2. amps-preamps
  3. 163796-111640

Beginner money for separate Amp/Preamp for Hm Th

I know I’m opening a can of worms.  I’m not getting used-even though I know there are great deals here. I have a Denon AVR 4806 ~12yrs old.  I want to move into separates. 
Here’s the hard & fast... Under $5k.

1) I need a preamp for the normal HT & my tt. Friends say keep the Denon for switching & radio. How?? 2) I have a Jolida JD9 MK II phono preamp (keeping). I love it.
3) I like the sound ability to really punch.  Friends keep saying SS for mid/twetters & tube for low end.
4) I know there are bazillions of main to boutique brands. Can you keep recommendations to something I have a good chance of auditioning in Chicago please?

My speakers are a couple steps up from entry JM Labs.  Don’t tailor anything to that.  Replacing in a couple yrs.  I’ll appreciate the real advice & the trolls are the price of admission.  Thank you.
tochsii
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,642 posts
 
The HiFi public is moving toward integrated a and/or powered speakers.
Your "friends" got it backward.
Sorry no recommendations with insufficient info.
soix
10,263 posts
 
Yeah, there’s not a lot to go on here re: what you’re looking for in terms of sound characteristics that are important to you.  Also, you’d probably be better off figuring out what speakers you’re going to upgrade to (or upgrade speakers first) so you get an amp suited to drive them.  It sucks to find speakers that blow you away only to find that your amp doesn’t work with them sonically and/or functionally. 

That said, just keep the Denon for HT and get a good stereo integrated amp to handle your front L/R speakers.  The 4806 has preamp outs you can use to incorporate the integrated seamlessly right into your HT setup, and it’s super easy to do and lets you completely remove the AVR for critical 2-channel/vinyl listening just by pushing one button (if this sounds too good to be true it is, but it works anyway).  Many of us have done this here when HT and stereo systems had to coexist in one room.  If this sounds like something that’d work in your situation we can go over hookup, but like I said it’s stupid easy.  Anyway...
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,642 posts
 
ditto soix   
Just too lazy to write it out.
tochsii OP
79 posts
 
I’ve been reading a bit more & a hybrid amp seems to be a great solution.  My Denon’s volume goes into periods were it get louder & almost no volume & very tin sounding.  So, I don’t have the luxury of waiting.  The sound characteristics I like... this is where I say “I like a black background, a sound floor that falls away & a soundstage with exceptional separation.” One of the dumber things I read all over the site bc everybody loves muddied sound that flows together in a congealed mass with blissful background white noisey hiss. lol

I listen mostly to Rock & Blues. I could say I find many systems deficient in midrange & I love the smash of a cymbal full bodied & crisp but, that seems more relevant to speakers.  Does this help?
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