2. amps-preamps
  3. 158310-141574

I am looking for help selecting an amplifier to match my Revel F228Be speakers.

I am looking for help selecting  an amplifier to my Revel F228F speakers (which I love!) and twin REL T/9i subs.

Currently running a NAD M22 V1 or a YBA Integre DT. The NAD is dead silent and has great bottom end but the highs can be bright/screechy/digital at times. The YBA has nice highs but has a somewhat weak bottom-end and is only 50wpc. I tried bi-amping these two amps which takes advantage of the strengths of each. The problem is matching output. The YBA amp volume is almost maxed-out to match the NADs much larger output. This results in an irritating hum from the YBA.

So I plan to sell both amps and buy another. Looking for recommendations. Budget is $7,000, for amp and $2,000 for streamer. I prefer to buy ‘almost new’ components as is seems to me that you get more ‘bang for the buck’.

I mostly listen to streaming music (80%), and CDs (15%) with the balance being vinyl. Taste in music is very wide, Jazz (25%), Acoustic guitar (25%), Blues (15%), Orchestra (10%), Rock (25%)

Current DAC is a Benchmark DAC2 HGC, streamer is a Bluesound Node 2i (which I plan to upgrade).

My acoustically treated music room is 15x20 with sloped ceilings rising to 20 feet at one end.  

At the top of my wish list is a Mark Levinson 585. I like the fact that this amp is integrated and has a built-in DAC.  Thanks in advance for your suggestions.


ericnicky
auxinput
2,921 posts
 
Auxinput, also a relatively inexpensive to try with a fuse change. I never heard of a fuse change making a sonic change. Can you help me understand t

stock fuses are usually made with low grade metals (such as nickel or tin).  Also, we have electrical and mechanical resonance that makes its way into the fuse.  The fuse is a small wire that is stretched across two points.  A/C power is applied to the fuse at 60 hz (60 waveforms per second) and will also have it's own noise and resonance. Think of it as a guitar string vibrating in air.  Additionally, the glass case also can resonate mechanically from vribrations.

All this electrical resonance prevents the wire from charging smoothly.  The result is generally a bright and harsh sound, but can also be lack of bass.

Upgraded fuses use much better metal components (copper or copper alloy).  They also have anti-vibration material inside the fuse casing, such as powder or a liquid.  Some use cermic casing instead of glass, which also reduces resonance.

ericnicky's avatar
ericnicky OP
32 posts
 
auxinput, thanks for the explanation. This helps explain why a fuse retails for $125.

Thanks to all for the great suggestions, much food for thought. It is so hard to decide when you can't hear the sound with your own ears.
spookyfoot
18 posts
 
I have the Revel F328Be's paired with a McIntosh MA-8900. I really like the sound from the DAC in the Mac but I think my Schiit Yggdrasil (A2) is better. So I am running my server to the Yggy and then on to the amp via XLR. The sound right now from the combo of the Revels with the Yggy & McIntosh is very impressive, I am loving it!
ericnicky's avatar
ericnicky OP
32 posts
 
I am auditioning a Vitus RI-100 tonight.
ericnicky's avatar
ericnicky OP
32 posts
 
Well, I bought the Vitus RI-100. It's a monster 300WPC integrated amp that weighs-in at 88 pounds. Sounds great with the Revel 228Be. The next upgrade is speaker cables and PC. I have ordered a used Inakustic PC and will be auditioning Audience AU24-SE speaker cables this weekend.

The next upgrade is an R2R DAC! Looking a the Metrum Adagio along with the Metrum Amber streamer. 

Any suggestions for speaker cables under one thousand $ would be appreciated. Also, thoughts on this DAC/streamer would be appreciated.

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