2. amps-preamps
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Seeking Constructive Equipment Ideas

Mid 80's I had an NAD 2200 and NAD 1240 preamp driving a pair of MG1 Maggies.  Yep, first model.  Had the setup for years. The Maggies eventually got sold due to new lifestyle (marriage). Bought a pair of Energy RC10 bookshelves 15 years ago (relegated to smaller space) and the 2200 finally quit. Replaced it with an old Adcom 535ll. Still using that NAD 1240 38 years later (with one service).

Anyways that's the backstory.  So my listening will be confined to a 12x12 bedroom in our new house. I have a Technics 1200 GR table and Rotel Tribute CD player. Thinking it's time to spend some money and looking at the Wharfdale Lintons or similar and now looking at preamp and amps. I can drop around 5K excluding speakers. I was looking at the Benchmark preamps and amps but thinking that for my limited space it's probably overkill. So I started thinking maybe an integrated is all I need? Fact of the matter is a good deal of my listening is probably going to be through headphones of which I have a pair of Senn 600 but have ability to do splurge on 1K pair as well at some point. I have already looked at some headphone amps. Most of my listening is LP or CD but also have a large Dead FLAC collection and other music files.

So just looking for some opinions on integrated and if that's sufficient for my needs and some makes. Checked out the Peachtree Nova 300 as it looked like it would do fine with the Lintons but have no idea what Class D sounds like and if I should bother or stick with an A/B. Or if I should also consider different smaller speakers.

Thanks in advance for comments.

vinyljones1
vinyljones1 OP
9 posts
 

Great info santa and  dead. I did not know that the 2200 was Class D. It had zero problem driving those Maggies back in the day. I actually had some small KEFs in the late 80's and really liked them. Don't remember what model but my drunk roommate fried them by blasting Slayer when I wasn't home. My music listening is Dead, Krautrock, Gong, Hillage, PFM and other prog and obscure 70s hard rock i.e. Budgie etc. so not a ton of mellow acoustic stuff. I do like to rock as they say. I may check out the KEF LS50 but I'm always flumoxed by speakers with only one speaker. I did look at the RAAL site but probably gonna be a little rich for what I really want to keep it at with the price of food etc, now. The impedance on those, holy cow. Like a direct short! Not sure of many amps that could drive those. I guess the HPA4 couldnt.  There is a HPA4 listed here for $2200 and I thought about it but not sure if I should do it unheard. I"m in Palm Coast Fl so not much shops around but Jacksonville does have a nice store. Other ten that my store options are slim without a long ass drive.

kota1
2,706 posts
 

A pair of active Dynaudio Focus 10 or 30 speakers and you are done. The preamp, the dac, the amps, streamer, and of course the speakers are integrated by the Dynaudio engineers into a single system. They have 2 RCA inputs so you can hook up your TT and your turntable can either use the other RCA jack of the digital inputs. Each speakers is 390 watts and each driver has a dedicated amp.:

 

vinyljones1 OP
9 posts
 

Thanks for the tip on the Dynaudio. Admittedly, the concept is cool but my old school mind and self would probably steer me away. I would always have a hard time convincing myself it was really any good. My loss possibly but I have a hard time wrapping my head around anything but separates or an integrated at most. It would create a definite cognitive dissidence. Interesting though and appreciated.

arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 

you have nice stuff !!!!!

 

jealous of the TT and the cd player,

 

stay clear of that D stuff.

get class A or AB. a nice integrated will work, make sure you have enough power.

those lil energys are fantastic. klipsch, before they destroyed one of the best Canadian loudspeakers, they recommend their Jamo line, which are nice i guess.

i wholeheartedly agree on the Dynaudio speakers, BUT ,you will need some sack to power them, the cd player, TT, and Dynaudio, is one helluva system, make sure, you get a very good amplifier. tons of great used on the gon if you wanna go that route. Or personally, i would get a nice tubed Preamp, and the Sanders Magtech. no need to use all the power, but when needed, it will be there clip free, and reliability is the best.

 

 i would be patient, search, look for a used Magtech.

complete Sanders system just sold, speakers, magtech, eq, cables for like 8 or so K, i flipped,

Or a nice Mccormack, ship to Steve himself, and have a absolute top tier amp for a great price.  

sure, D is small, no heat, but you deserve better with the rotel and technics TT,

 

 

 

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