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
829 posts
 
Twoleftears, I checked out the Furman online. And thanks for your input on the Simaudi and Plinius.

Terry9 and Cleeds, from what you’re saying, it looks like I’ll need to put some serious study into this subject of electrical supply. I really only wanted to plug this equipment in without any other major expenses.The Furman Twoleftears mentioned alone goes for $2000, I hope you all are enjoying that your’e killing me here.

On the serious side I will assiduously study your posts above and figure out what’s involved with power conditioning. I’ve done a fair amount of house and hydronic system wiring but never heard of the equipment you mentioned for power conditioning before. So I’ve learned something new today. Thank you.

Inna, could I ask you one more question since I know absolutely nothing about modern cabling.

Roughly how much do you think I’d need to budget for cabling for a simple system like mine with one VPI Classic 2 turntable, one Marantz SA 8005 CD player, one Luxman L-507uXII integrated amp and two Magico A3 speakers. I’ve roughly $23,000 into the system components, if that helps with an estimate. Thanks,

To give you a rough idea of the lengths of cables needed, the speakers will be roughly eight to ten feet apart. The components will be on shelves built into the wall located behind the speakers, equally spaced between them. They’d be about as far from the floor, as you’d see on a typical rack.. And since you asked, I will have to get an RCA cable to got from the VPI turntable to the Luxman’s phono stage inputs. I checked the VPI’s unpacked box and there was none in there.

Anybody else, please feel free to offer a guesstimate. I’m only trying to figure how to budget for this purchase.

2psyop, thank you.

Tomstruck, lots of choices out there it appears. Appreciate you mentioning some others.


Mike
inna
7,296 posts
 
Mike, first of all you will need a tonearm cable that will go from the turntable into the Luxman, the one with a ground wire in addition to RCA connectors.
As for how much to spend, there will be different opinions. I am a cable man but that doesn't mean that I spend more than I think is needed.
Are you going to buy new or used cables, or it depends ? Used cables will be much less expensive, if you can find what you are looking for, but also there are some fakes of popular brands and models.
So, you will need one tonearm cable, one pair of interconnects for the cd player, two power cords - for Luxman and the cd player, and pair of speakers cables. That's five items.
What figure do you have in mind ? Your system deserves very good cabling, that's for sure.

builder3
758 posts
 
Mike, enjoy that amp. Lift with your legs, not your back. You might take a look at DH Labs for cables & interconnects.
Post removed 
inna
7,296 posts
 
VPI has $349 tonearm cable, same wire as in VPI tonearm. This should be fine unless you are prepared to go much higher in cost. Music Direct has it. 
As for the brands, there are so many that one can drown in it. I am mostly familiar with Purist Audio Design and Tchernov Audio cables, the latter being Russian brand. High quality, 'military grade' with audiophile sound. You can read my thread about them here. I have both Purist and Tchernov in my system.
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