don't have enough experience here. That and I am a chickenshit.

So, with that in mind, I could use some recommendations on a preamp, an amp, and a new source. I would like to keep cost under control, although I am not going to set a firm maximum amount. I just don't want to spend unnecessarily on new when used will do just as well.

So far the only thing I am leaning towards is the Dodd pre. I am flexible on that as well.

So yeah, pretty much as the title states, I am just overwhelmed with options. Even after scouring the regular audio boards and review sites, I am not much further than where I started.

Thanks for any help. All this time on the forum, reading others' posts and I still don't know jack.

steveinaz

Here:

Parasound Halo OR HCA 1000 or 1500 amp
Preamp: Tons and tons, take your pick
CD Players:
$300-$600-Cambridge Audio 640C/NAD C542/Music Hall MMF-25
$600-$1000-Ah! Njoe Tjoeb/Rega Planet 2000/Creek MKII (used)/Jolida
Cabels: Audioquest/Analysis Plus/Kimber/Signal/Nordost..etc, etc

pjdami

Shelby,
I went through a lot of experimentation with my SDA CRS+. Tube amp with SS pre, tube amp with tube pre, and finally tube pre with solid state amp.

I found the tube pre with a good solid state amp to be the best sounding to me. Great midrange with the tube pre and slam / dynamics with the SS amp. I wished that I would have tried this combo first, but it was the last combo I tried. I believe Doro and Russ run tube preamps with SS amps on their SDAs too and that's where I got the idea to try that out on my setup.

The Dodd preamp has been well received by members on the forum here. Many options with a solid state amp. Carver, B&K, Rotel, Parasound, NAD just to name a few.

Oh yeah, eventually you will want to upgrade the tweeters with the Polk replacement tweeters.

tryrrthg

I'm a HUGE fan of McCormack gear. Huge bang for the buck. The DNA amps are well reviewed and very respected. They also match very well to tube preamps (so I've read, as I've never tried it). A DNA 1 (around 200 watts into 8 ohms 400 into 4ohms) can be had around $700-800. It's little brother the DNA 0.5 is around $550-$650, and is the amp I own. They just kick ****!

DNA 1 review
DNA 1 review 2

I've also got the McCormack TLC-1 preamp which is also a solid performer. No real complaints about it. Sounds fantastic for the price.

oh, forgot to mention, the McCormack gear can be upgraded by the designer, Steve McCormack. www.smcaudio.com

The newer McCormack amps are DNA 125 and 225. There is also a DNA 500 but that's probably out of everyones budget

pjdami

Dodd tube pre with McCormack SS amp...man I bet that would sound very sweet and it would be a unique combo.

For sources, I like the Rega recommendation. If you can find an inexpensive Rotel cdp on audiogon it is a great player especially when you mate it with a tube pre and all you need really to get started.

Wiring, look into DH labs speaker wire. Many reputable members here like MIT wires with SDAs.

Lots of options for sure!

Hey any pics of the new babies?

steveinaz

ooppsss..I forgot ROTEL. Rotel is outstanding, I love the RCD-1072.

jdhdiggs

Start PM'ing some of the members that routinely sell items.

Example: RuSsMan is selling at least 2 amps and 2 pre-amps at great prices that would work great for your situation.

This would at least get you started and then you can piece-by-piece upgrade from there without losing much cash at all when you resell the items you outgrew.

If you go this route, you're looking at about $4-500 bucks but you'll have a helluva good system afterwords. Grab a 3960 or a modded one and you'll be really hooked up on the cheap.

Shizelbs

Great suggestions so far guys. Thanks a ton. I have been looking at what Russ has up for grabs.

I forgot to mention that somewhere in the system there pretty much has to be tubes. I am leaning towards the tube pre and SS amp. Whats the fun in a hobby if you can't try something new right? I have experience with tubes in a headphone rig, so, its something I want to introduce into my speaker experience.

