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
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shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
Mike

I forgot to disclose the characteristics of those cables.

Audio Note give detailed and transparent sound and I use them for speaker cables and interconnect between DAC and my integrated amplifiers.


Analysis Audio give neutral and balanced sound.

I use Analysis Audio cables for power cables and digital interconnect.

I also use some Synergistic Research power cable.


Since Magico A3 is detailed and on the bright side not like Harbeth,

I thinks basic cable of Analysis Audio will work well in your system.



Later you can try some expensive ones.

Cable swapping can be fun and also give headache to you.

I had done cable swapping for more than 10 years and I am fed up with it now.



Cables are dependent on system and personal taste.

There is no best cable in the world.

It is like women depending on personal taste.


Thomas
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inna
7,296 posts
 
Mike, you are not doomed but you got high end components that do require high end interface. Usually, audiophiles gradually improve their systems, with some errors and sometimes surprises. Many buy used, if they can find what they look for. It might take years to get it right, especially if you can't spend much. But even if you can you have to listen and compare and develop what I call audiophile instinct. It takes time to develop. Another thought, an analogy. Take good acoustic guitar, you can put different strings on it of equal quality and the guitar will sound both the same and different. Gut strings, nylon strings, metal strings ? It depends. If you were going to listen to mostly rock music or heavy metal I would not have recommended Neptune because it would be waist of money. With that kind of music you don't need such resolution, details, soundstage, harmonic texture and very low distortion. With jazz, vocal, different acoustic music, classical it's different. And yet another consideration. Some members who participate on Audiogon forum do not listen to records or tape, they only have digital source. If they can take it, their opinion on the sound and equipment doesn't have much weight. By the way, when trying to get some information on Poseidon couple of years ago I could find virtually nothing. In the past quite a number of Audiogon old time members used Purist cables, now I don't hear much about them.
Anyway, today I went to supermarket and spend $120. I didn't buy much, it felt expensive and it was. $1300 speaker cables look cheap by comparison. 
inna
7,296 posts
 
Well, you could try $560 DiMarzio Super M-path speaker cables with spade connectors from thecableco.com or even Mogami with banana connectors on ebay from Japan for about $130. I know DiMarzio M-path interconnects, still have them. They are..okay. DiMarzio cables are wildly used by electric guitar players. Those Super M speaker cables are said to be better than interconnects, but they are not exactly free.
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