Need suggestions for integrated amp---next step in chain
joekapahulu -- Wed, 08/12/2009 - 22:20
Need to identify a good integrated amp that can deliver high current and about 100 wrms at 6 ohms and serve as a building block for a new system...first upgrade in 20+ years. Will be running Ohm Walsh 100s3 speakers in 14 * 14 room 88 db sensitivity and 6 ohm nominal impedance. Looking at $2k max new price and open to used eqiupment too. Trying to understand what I yield for moving from say a Cambridge Audio 640A v2 to say a Portal Panache or Rega 1062 or Music Fidelity A3. Want something that I can later use as a preamp as I start to upgrade. Long term goal is for something that I will "have for 10+ years like Mcintosh, which I have lusted after for years. . Replacing old Mcintosh MA 5100 integrated which I have liked and was a gift back in high school and also some 70s SAE separates I bought in college. I'm 50 years old and listen to all kinds of music especially lots of acoustic jazz, female vocals, acoustic fingerstyle guitar, piano both classical and jazz, 70s singer songwriters and rock, (Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, Led Zep, Clapton) and lots of blues and jazz guitar. Open to hybrid and SS, maybe tubes although I have never owned them. I have heard them but I understand it is difficult or costly to find tubes which will drive my Ohm speakers. Live in Hawaii so I cant really hear much of anything and only 2 high end shops which are very limited so buying off the net and durability is key as there arent too may people around to do repairs. I have read about Portal Panache, various Music Fidelity, Cambridge audio, Naim and all would be bought off internet. Nait 5i sounds interesting but the wrms seems low. as did the SIm Audio Moon 1. Was thinking about the CA 840 but heard questions about the quality so I have been stuck in analysis paralysis. Using CA 740C cd player and works well.
So your speakers are rated as 89db, nominal impedance of 6ohms with recommended power of 50-100 watts to drive them, so they do not seem to present too difficult a load to drive (although i couldn't find an impedance curve to see if there are any dips that could present the amplifier with a more difficult load than the stated 6 ohms). In any case, if you are open to used equipment, that would open up your choices significantly:
Solid State:
1) Naim NaIT 5i v2 ($1,450 new, <$1,000 used): cannot go wrong with this integrated. Highly musical and more powerful than its stated 50w/ch
2) Simaudio i5.3 ($3,900 new, ~$2-2.5K used): very powerful for its rated 85w/ch, neutral, and resolving amp. Should easily drive your speakers
3) Cambridge Audio 840AV2 ($1,799 new, ~$1K used): plenty of power and comes highly recommended by TAS
4) Rotel RA-1520 ($999 new, just came out so probably no used units yet). Check out TAS's early preview: http://www.avguide.com/blog/sexy-and-serious-rotel%E2%80%99s-new-15-series-integrated-amp-and-cd-player
Tube:
1) VTL IT-85 ($3,750 new, ~$2.5K used)
Hybrid:
1) Vincent SV-236 MkII ($2K new): tube pre-amp and solid state output with 150w/ch. Again, recently reviewed in TAS and seems to be getting very good press.
The most recent issue of TAS has Editors Choice Awards and you can find many of the above in the Integrated Amp section. That should give you a good starting point. I hope this helps.
Thx for the response. I have been intrigued by the Naim as it seems to have been a winner for years which to me reflects a company philosophy and approach to design and development that I like. My concern was just the adequacy of the power rating. Similar feeling regarding the Rotel product. Alternatively, I have gotten the sense that the CA stuff is good basic entry level but not fully audiophile in presentation, perhaps with the exception of the 840? I was trying to get a sense of the tradeoffs between say the 840a at $1k used vs. a new 640A at $400 right now off variouis Internet sources? It delivers 75 WRMS at 8 ohms and 100 at 4 ohms. I was thinking I might go with the former for now then retire it to my bedroom/office with my Spendor LS 3/5s down the road. This would enable me to save more towards a real high end piece 12-24 months down the road. I dont know if I am being cheap and stupid or smart and economical! I certainly wouldnt want to buy it then find out I was not really getting something that would deliver in the short run. Hard cause its all conceptual because I dont have many options to listen to stuff. The two high end shops are focused on selling VERY high cost stuf like LAMM, Pass and Mcintosh or home theatre.
If the choice is between the CA 840 and 640, I would spend a little bit more and get the 840 as I think you really fo get a lot more in terms of power reserve, dynamics, resolution. It will just give you a much bigger helping of the high end audio sound you are seeking. But I would describe its overall sonic character as being very neutral and in if you are not careful in system matching maybe a tad analytical. I am not familiar with your Ohm Walsh speakers but from a spec standpoint I think the Naim Nait 5i v2 would be more than capable of driving them, and if I were choosing between the Naim and the CA 840, I would choose the Naim Nait 5i every time. It is a really musical amp. It just makes you want to tap your feet and go with the flow and puts a big smile on your face. I have considerably more expensive Audio research front end driving Thiel 2.4 speakers and if they did not present such a difficult load, I would be happy driving them with the Naim. It's that good. It's not the final word in resolution nor in bass weight but it has a very beguiling midrange presentation and a propulsive trait that draws you in. I don't know how else to put it. You can get a Naim for around $1K used on Audiogon and if you find that it is not powerful enough, you can always resell it with a minimal hit to the wallet. Normally I would say audition and hear for yourself before buying but in your situation, my guess is Audiogon is going to be the best way for you to try out a few things without killing the bank account. I would also highlight the Vincent integrated. It has gotten a lot of good reviews. I have not heard it myself but it seems to solve your problem of providing you with ample power (150w/ch) in the ss output stage of the amp and gives you a bit of tube character (more natural timbres, bloom, imaging etc..) in the pre stage. I cannot vouch for it personally but the reviews seem quite favorable. There was one that just sold on Audiogon for $1100 (http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1253918148&/Vincent-Audio-SV---236-Mk-2-hy) so if you keep a look out I am sure you can get a good deal on one when it pops up. Good luck and happy hunting.
Consider t
Consider the Krell 400xi Sounds great ,plenty of power built like a tank in Connecticut USA can be had for under 2k used
will last and has a very good preamp section running mine with Resolution 2 speakers and sacd standard
Had a lot of high end gear over the years very happy with this setup do not feel the upgrade bug anymore
Dan Dag if you see this please get out of China
hi
i own the cambridge audio 740c, with simaudio-1 drivng a pair of dynaudio 1.3se. dont worry about the simaudio; they are not underpowered. they are awesome! it has a nice rich midrange that i really appreciate. sound more tubey than my mcintosh 6900 actually. another plus is it doesnt get too hot. give it an audition if you could, u wont regret buying it.
-pablo
Two recommendations - The Bryston 100 integrated and the NAD C375BEE. Both are well built (the Bryston a bit more so), and both have sterling reviews. I've heard both & could live with either.
If you're a Mac man, keep an eye on local garage sales, pawn shops, and CraigsList. I've bought Mac pre-power combos for a song. My latest score was a C-41 pre with remote control and a 350 WPC MC352 power amp for a total of $1,500.
Happy shopping!
A good sense of humor makes it ALL sound better!
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