2. amps-preamps
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Driving a power amp with an integrated amp?

Is it NOT recommended to use an integrated amp with a power amp? Somewhere in the forum I read that it is not a good thing for the integrated amp?? I have a NAK IA-1Z/Kef 104.2 and am looking to transition to separates without spending too much $$ at once. My plan is to purchase a 2 channel power amp now (under $2,000.00) and use the NAK to drive it until I can replace the NAK with a preamp somewhere down the road. I am looking at some NAD, Adcom, Rotel as well as some low end Krell. Any thoughts to this approach as well as the choice for power amp is appreciated.
itsmetn
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,987 posts
 
As long as the integrated amp has separate preamp outputs, then no problem at all.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Somewhere in the forum I read that it is not a good thing for the integrated amp??
That would be true if the integrated amp had a tube output stage, and output transformers, as that kind of output stage should not be operated without a speaker or equivalent load being connected. Since your integrated amp is solid state, and assuming that it provides preamp outputs that can be connected to the separate power amp (not tape/recording outputs, which would not be volume controlled), no problem as Mofi indicated.

Regards,
-- Al
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