Integrated amps..

TroyD
TroyD Posts: 13,077
edited December 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Man, I've been dicking with the rig quite a bit lately. Swapping out the Quads for the Vandys....moving in the Classe instead of the Heaths etc etc...

Perhaps I'm going soft but I just would like to simplify. The whole stack of gear (no remote, either) is such a whip...yada yada yada. I'm this (holding my thumb and forefinger very close) close to selling all the separates and searching out a high tone integrated.

The more I think, the more sense it makes.....plug and play, baby. Plug and play.

Am I losing my marbles or what?

BDT
I plan for the future. - F1Nut
Post edited by TroyD on
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
    No you are not losing your marbles. Perhaps a Musical Fidelity Trivista 300 or kw integrated is in your future.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2009
    anyone need some one-off tube monos, custom tube phono stage and a Melos SHA-1??

    I LOVE my gear. LOVE it....but, man, I want less clutter. More remote.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited December 2009
    Here you go!

    http://meuble.radio.free.fr/stereo_console/
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2009
    I think you should go stick your head in the toilet and flush it, the swirling you hear is your brain hitting reset. Your rig is fine. If you still want to do it then rock on with your bad self but I would recommend you leave the Quad rig when the Amazings are up you can have some fun with other stuff.

    I am not buying the "simplify" mantra, flavor of the month agenda. There are fine integrated units but "simplify" isn't why I would own one, in fact I did own a few.

    RT1
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2009
    There is something to be said about "simple"--less noise. I have debated the idea of a high-tone integrated from time-to-time, but I have a large room, and I like LARGE sound. It's hard to find the combination that would interest me in an integrated.

    My system right now has 1 set of RCA IC's---that's it; from the preamp to the amp. Those are only .5mtr. I haven't simplified for any particular reason, it just ended up that way. I have 3 sources; Direct TV HD STB (via toslink), Panasonic BluRay (via coax), and y CEC CDP (via coax). Using the Benchmark as my preamp as well as DAC allowed me to get 35lbs of electronics OUT of my system--that has to be a good thing.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited December 2009
    Steve,

    Are you seriously using coax for your BD player audio connect? :confused:

    Sorry for the OT post Troy. I'm with RT1 on this one, there are fine pre's with a remote. Get yourself one.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2009
    Yep, to the Benchmark (2-channel PCM). My "HT" (if you want to call it that) is 2-channel.

    See my connection scheme (requires excel): http://members.cox.net/stepheninaz/audio_connection_scheme.xls
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,775
    edited December 2009
    vc69 wrote: »
    Steve,

    Are you seriously using coax for your BD player audio connect? :confused:

    With a Benchmark pre, it's either that or optical.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2009
    There is one 2-channel analog input, but its unused right now....
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited December 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    With a Benchmark pre, it's either that or optical.

    So he's obviously not concerned with decoding the Hi-Res codecs on BD. I'm still a bit confused unless this is a two-channel or music only rig, in which case, why a BD player? No HT surround?


    Ahh, just caught your post. LoL

    Carry on....
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2009
    I'll go surround when I grow 3.1 more ears....LOL

    PCM is lossless, what's the issue? My BluRay sounds phenominal. The Benchmark accepts 24/192 from coax.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited December 2009
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I'll go surround when I grow 3.1 more ears....LOL

    PCM is lossless, what's the issue? My BluRay sounds phenominal.

    I'm sure it does. I wasn't snapping very quickly this morning :o


    Sorry for the derail Troy.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2009
    No problem. Sorry Troy for the derail...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2009
    No sweat...I'm just rambling here...

    Ted, you crack me up, brother. No sweat, nothing is in the FM yet! LOL!

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • Flash21
    Flash21 Posts: 316
    edited December 2009
    I am firmly on the integrated bandwagon. If nothing else, you have one less set of interconnects, and you can spend that money on one of your other toys.
    Steve Carlson
    Von Schweikert VR-33 speakers
    Bel Canto eVo2i integrated amp
    Bel Canto PL-2 universal disc player
    Analysis Plus Oval Nine speaker cables and Copper Oval-In Micro interconnects
    VH Audio Flavor 4 power cables
    Polk Monitor 10B speakers, retired but not forgotten
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2009
    http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=362236&b_id=&find_groupid=18158
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited December 2009
    Face wrote: »
    http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=362236&b_id=&find_groupid=18158

    Oh God, now you did it . . . Face.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited December 2009
    On another note, I know what you mean about the feeling to simplify. That being said, I sold all my stuff to fund other projects and to finally take what I've learned on this forum to build a truly high end system from the ground up as opposed to frankensteining. Working closely with dealers who know what they are talking about and demoing is still the only real way to get the high end experience efficiently.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited December 2009
    How about a Pass Labs INT-50? That's got guts and guile.
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  • DAGLJAM6
    DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
    edited December 2009
    Just FYI :http://www.wsdistributing.com/pages/SV-236MK.html
    That's not a bad piece and good reviews as well.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited December 2009
    http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue40/pass_int150.htm

    http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/passlabs2/int150.html

    http://www.soundstage.com/equipment/passlabs_int150.htm

    Perhaps among the best integrated's one could hope for.

    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!
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited December 2009
    Here's something new from NAD...a possible glimpse into the future.

    http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/M2-Direct-Digital-Amplifier/
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2009
    http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=362236&b_id=&find_groupid=18158

    Gawd.....I suppose having the young ones being unruly is a part of life....

    Whatever he gets will glow.

    looks like its time for a reminder. Tubes Rule

    RT1
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  • Zitro
    Zitro Posts: 864
    edited December 2009
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Here's something new from NAD...a possible glimpse into the future.

    http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/M2-Direct-Digital-Amplifier/

    This NAD makes me drool at the mouth a bit. I think I might treat myself to a bit of a graduation/acceptance to grad school present in the near future...
    - Jeremy

    Amps: Jolida FX-10, NAD 3045, NAD C320BEE, Sansui G-9700
    Speakers: Polk Monitor 7A's, KEF Reference 104aB
    Sources: ProJect Debut Carbon, Sonos streaming FLAC
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2009
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I'll go surround when I grow 3.1 more ears....LOL

    that line of yours is one of my all time favorite you should copy protect that one steve.


    RT1
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2009
    Just FYI :http://www.wsdistributing.com/pages/SV-236MK.html
    That's not a bad piece and good reviews as well.

    I keep reading good things about Vincent..........I suppose BAT, Manley, Joule, Jolida, Cary would also join the most usual suspects but there are a bunch of new ones our there to consider........unitl MF gets there service stuff done (Michaleson claims they have) not sure about MF though.

    I suppose in your case Troy with the Quad's raw power is second to refinement. My worry would be the nuance of the micro detail, the congealing of the imaging, and soundstage width, the Manley Stingray was the best of the lot I owned and a nice piece and you can hook your i-pod thingy to the newer ones........:eek:

    Man what you have is dead quiet and it delivers.......I dunno bro maybe a change but lateral at best.

    RT1
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,565
    edited December 2009
    You've been here. 'Nuff said.
    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

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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2009
    I have been eye-balling the Vincent hybrid power amps myself.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2009
    I too am getting sick of all the crap sitting around. On one hand I want to display it but on the other hand it is always in disarray. I got to wondering, well why is it always in disarray? Because I keep plugging different things in differently. Its kinda like a toy box and if it were always orderly you would know the kid hadn't been playing. I see no real answer and I'm not going to stop playing. :)
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited December 2009
    I like big, full racks.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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