2. amps-preamps
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Please tutor me on some integrated amp basics.

I’ve recently purchased Magico A3 speakers and a VPI Classic 2 SE turntable with an Ortofon Black 2M moving magnet cartridge. I have a Marantz SA 8005 CD/SACD player to play the few (maybe a hundred or so) CD’s in my possession.
I’ve mostly vinyl albums and no streaming sources. I’m next going to upgrade my old amp/preamp purchased back in the late 70’s with a new, probably integrated, one and am starting to do some research.

Here’s where I need some tutoring. A lot has changed since the seventies with the advent of digital technology. As well as I need to learn more about amplification components in the high end of audio technology. I keep running across terms I don’t understand. I’ll give you a list and if someone would be kind enough to explain these basics I’d be obliged.

For instance I was reading about the Hegel H360 integrated amp that Magico’s Alon Wolf recommended for their A3’s. The review mentioned they were a Class A/B amp, another person commented Class A’s were better, and a third person said he didn’t care for Class D amps. What do these classes signify? 

A second question is about DACs. I generally understand their purpose of the DAC, converting a digital to an analog signal. However my only digital device, the Marantz SA 8005 already has a DAC, ostensibly of good quality. The turntable ’s Ortofon cartridge would not need to play through a DAC, I presume. Would I bypass the CD’s players DAC if I purchase the higher quality Hegel H360 integrated amp?. Or could I find an equivalent integrated amp without an integral DAC?

On the other side of the equation I understand the turntable’s cartridge cannot play through the Hegel without first going through a phono stage. My old Phase Linear 4000 preamp you just plugged the turntables RCA cables into the back of the preamp and you were done. What’s that about? Do they make equivalent integrated amps to the Hegel H360 with integrated phono stages already in place, so I can just plug my turntable in as I’ve been able to do before. The amps don’t seem to be well integrated at all if you have to add a pricey phono stage to make them work, and end up having an extra DAC. That’s just me whining.

Third question is what are monoblocks, how are they used, and what are their advantages to a system? They were used at one of my speaker auditions.

I figured out the answer to what amplifier damping was myself, so I’m sparing you that one, but what does the term impedance mean? I keep coming across that.

Thank goodness I don’t have to figure out the cabling nightmare yet. Thanks for any help.

Mike
skyscraper
skyscraper OP
830 posts
 
I’ve got to learn about that too, Inna. Maybe after I figure out cabling. The power around here is unreliable, frequent outages and whatnot to say the least. You don’t think those power conditioners they advertise and you see with turntables sometimes would do the job by themselves? Maybe they’re the same as regenerators, I’m unfamiliar with that term, but will google it tomorrow.

I’ve got to find a decent surge protector too, for all this new stereo equipment. Had a lightning strike one year about twenty feet from the house that fried our microwave and well pump, not to mention blew the telephone junction box cover clear across the yard, while splitting the locust tree the lightening hit right in half top to bottom like splitting a rail. Don’t want to repeat that experience with my new audio equipment treasures.


Hopefully tomorrow some folks will chime in and help pare down my longish integrated amplifier list for potential purchase to a more reasonable size. Here's the updated list. I could make a purchase this week or next. and/or do another road trip for demos. Which do you all think are the top few candidates I should seek out to audition or purchase.  Any inpiut would be greatly appreciated.

Hegel H360

Mod Wright KWI200

Luxman

Krell K-300i

Anthem Electronics STR D/A

Simaudio Moon Neo 340i D3PX

Classe’ Sigma 2220ics STR D/A

Coda CSiB

Lyngdorf TDA1-3400

Micromega M1


Mike.
builder3
758 posts
 
There’s a used L-509X listed here now for $6495/make offer. This is Luxman’s brand new top of the line A/B integrated, $9500 new. Obviously, it’s your money, Mike. It looks brand new.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-l-509x-integrated-amplifier
skyscraper OP
830 posts
 
Builder, I’m sticking with new in spite of this temptation you’re placing in front of me. I did read the review you provided a link to, and the L-509X sounded ever so nice.

Mike
clhs04
62 posts
 
Get the Plinius Hautonga integrated (with phono stage) and be done for awhile.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Clearly absolute time alignment isn’t a requirement if Focals do it as well as they do.
They do not image at all well.

I'm talking about a 3D image with instruments correctly positioned and no wander as they play their range. Instruments should remain in situ no matter how thick the score.

An engineer spends hours setting up microphones on a drum kit so the image is accurately recorded. The sound of each drum should be coherent and localized. Sadly, that is not the case. The kick 'point' [thwack of the beater on the head] is miles out in front of the 'heft' [air volume moved] and the heft sounds like it is going in the wrong direction, which it is due to design.

The image of a solo close mic'd vocal should be tightly focused between the speakers and not move. Sadly, this is not the case. The vocal is spread like mayonnaise between the speakers, moving back and forth as the pitch changes.

Multitracked backing vocals, finger snaps, hand claps, etc. should be exactly where placed, not stroll about or be one wide smear. Sadly, that is not the case.

Plate and spring reverbs have a distinct tonality and image distinct from the band. When the musicians stop, the decay should be immediately obvious as an effect and not hall ambience. Sadly, that is not the case.

By their design, an accurate 3D image is impossible.
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