Best upgrade: amp or pre-amp?
Of course, it depends...
So here is my setup:
I was thinking to upgrade to an integrated (McIntosh, Hegel or Pass Labs are on top of my list), but I might decide to go for the long game: get the best amp/pre-amp for the same budget as the integrated (max 10k CAD) and update the other half later, in 5 years-ish..
So I'm open to suggestion! But remember a suggested a pre-amp, must match the MC7100 and an amp must match the C712 as I plan you have them together for a little while.
Thanks for the hive mind. I realize this is a tricky question!
No simple answer, but; While I agree integrateds are a compromise, the Technics SU R 1000 COULD be the one to own I do not own your kit, but my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5 is a pretty good preamp/dac. Last 2 years I tried a lot of power amps, and they all sounded different. The one that stood out from the crowd is my LSA Voyager GaN 350 (MSRP $3000 (same tech as in the Technics) hth
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@ papyneau I guess you will need to decide if you are going with an integrated or not. My personal opinion is the preamp is more important than the amp since it’s closest to the source. I also believe in system matching with separates i.e. using the pre and amp from the same company. Just my preference and you may have good luck using different manufactures but it takes a fair amount of experimenting.
There are some good suggestions on the integrateds. Luxman, Krell, Simaudio, and another one to consider would be the Coda csib. I don’t have any direct experience with Coda but they can be configured in class A and A/B and have been reviewed well. I think at this price point an integrated can provide a better value with a single chassis rather than getting another "box". Of course you lose some flexibility but perhaps not sonics. You won’t really know unless you can listen to the contenders in your or a similar system. Just my two cents. |
As @goose typed, I had always thought that conventional wisdom dictated getting it right up front & then working back. |
@papyneau - I inherited *exactly* the same rig from my father (with KEF reference series speakers) The best first money I spent was on a DAC. Now on a Benchmark DAC3 HGC, it sounds awesome coming through those Mac pieces You might consider having your pieces refurbished by the folks at Audio Classics in Vestal, NY (Mac specialists) - I did that for the pre & really upped the sound Over time, the rig became a Mac C2300 (tube pre) and MC152 amp (both purchased from Audio Classics), with Harbeth Super HL5+ speakers An intermediate step (the 2300 & 152 are about $8k together) could be a used Mac integrated I will say, the original rig still holds up darn well (I kept my father’s pieces) |
