Is mixing an integrated with a pre a silly idea

buymesome
buymesome Posts: 281
edited October 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Is mixing an integrated with a pre a silly idea

I see cheap integrated amps all the time and think its cool that you can plug in a cd player and tie the laces on your dancing shoes . What though would adding a pre to this integrated amp gain ?

Isnt the sound already processed in the integrated ?

I am looking into moving the polks and receiver into my living room and having a dedicated music room for chilling . I was thinking I could buy an integrated so I could feed it from my receiver into the next room for a first step . Going this route would free up funds for buying 2 nice electrostats for step 2 then buy a pre for step 3

These are my thoughts for now
Post edited by buymesome on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited October 2009
    What integrateds have you been looking at and at what price point?

    I ask because I bet for just a few bucks more you can find yourself some good Adcom or Parasound amps used for cheap since you're already looking into getting a pre.
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited October 2009
    There wouldn't really be much of a point IMO.

    Most integrateds do offer the option of being able to do that though. They typically have some jumper bars that connect the pre section and the amp section. The jumper bars can be removed and you can use just the pre section with an external amp or vice versa.

    I used an old Fisher integrated as a pre-amp like that for a short time.

    If you already have the integrated, you could buy a pre to use with it temporarily, and then add an external power amp later down the road.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • buymesome
    buymesome Posts: 281
    edited October 2009
    $500 for an amp or integrated

    I like the look of the $250 anthem tlp 1 pre

    I like this here for $700 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1261609530&/Simaudio-Celeste-PW-5000-sell-
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • buymesome
    buymesome Posts: 281
    edited October 2009
    So integrated amps aren't the best choice for 2 channel audio I gather
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited October 2009
    Generally, integrated amps are exclusively for 2 channel. There are some very nice ones out there. Some people, myself included, just prefer the flexibility of using separates.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited October 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Generally, integrated amps are exclusively for 2 channel. There are some very nice ones out there. Some people, myself included, just prefer the flexibility of using separates.

    +1
    Not to mention the potential to better sound quality as well.

    I too prefer separates for two channel.
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter