Is a Power Amp the Answer?
Hi Everyone…
I want to adjust my stereo system to sound extremely clear, virtually distortion-free, strong across all frequencies and loud, without having to turn the volume on my integrated receiver to 70. (More than that, distortion starts becoming apparent.) Plus, I’d like it to be louder, but I loose audiophile sound quality at louder levels with my current line-up.
I’m thinking that adding a power amp and hooking it up to my integrated amp might be the answer. I’ve never done this, don’t know how, and need your guys’ and gals’ input, please.
My current equipment:
Rotel RA-1570 integrated amp. 120/watts/channel; 80 db S/N ratio, phono stage, 100 db S/N ratio, Digital and LL. http://www.rotel.com/product/ra-1570
GoldenEar Triton Five loudspeakers. 90 db efficiency, 8 ohms, recommended amplification, 15-400 wpc. https://www.goldenear.com/products/triton-series?gktab=3
(Also, for the record, Oppo BDP-105, Pioneer PL-550 turntable with Denon DL-110 cartridge, and V-LPS phono stage.)
Three questions, please:
Are my Rotel integrated amp and GoldenEar Triton Fives properly matched, in the sense of this: am I maximizing the features of both products, given their respective specifications. (I don’t know; I don’t understand this part of putting together a system whose synergies are maximized.)
I think I can use the Rotel as a preamp and match a 300-watt power amp to it to sound extremely clear, virtually distortion-free, strong across all frequencies and loud, without having to turn the volume on my integrated receiver to 70.
If the answer to question 2 is “yes,” what 300-watt power amp would any of you suggest up to $2,000. (I looked at the reviews of the Emotiva XPA Gen3, but my it was priced at only $800. Of course, as an American, I’m thinking something must be wrong, since all the other power amps in that wattage class are significantly more expensive. Am I right, or is the Emotiva audiophile class?) https://emotiva.com/products/amplifiers/xpa-gen3
Thank you, everyone. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. So happy to be a part of this group.
Mark
I don't know (or think) the Rotel RA-1570 allows for the hooking up of a subwoofer to it, and I don't know how to determine if it does or not. Would you mind checking, please? Here's the link to the amp's spec page: http://www.rotel.com/product/ra-1570 Thank you so very much. Mark |
You can run a sub from the pre out jacks on the upper left. To run a power amp you would disconnect the main in/pre out jumpers at bottom right and left and route those pre out signal to the inputs of a power amp. Whether it would be much better is a different question. With approx 2x the power you would only get 3 dB more volume. |
By any chance do you have the tone controls in the Rotel set such that they are boosting the bass significantly? If so you would in effect be dramatically reducing the power capability of your amplifier, as the boosted bass notes would require much more amplifier power than a given perceived overall volume level would otherwise require. If you have been doing that, try the system with "tone bypass" activated in the Rotel. Also, just to be sure something simple isn’t being overlooked, are you certain that + and - have been connected properly between the amp and the speakers? If + and - are interchanged on one speaker (but not both), bass would be weakened, and imaging, tonality, and distortion performance would be severely compromised. Also, having to turn up the volume control to relatively high settings within its range is something that is very commonly encountered, especially with phono sources, and is not in itself a problem. It’s only a problem if distortion or excessive noise occurs at desired listening levels. Finally, I would be dubious that the speakers in question could handle say 200 or 300 watts without generating significant distortion themselves. An amplifier power recommendation of 15 to 400 watts does not by any means necessarily indicate that all of even most of those 400 watts can or should be utilized by the particular speaker. Good luck. Regards, -- Al |
This is a little more than your price range, but a Parasound Halo integrated amp will make your Triton 5 speakers sing. I run mine with the Triton 2 and it is truly a match made in heaven. The Halo integrated comes up used here once in a while. I got mine new from a somewhat local dealer after a little haggling for 2,200.00. |
