2. amps-preamps
  3. 195348-203546

Need Integrated amplifier

I am selling off my system and the plan is to have a integrated with a good Dac built in that has HT bypass so it can hook up to my Yamaha A/V..  the integrated can’t have tubes my wife has banned me from anything with tubes lol..must have a nice remote…right now I am using the Pass Labs XP-12 and the XA-25 amp and a couple dacs …the plan is to clean up all the gear I have laying around and end up with a pair of speakers a A/V receiver for tv and movies and a integrated for two channel music..the speakers will be Volti Audio Lucera very efficient hybrid horn speaker if I get off my behind and drive 600 mile round trip to get them. Darn there is so much to pick from it’s crazy…budget is 12k or less..HELP!!

charles007100
secretguy
1,857 posts
 

I had to check to see if it has HT Bypass. It does and I can't recommend the Anthem STR highly enough.

charles007100 OP
78 posts
 

@secretguy thats a good idea too, I will definitely research Anthem…thanks

george_r
27 posts
 

I went through this process 5 years ago. I wanted a preamp that went into Home Theater bypass mode while in standby mode so I didn’t need to do anything when engaging the AVR. I also wanted a preamp with good bass management since I share two subwoofers with the stereo preamp and the AVR. I narrowed it down to the Anthem STR and a Parasound P6 and bought an Anthem STR. A nice bonus was the STR’s very good MM/MC stage.

 

Since I use external amplifiers that are shared between the AVR and preamp and the amps are turned on and off via 12v triggers from both the STR and AVR, I needed to figure out a way to accomplish that without back feeding the 12v trigger to the idle device. Building a simple 12v Y-cable with a couple diodes solved this issue perfectly.

george_r
27 posts
 

I overlooked the integrated preamp part. My STR is not integrated but there is an STR integrated model.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/1922322

kennyc
2,039 posts
 

I find the OP’s ask a bit tough.  

Finding a good DAC within an integrated is tough as many are an afterthought built to a cost.

Finding an integrated with HT past-through greatly limits choices also, seemingly eliminating low watt tube amplification which is typically matched with high efficiency speakers like Volti.

So the solution is likely a SS integrated, but maybe not ideal high-end Sonics vs other available integrates without the DAC+HT requirements.  

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