2. amps-preamps
  3. 170317-9467

$4000 budget for amp and preamp

Hi all,

Been a while since I posted here...  Been searching the hell out of AVS, ASR and Agon and I can't decide on next steps for my system.  My 2-channel set up has been, for a few years now, QoBuz > Audirvana > Wadia Di122 > Simaudio i-3 > Totem Rainmaker.  This sounds pretty solid in my 10' x 10' home office.  I've been trying to listen more in my living room since I bought a new house.  I've got my older HT there - Streaming or PS3 > ifi DSD or Simaudio D100 > Integra 50.2 > and my new Revel F35's + SB 1000 Pro (plus a Wharfedale center that I picked up on the cheap because wifey liked that it was the same color as the F35's).  I'm pretty satisfied with this set up - but really just for HT.  I'd like to make this my main listening room and I'm wondering if I should just switch to a 2.1 set up.  

I've tried my i-3 with its HT bypass > Integra and I wasn't impressed. I really couldn't tell the difference, to be honest. I tried Direct, Stereo and my native 3.1 with various sources.  I have six Acoustimac 2x4 foot panels that I've yet to hang.  I tried this with and without Audyssey, Dynamic EQ, etc.  

So.  2-channel with a nice amp and pre combo - maybe SS amp with tube pre (+ remote)?  I'm good with used and have always loved the thought of owning an AR tube preamp, but I haven't heard one in such a long time. I was thinking of going a couple different ways.  On the lower end, two Schiit Vidars and a balanced preamp?  There's a mint LS17 SE listed here for $2,200 and I could stretch to allow another $2k for an amp.  I'm also wondering how modern preamps stack up to the older AR models.  Or, should I be looking at something like the Parasound P6?

If the Benchmark AHB2's were available, I might have already pulled the trigger.  Anyway, I'm spinning around here trying to figure out this first world problem.  I've got a 14 X 12 x 11' ceiling room and I listen to rock and hard bop most of the time.  I think I'm okay with the F35's and I'm glad I didn't spend a couple thousand more on the Klipsch Fortes that I so desperately thought I wanted.  When I had a chance to audition them, I thought they were just awful.  To be fair, the room was a warehouse, they were about 5' apart and they were hooked up to a Denon AVR.  

If I got this set up right, I'd probably spend about 80% of the time with music and the other 20% with Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.  After rereading this, I'm not sure what I'm even asking because there's so much information.  Maybe it's how can I best spend $4,000 for the F35's?

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.





chuke076
chuke076 OP
45 posts
 
Just an update - I went a totally different route.  I went on TMR's website early this morning and they had a mint Mac MA5200 with original box, remote, etc.  I had a 5% off coupon code that one of the sales reps gave me the other day and I pulled the trigger.  I hadn't mentioned this before, but I auditioned a pair of SF Lumina III's with an MA252 hybrid integrated and I was surprised that it was more forward and analytical (in a good way) that some older Mac amps that I heard in the past.  Maybe I was just expecting to hear a more boring presentation and the slight difference was noticeable.  Keep in mind that this is all from memory, so I might be off base about the Macs/systems I heard in the past.  

This, of course, does not mean my search is over.  I'm thinking that I might get the Raven Nighthawk and keep them both for a few months and see which I prefer.  It will be easy to sell the Mac for about the same price.  A quick eBay search showed a few had sold with "Buy it Now" for about $200 more than I paid, so that made the decision easier.  I'm guessing it would be nearly the same for the Raven - not sure I've seen more than one on the used market at any given time.

I don't have any regrets about grabbing the Mac.  We'll see when it gets here next week.  Anyone want to buy a mint Submariner to fund more purchases?  ;-)

Thanks again to everyone and especially for the Raven suggestions.


soix
9,772 posts
 
I'm thinking that I might get the Raven Nighthawk and keep them both for a few months and see which I prefer.
Yeah, my money’s BIG on the Nighthawk.  Let us know what you find. 

johnto
1,032 posts
 
As someone else mentioned the Parasound is a great integrated with everything you need in one.
eugene81
270 posts
 
If you are still thinking of other options, consider the Hegel H390. If you buy used the warranty is transferable, but it also sells new at pretty deep discounts. I got one for well under $5k and was very impressed with it.  I preferred it to the MA352 it replaced by a wide margin.  I would’ve kept it for a long time if I didn’t stumble upon an opportunity to upgrade to something that costs twice as much.
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