another rookie question - preamp or or power amp
I have a decent integrated amp ("decent" - to my ears). SS, 50Watts to 8 Ohms. It has a preamp output.
I have been looking at used power amps and preamps in the 2-400 dollar range.
For example: the Parasound 2125 power amp, the Parasound P3
This is an OR question. Which choice will yield a better improvement,
1) if I put a preamp before my integrated so the integrated acts as the power amp
or 2) if I use my integrated as a preamp to a power amp?
It's also a choice to sell my integrated and save up until I can buy both a power amp and a preamp, but obviously I am itching to try one of the above options.
My room is 15x13 so I am not sure I need a big power amp (big: 100Watts?)
You should save the $400 and continue to add to it. Your room is normal size. My room is the same size. Would I prefer to have a larger room? Absolutely, but we’ve down sized due to retirement. I’d recommend acquiring a system to fit your room rather than simply building a system that doesn’t fit your room. You can acquire lots of used gear, many at excellent prices if you diligently search. But for me I’d concentrate on saving in order to acquire gear that’s worthy of your room. |
I would go pre out from your IA, into two Fosi ZA3’s run in Mono mode. Get the 48V, 5A power supplies. The two will run you about $300, and I believe you will be majorly delighted with the power and sound quality. These 3255 chip amps are amazing, and I believe they will be the next big thing in terms of amplification. |
i think it is the best idea... And at the lowest price... It can be possible to even integrate a tube pre-amplifier in these mono amp i think... The Fosi headphone amplifier i bought for peanuts price , the Fosi sk01 + 3 tone controls is a steal... It is not chinese junk ... I use a tube low cost pre-amp with it the Douk P2 at peanuts cost too which i use also for my near field active speakers ... Very good sound ... It seems audio china is no more junk only ... For a bit higher price than what i paid ( 60 bucks ) you could have a very good tubes pre-amplifier under 200 bucks ...
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The size of the power amp you need has to do with the efficiency of your loudspeakers, how large the room is, how loudly you want to play your music, and how much power your loudspeakers can safely take. |
thanks @tomic601 Holiday spirit indeed :) |
@coltrane1 yes, several people suggested that. However I went down a path of buying inexpensive stuff that I am now trying to match with a higher quality component. (My wife thinks I am hoarding but I have seen my neighbor's garages.) It’s a fun journey, I am not in a hurry, I have already been very blessed with hardware offered and loaned to me from generous members here. I could also just sell what I have and buy a better integrated. I never had a preamp so I was curious what it would do (apparently a lot). At this point I don’t think my budget is the biggest issue, figuring out what would improve my current system is. |
