Grounded Grid and McCormack DNA amp. Transparent and fast for the money. Tough to beat.
Amplification Recommendations Please
Happy New Year 'Goners!
I am asking for your assistance. I am looking for 2-channel amplification solutions in the $1000 to $1500 range, and would like to move to at least a tube preamplification stage, if not full tube set-up. I listen mostly to Rock and Jazz, with a sprinkling of everything else, and love the clarity of the cymbals and bells, and HF overtones best of all. (Think Pat Metheny, Miles, Beethoven Symphonies, and Stone Temple Pilots) A remote control and HT pass-thru would be nice, but transparency, clarity, and presence is tantamount!
Core components:
- Solution Must Replace: HK PM665 Integrated, 120W@8
- Speakers: Infinity Intermezzo 4.1t's (ea w/850W sub amp built-in) Recommended power: 25-500W per specs...I love these speakers, as they are incredibly flat and detailed, and I figure I need at least 50 Watts, although I rarely crank it beyond a medium volume level.
- CD: Rotel RCD 1072
- TT: HK T-60 w/various cartridges both MM and MC
(Also have tape deck & DVD, but not for critical listening)
I am torn between an integrated and seperates:
-Jolida 502B Hot Rodded by Versastarr (~$1400) No remote
-Primaluna Prologue 2 from Upscale (~$1400) No Remote
-VTL IT-85 (Used~$1500) w/Remote
OR
Seperate Preamp, Power amp & interconnects:
-Transcendent Grounded Grid (~$800) No Remote Cntl
-Audio Experience/YS Audio Symphonies Plus (~$750) No Remote Cntl
-TAD-150 (~750) Remote, HT Pass-thru
-VTL 2.5 (~$1000) Remote, HT pass-thru
Any of these would then be coupled with a reasonable priced (most likely used) power amp - most likely a solid state:
Bryston 2B or 3b, Musical Fidelity A3.2cr, PS Audio HCA-2... (wish I could afford a Krell 250A or SimAudio Moon W5)
Please, What are YOUR recommendations ?
My Sincere Thanks,
Rick.
I am asking for your assistance. I am looking for 2-channel amplification solutions in the $1000 to $1500 range, and would like to move to at least a tube preamplification stage, if not full tube set-up. I listen mostly to Rock and Jazz, with a sprinkling of everything else, and love the clarity of the cymbals and bells, and HF overtones best of all. (Think Pat Metheny, Miles, Beethoven Symphonies, and Stone Temple Pilots) A remote control and HT pass-thru would be nice, but transparency, clarity, and presence is tantamount!
Core components:
- Solution Must Replace: HK PM665 Integrated, 120W@8
- Speakers: Infinity Intermezzo 4.1t's (ea w/850W sub amp built-in) Recommended power: 25-500W per specs...I love these speakers, as they are incredibly flat and detailed, and I figure I need at least 50 Watts, although I rarely crank it beyond a medium volume level.
- CD: Rotel RCD 1072
- TT: HK T-60 w/various cartridges both MM and MC
(Also have tape deck & DVD, but not for critical listening)
I am torn between an integrated and seperates:
-Jolida 502B Hot Rodded by Versastarr (~$1400) No remote
-Primaluna Prologue 2 from Upscale (~$1400) No Remote
-VTL IT-85 (Used~$1500) w/Remote
OR
Seperate Preamp, Power amp & interconnects:
-Transcendent Grounded Grid (~$800) No Remote Cntl
-Audio Experience/YS Audio Symphonies Plus (~$750) No Remote Cntl
-TAD-150 (~750) Remote, HT Pass-thru
-VTL 2.5 (~$1000) Remote, HT pass-thru
Any of these would then be coupled with a reasonable priced (most likely used) power amp - most likely a solid state:
Bryston 2B or 3b, Musical Fidelity A3.2cr, PS Audio HCA-2... (wish I could afford a Krell 250A or SimAudio Moon W5)
Please, What are YOUR recommendations ?
My Sincere Thanks,
Rick.