The size of the power amp you need has to do with the efficiency of your loudspeakers, how large the room is, how loudly you want to play your music, and how much power your loudspeakers can safely take.
If you can use your existing integrated amp as a preamp, then get a power amp first. The amp you quote, the Parasound 2125 power amp, is NOT available at $400, so why even talk about it? There are a number of good value amps at $400 or less on US Audiomart. Why not go there to look for one?
another rookie question - preamp or or power amp
I have a decent integrated amp ("decent" - to my ears). SS, 50Watts to 8 Ohms. It has a preamp output.
I have been looking at used power amps and preamps in the 2-400 dollar range.
For example: the Parasound 2125 power amp, the Parasound P3
This is an OR question. Which choice will yield a better improvement,
1) if I put a preamp before my integrated so the integrated acts as the power amp
or 2) if I use my integrated as a preamp to a power amp?
It's also a choice to sell my integrated and save up until I can buy both a power amp and a preamp, but obviously I am itching to try one of the above options.
My room is 15x13 so I am not sure I need a big power amp (big: 100Watts?)
- ...
- 61 posts total
thanks @tomic601 Holiday spirit indeed :) |
@coltrane1 yes, several people suggested that. However I went down a path of buying inexpensive stuff that I am now trying to match with a higher quality component. (My wife thinks I am hoarding but I have seen my neighbor's garages.) It’s a fun journey, I am not in a hurry, I have already been very blessed with hardware offered and loaned to me from generous members here. I could also just sell what I have and buy a better integrated. I never had a preamp so I was curious what it would do (apparently a lot). At this point I don’t think my budget is the biggest issue, figuring out what would improve my current system is. |
- 61 posts total