Shizelbs

Also, re: the Toshiba 3960. I grabbed a Toshiba K741 at costco as I needed a cheap DVD player. I emailed Toshiba and they said they are different players, not just the same player with a different model number, but I cannot tell how they are different.

Shizelbs

Well I'll be gat damned, there is a McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe edition in my same ZIP code. Its up for $875. Is that too much? Maybe I can get him lower since I can pick it up.

pjdami

One important thing to remember too with the SDAs and mating with an amp. Don't forget that you need to use a common ground amp.

I have no idea if the McCormack is but good to double check. Most amps I have owned / own are common ground (NAD, B&K, Rogue).

Shizelbs

What is a common ground amp? why is this necessary with SDAs? (Getting my learn on).

The seller of the McCormack dropped down to $850 if picked up.

pjdami

Originally posted by Shizelbs
What is a common ground amp? why is this necessary with SDAs? (Getting my learn on).

The seller of the McCormack dropped down to $850 if picked up.

Do a search for "common ground amp sda".

Here's a quick linky with some good explanations.

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25249&highlight=common+ground+amp+sda

I would email McCormack or call them to ensure the amp is common ground first. Another way to confirm is to do a continuity test using a handheld voltmeter between the two negative speaker output posts on the back of the amp (with everything disconnected of course).

For the amount of coin that your looking to put out for that amp though, you could probably get a tube pre and amp for that kind of money although McCormack is very nice gear.

I would say if you go used, you could find a pre, amp, source, and wire that would sound very nice for about $1,300 - $1,400.

I'm sure some of the regular SDA owners will chime in with more suggestions.

Shizelbs

Yeah, SDA owners are encouraged to speak up here. That would be greatly appreciated.

I just now emailed McCormack Audio.

Thanks for the link. Now I have a better understanding of why it must be a common ground amp.

Are you suggesting that both a tube pre and tube amp would be a better idea? I'm not sure I'm sold on the whole concept of more tubes is better. I think some tubes is good. Kinda like too many cooks spoil the soup, or whatever. Having tubes in the pre I imagine would establish the tube sound in a fairly critical part of the sound path.

Anyways, I am open to all suggestions here. I am in no hurry to spend money hastily and foolishly.

dorokusai

Whatever you choose, make it somewhat unique....against the grain perhaps....don't get something commercial like Rotel, but that's just my opinion.

You took the time to search, and search and wait and wait, treat yourself man, treat yourself.

I think the Dodd is an outstanding choice, but be aware, no remote if you're into that thing. It's the best pre-amp I've heard to date, to include my current Cary Audio.

Beardog is an excellent example of someone who stepped up to the plate, and started off on the right foot.....no bullshitting, just SOLID choices. Dodd Pre-Amp and Parasound HCA-3500 Amp....that combination is an educated purchase, and not likely to be something that will leave his house for many years.

You know solid gear Shelby, get in on brother.

I suggest an amplifier with big balls, and a tube(6922/6DJ8) pre-amp. I agree however that you don't NEED high power to run SDA's, but if you have big power, you never worry about another speaker for the rest of you life.

Shizelbs

My fat **** could use a remoteless setup. Its not that big of a deal.

Another thing about the McCormack, all I can find online are rave reviews. Both at audioreview.com from real honest users and the professional reviews as well.

dorokusai

McCormack is solid gear, the aforementioned combination should be stellar.

Shizelbs

Doro,

I read your 'be original' comment in some other post not too long ago, and its really stuck around. Whats the point in this hobby to just get the same as everyone else? Granted, I say that and in the same breath I am asking for suggestions from the forum.

I think what you're getting at though is that the Dodd/McCormack combo is no Rotel/Parasound/Denon/Oink combo. Different is more fun and hopefully more rewarding.

dorokusai

"Hopefully" more rewarding? LOL It's another level man....another level.

Shizelbs

Here is a stereophile review of the Deluxe expanding off the original review of the plain jane version of the DNA-1

DNA-1 Deluxe

Well, maybe I am getting too excited, but what I am leaning towards as of now is the Dodd pre, the McCormack DNA-1 deluxe and either keep the source the same for now or blow a big wad on a 3960 for starters.

