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
 
Tom, I wish I wasn’t five hours away in traffic from the closest Magico dealer. I do think the local audio stores have a limited supply of cables that I may be able to cajole them into lending for demo purposes. That is after my Magico’s arrive in February. Good advice to have fun with this. I do enjoy doing the research and communicating with you all, not to mention coming home with new toys.

I’ve never heard of the Aesthetix Mimas. I’ll look them up. Good luck with that.

Mike
glupson
7,842 posts
 
skyscraper,

It is probably better that you keep the discussion about cables you need here and take a peek at other cable threads from time to time. Here you have a thread about, more or less, building your system and someone may come and give real advice or opinion with names and models they suggest. Cable threads are less useful in that way. They are more about arguing theory vs. practice but nothing practically useful. They are interesting in their own way but nothing you could use at the stage you seem to be at, I think. They get quite energetic at times. Approach at your own risk.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
skyscraper,

I just realized you are the OP from the DC speaker road trip. I will go back to that thread to see how it went. The spoiler is that now I know what speakers you got.
tomstruck's avatar
tomstruck
350 posts
 
Aesthetix is a US company located in California they make some great equipment  hybrid amps preamps and now the new MAMIS integrated amp heres the web site  www.aesthetix.net  

I guess that I can count myself lucky only 20 minutes from         Audio connection one of the best dealers in the US

skyscraper OP
829 posts
 
Glupson, I have read a few of the threads on the cable forum and asked a couple questions on one of them that is quite vitriolic.

Usually you can get an idea of what the better brands are on most audio products through reviews and their names being mentioned, or praised with some frequency on various forums, Audiogon being a better one for that. I’ve yet to find a pattern with cable recommendations yet.

There seems to be a wide range of opinions and an even greater diversity of manufacturers. With speakers, and with amps it was relatively easy to figure out the front runners and whittle the list down to size prior to demoing. Maybe that’s in part due to having prior experience with components. No such luck so far with cables. Maybe I just haven’t read enough yet or had any practical experience with various grades of cable to venture a guess, like I’ve had with speakers, amps, turntables and to a lesser degree CD players.

I used to subscribe to audio mags like Hii-Fidelity, Stereo Review and Audio and I don’t recall any reviews on cables other than the Monster Cables when they came out. As an aside, I always thought a pairing of Monster Cables and Ampzilla would have been poetic. So this cable arena is all new to me, has a certain gladiatorial element and prices startling for someone who’s never considered anything but zip cord for wiring components. Have you mentioned what cables you use? Just curious. I’ve written down so many brands I’ve lost track of who's recommended what.


Tomstruck, you’re lucky you have Audio Connection so close. You should mention to them they should set up shop in Roanoke. I’ll look at your link on the Aesthetics. I couldn’t find too much earlier except for one short positive review.

Mike




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