2. amps-preamps
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Modern integrated vs. vintage...what do I get?

OK, was bitching over some noise coming out of my system the other night and the issue of having to swap out a piece in the rack given a messed up back. I have only vintage pre and power amps. Out of the blue my wife suggested why dont you just buy something new, modern that you will not have to mess with, McIntosh or whatever? (She knows Mac because I have old pieces and have dragged her in to see new stuff when back at the in-laws in DE) Given that we are doing a bunch of renovation work on the house,I think she is feeling that I should spend some money on something I care about.(I had been thinking of trying a Rogue CM integrated but granite took that money.)Now the door is reopened. SO, two questions. First, what do I really get in terms of difference/performance for buying modern equipment? Second, since I live in HI there is one dealer and all he has is Mac and AR I know what I hear there. What about some of these other brands like Creek, LSA? I want an integrated, probably SS, preferably with option for 2 pairs of speakers, for use with Ohm Walsh 2 or Spendor S3/5 (possibly Kef LS50 dont the line). Must be musical, reliable cause there are no techs here, 75-100 watts and say no more than $5k. I listen to all kinds of music and the room is a living room maybe 15 x 18. My current setup is a rebuilt McIntosh MC250 with an Acurus Rll (this week) and Sony SACD5400ES, Cambridge 740C and Squeezebox with basic Morrow wiring.
joekapahulu
joekapahulu OP
261 posts
 
OK, the update on this was that I was able to get some listening in tho not enough. Heard ayre cx5 integrated? About $3500. Nice but I was told it was best tthru balanced ICS. It was with Wilson speakers...fabulous but not in my range speaker wise. Anthem 225...just OK I thought. Arcam fmjxxxx (doing fr memory a i cant find my notes on my phone)...again OK but not wowed.That was it as my wife was hungry so we left. I decided that i may need to get better or different speakers too....so i would be interested in hearing more from the Ayre hooked to speaks in the $3-5k range. Still in the hunt I guess
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"That was it as my wife was hungry so we left. I decided that i may need to get better or different speakers too....so i would be interested in hearing more from the Ayre hooked to speaks in the $3-5k range."

I have a pair of Wilson's in my 2nd system. I tried them with the Ayre and the combo sounded fine. A much better speaker for Ayre is Vandersteen. A pair of Model 2's with the CX-5 will sound incredible. You really have to hear this for yourself, but I would be very surprised if you didn't like the match.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,698 posts
 
I'm listening to my third system which is squeezebox touch to Yamaha cr-420 to Stax Sr-80 pro ear speakers. All somewhat vintage and can be had together for not much and it sounds wonderful.
joekapahulu OP
261 posts
 
Update is I bought a Marantz PM8500 and Kef R300 speakers over the holidays back East. I am happier with the speakers than the amp but that is not to say the amp is bad. Initially, it sounded better than my recently upgraded McIntosh MA5100 which had not been used much since I got it back late in the year. So, I have been breaking both in along with the speakers. For the first month or so it was really to the better from the Marantz. BUT, in the last week or so I started to notice that the Mac was sounding really good. I thought I might be off so I had my wife listen blind to each unit playing the same music with the same speakers etc. only change was the amp. I have them on top of a rack and can change it out quickly. 10 minutes and she chose the Mac as the better sounding unit. I was surprised to say the least. I then tried an experiment that I had been surprised by. I did the comparison as the Mac with the tone controls flat vs the Marantz without any tone control etc...just direct to the amp. She felt they were just bout even...the same conclusion I had. Interesting as it means the preamp in the Marantz doesnt add value. That was kind of why I got it as I liked the idea of the midrange tone controls. So, will keep listening. Her comment was the McIntosh sounded more real. She is amused to say the least.....
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