2. amps-preamps
  3. 1197941232

Preamp/amp far superior to just int. amp.?

I am curious if there is that much of a jump up in sound quality if a person goes from an integrated amplifier setup to a preamp/amp setup within the same manufacturer? I realize this is a loaded question, and it is somewhat rhetorical, but I just wanted some feedback if I threw it out there.

The reason I am asking is because I am wondering what my next upgrade will be in the future (not near future), because I have an excellent budget amp (Rega Brio 3), but there will come a time when I go to a better integrated amp., or spend the same amount that I would spend on that int. amp. and perhaps buy a not as good brand's preamp/amp. What would give more bang for the buck for say, $2000? I guess that is my true question.
regafan_1972
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,784 posts
 
So how does the Mira 3 sound and was it worth upgrading?

Regards, Rich
pwfletcher
11 posts
 
For your $2k, I would have recommended a used Simaudio I-5 or I-5.3 integrated amp.
regafan_1972 OP
22 posts
 
Hello Rich,

The Mira 3 sounds excellent so far. I am a big fan of Rega, but some day when I have more money I am going to try out other manufacturers to compare, such as Naim, Prima Luna, Krell, Mark Levinson, etc. For now, with my budget and small size of my living quarters, the Regas are doing great.

Take care and thank you all for your advice.

Joel
david12
1,454 posts
 
One of the perennial questions, as respondents have already said, you get more bang for your bucks with an integrated. I went from a pre/power to a tube integrated amp, with the best sound I have had to date.
Traditionally the top of every amp line is a pre and mono blocks, perhaps that is just tradition. Some manufaturers, ASR and VAC come to mind, are producing integrated amps of real high end quality. I wonder if you said to CJ or ARC, money no object, make the best integrated you can, how close the result would be, to the standard Pre/monoblocks. I suspect they would not see a market for it, we are a traditional bunch and the conventional wisdom is, the very best sound comes from separates, so a high end integrated would not find a market with their customer base.
I know the arguments about separating power amp transformers from the Pre amp section and other advantages, but I wonder how much that is a justification for doing things the traditional way
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