Shizelbs

Shoot, I just realized I'll need new cables and wire too.

Shizelbs

Originally posted by pjdami
Hey any pics of the new babies?

I'll post some when I get my new gear. I am too ashamed to show you what I have with them right now.

pjdami

Are you suggesting that both a tube pre and tube amp would be a better idea?

NO! That was somewhat misleading when read because I forgot to put solid state in front of amp in that sentence. My experience has been the tube pre with a good solid state amp on the SDAs sounds the best of all the combos I tried. I run a B&K EX4420 200 watt Ref solid state amp with a Cary SLP-88 tube pre with my CRS+. I also have a Melos SHA-1 based on what Russ liked but the remote thingy has me pairing it with a new Parasound amp and the Monitor 10s. Both preamps sound great. I believe madmax runs tube amps with his SDAs but he has some Heman tube amps. Tube pre is low maintenance when paired with a good solid state amp.

The Dodd / McCormack combo would be unique. Go for it if you have the coin and get your dream rig going.

Let's see what McCormack tells you in their response back... or just call them tomorrow and talk to tech services.

tryrrthg

When you said you emailed McCormack audio did you email them through www.mccormackaudio.com or www.smcaudio.com? smcaudio is Steve McCormack's upgrade site and McCormack audio is now owned by Conrad Johnson so if you want to go straight to the source send Steve an email at smcaudio. He will answer your email the same day. I've exchanged a few emails with him and fellow polk member gmorris has talked to him on the phone. He is a great guy to deal with.

I'm not sure what the going rate for a DNA 1 deluxe is. The DNA 0.5 deluxe usually goes for around $675-700 or so. I think regular DNA -1's go for around $700-750 or so, so $850 should be a decent price.

Does anyone know what the gain on the Dodd preamp is?

I-SIG

My experience with tubes has been a little different than everyone else's. Maybe my Audio Alchemy DLC preamp is a really "warm" sounding piece of solid state gear. I don't know, but with a tube preamp (A Chinese unit I cannot remember the name of) I borrowed for a while, I felt like I lost too much bass definition with virtually no gains on the "airy-ness" or "open-ness." Granted, I didn't have a boatload of tubes to roll with, but I was not impressed at all by the tube sound. Maybe I need to try out a higher-end piec of tube gear with more tube choices. All I can say is that I recommend tracking down an AA DLC. They can usually be had for less than $200.

Wes

dorokusai

Originally posted by tryrrthg
Does anyone know what the gain on the Dodd preamp is?

18db

tryrrthg

Originally posted by dorokusai
18db

Ouch! unless it has adjustable gain then he MIGHT run into some problems with the McCormack. Mc's were designed to be used with passive preamps so they have a rather high gain themselves. I had to sell an Audio Research LS3 because I couldn't make it to 9 o'clock on the volume knob without it being uncomfortably loud.

dorokusai

It gets loud real quick. He could pad it down with a different tube but then again, he might not like that tube. The stock Amperex tubes are killer.

Shizelbs

Well, it may be a moot point. Ed from McCormack emailed me back saying that I should NOT use the DNA amp with the SRS and as he put it the 'umbilical cord.' So, he is going to double check and get back to me.

Shizelbs

Okay, Steve McCormack himself says the amp will work just fine with my Polks.

Is the Dodd/McCormack combo a no-go? Or is it just going to be very sensitive to any and all increases in volume?

beardog03

FWIW..

With the Dodd,

I have found that I listen to most stuff at or below about
9 o`clock..

after that it opens up real fast between 9 and 12..

12 being way too much !!

up to 9 it`s gradual...at 9 it wakes up...between 9.5 and 10.5 is about as high as I go..maybe 11.

Between 11 and 12 ..it`s hittin way too hard..!!(depending on the music and speaker choice)

I`m using a Parasound HCA-3500 with the Dodd pre...

Hope this helps...