2. amps-preamps
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best budget amp/preamp for B&W 805 D3s

you kind people helped me along the way. here is another question. I am happy with my setup but can’t help but think forward. Have an old Rotel RA 1070 that now powers my new 805s. I use, per your suggestion, DAC (Shiit Modi) to stream Tidal from my Mac. Sound is great but gets a bit choked up (crowded?) when the volume is turned up loud. my question: I have only $1k budget for a new integrated amp. 1) In that budget is there a significantly better amp or amp/preamp combo? 2) Should I wait until I have more $$$ to buy? 3) what budget integrated amps (amp/prem) go well with 805s (other than Rotels)? 
I don’t mind getting used equipment. Please, give me suggestions also for budget amp/preamp combos.
I very much appreciate your willingness to help. I am new at this and not an engineer.
petar3
petar3 OP
63 posts
 
many thanks to everyone who responded. i don't normally talk about sound. perhaps, clarity and detail. i listen to new classical music, jazz, some world stuff.

soix
9,456 posts
 
There’s a NuPrime IDA-16 available here now for $1195, and if you’re after clarity and detail — along with a lot of other positive attributes — you should be very happy.  And 200Wpc should help your 805s wake up and get rid of any congestion at higher volume levels. It’s also got a very good internal DAC that may well be better than your Modi, and if so you can sell it and offset some of the cost. If I was you I’d jump on this ASAP.
rockeymarkb
15 posts
 
I do not know how you will get a quality integrated for $1000 which will nicely drive your B & Ws.  B & Ws require quality amplification and are finicky with electronics to boot.  A budget expansion is required in my opinion.  Good luck!
westcoastaudiophile
301 posts
 
For quality sound, B&Ws need to be driven by very low output impedance (aka high damping factor), and high max output current amplifier (> 50A), which rarely can be found in integrates ($$). Less costly option could be an appropriate Power Amp, and then finding better preamp. Class A, with minimal load of 2 Ohms is a good start to look for amp4bws. It could be A-70 Accuphase, or Pass alike. 
petar3 OP
63 posts
 
thanks for your post, westcoastaudiophile, I am looking at Hegel H390 integrated. here are its specifications. If I understand your post correctly, it seems that this integrated amp meets the requirement. 
Technical Specifications

Power output: 2 x 250 W into 8 Ω, Dual Mono
Minimum load: 2 Ω
Analog Inputs: 1 x balanced (XLR), 2 x unbalanced (RCA)
Digital Outputs: 1 x coaxial (BNC)
Digital Inputs: 1 x coaxial (BNC), 1 x coaxial (RCA), 3 x optical, 1 x USB, 1 x Network
Line level Output: 1 x unbalanced fixed (RCA), 1 x unbalanced variable (RCA)
MQA supported inputs: USB, BNC, Optical and Coaxial
Frequency response: 5 Hz - 180 kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio: More than 100 dB
Crosstalk: Less than -100 dB
Distortion: Less than 0.005% @ 50 W/8 Ω/1 kHz
Intermodulation: Less than 0.01% (19 kHz + 20 kHz)
Damping factor: More than 4000 (main power output stage)
Dimensions incl feet: 14,5 cm x 43 cm x 44 cm (HxWxD), 20 kg unit weight
Dimensions (US): 5.71" x 16.93" x 17.32" (HxWxD), 44 lbs unit weight
Special features: Set Startup volume | Set max volume | Software upgradable | Configure all inputs as fixed level inputs | IP control


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