Rotel RA-1592 MK II or something else to deliver around 200W to B&W towers around $3000?

@yukispier

I thought that is the direction I am headed getting a proper amp with a midish level pre/dac combo.

Ummm, there’s not really a “midish” level pre/dac. It’s sonically better to get a separate DAC but good a audiophile (above box store sonic quality) starts around $2k like Mytek and Yggy - YMMV. Including a dac w a preamp is an economic way to save $ on casework (less boxes) and cables which would be beneficial considering your limited 3k budget

I think that the system will still be enjoyable to listen to without a $4000 preamp while I’m saving up for the upgrade.

$4k preamp? - I’m confused. I thought your entire budget was $3k now so I was trying to stretch it to get you the best sonics per $ so you can enjoy your system “now” w flexibility for future upgrades. If your budget is more then that’s a different strategy. 

+1 Hegel - consistent positive reviews

Odyssey Audio amplifiers $1-3k - one of the best bang for buck amplifiers. Alon Wolf of Magico (one of the top technologically advanced speaker designers/manufacturers today) likes and sometimes uses them.

There’s a Hegel H300 here now for $3k that’d be very worth considering.  It’ll likely sound excellent with your speakers, and it also has a decent DAC that’ll suffice until you have the budget for a better one.  I’d offer $2500 since the unit lacks a remote, which is easily solved with a simple aftermarket universal remote.  FWIW.  

I'll be honest, I have on preorder a Rotel 1590 MK2 as my preamp, but didn't really consider their integrated amps because of the price. I felt like you could better piecemail a system to your liking at or around the 1592's price point, or there were more compelling integrated amps around that same price, especially looking at used equipment (used Michi X3 would be awesome).

This might be blasphemy, but if 3k is your hard budget and you want am all in one solution maybe check out the new Cambridge Audio EV 75 ($2,250) and buy a subwoofer, or get the 150 (3k) and call it a day.

I started with a all in one set up based around my KEF LS50 meta's that was very basic (intergrated amp and speakers only) and now I've total fallen into this mess of a hobby. Streamer, D2D with LPS, DAC, preamp, monoblock amp, dual sub's, and now JBL L100 classics.

I wish you luck, but just ask yourself if you want good sound and convenience, or something specifically your own that you come up with (soundwise too)?

Neither is wrong, but part of me wishes I started with a high end all in one set up, which I really could've enjoyed, as opposed to a low end starter system that always had me looking for ways to change components and mix and match.

This topic is closed.

I bought a Bryston 4B SST power amp.