Considering Moving to an Integrated, Opinions Appreciated


Hi All,

I have converted a spare bedroom to an office/listening room. It is only 12x12. Like most here I have swapped gear in and out for years. I really enjoy the sound of my current system, but space is at a premium and I am considering moving to an integrated from separates.  I have stacks of gear around and am more inclined to get something I can set and forget and maybe even sell a bunch of this crap :)  This is my current system:

LTA microZOTL pre
McIntosh MC2505 amp
MHDT Labs Orchid DAC
PS Audio GCPH Phono Stage
Marantz TT15 Turntable
B&W Nautilus 805 Speakers

The system sounds very nice.  I am not opposed to keeping the DAC and/or phono stage, but it would be nice to have everything in the integrated if possible.  I was looking in the $2500-$3000 range. I might be able to extend my budget some if I can move some of my current gear.  I am not opposed to used.  I have been looking at things like the Lyngdorf 2710, Musical Fidelity M6si, Classe 2200i, Naim, etc. I did read the Lyngdorf vs Anthem thread, which was helpful.

The Lyngdorf seems like it ticks most of the boxes, but I am a little concerned about the amp stage.  Multiple people have described it as "dry" and my preference leans more towards warm.  I am aware that it is class D.  I am not opposed to that, I ran a Peachtree Nova 220SE for about a year and liked it.  However, I recently did some A/B testing with my current setup and the current one is the clear winner.  I also bought an Emerald Physics 100.2se based on rave reviews and I thought it would be a great much with my pre, but it really did not sound good at all.  Maybe it just didn't match well with the pre or speakers.

Most of my listening is digital.  My TT is actually not hooked up at the moment because I don't have room on my current shelf and I am missing it. 

Advice is appreciated, thanks!
 
why0why

Showing 3 responses by tyray


@why0why ,

Thank you for posting as I was thinking of purchasing an Anthem product and had never heard of the Lyngdorf 2710 before and after reading grannyring’s response I looked at some reviews and was very surprised at the cost/performance value is quiet outstanding - meaning for the price, especially used is a great value as I have seen for a little less than $3000 used.

@grannyring,

After reading your posts on the the Dueland 16GA with cardas interconnects, I initially tried the Dueland 16GA interconnects with Dueland connectors that were very good in my system but didn’t quite hit that ’sweet spot’ for me and per Jeff’s advise of Parts Connexion ended up using Dueland 20GA with KLEI™Absolute Harmony Plugs interconnects shielded and unshielded for about $350 and $275 respectively which was one of the best cost/performance ’upgrades’ I had made to my rig to date. And liked them so much I ’traded in’ my Clear Day double shotguns speaker cable for Duelund 12GA speaker cables without wire connectors, per Duelund specs. And I thank you for that.

Grannyring, I also have to mention that I don’t know how you do it but time and time again when I read of you mentioning a piece of hi fi gear (that I have never heard of) it/they too seem to always have a very good cost/performance value.

For example, your mention of the Clayton Audio S40 Class A amp, combined with The Truth preamp and MHDT Orchid dac, after looking up each of their specs, price and performance reviews were outstanding to say the least.

I sincerely hope that no one is offended if I ask you what speakers and piece of gear are you using to play your cd’s and/or flac files through the MHDT Orchid dac? As my intention is not to hijack the OP.

Yes! Oops. I meant to say Chris (not Jeff) Webber at PC. Sorry Chris!
Jeff is from ’Jeff’s Place’ from my initial google searches. You could imagine my surprise when I realized Chris Webber was the Chris from Jeff’s Place!

I actually got the idea of using the KLEI™Absolute Harmony Plugs from YOUR post here on Agon on Duelund wire (go figure) with others chiming in and using both the 16GA and 20GA IC’s in their rigs as Chris at the time, initially used Switchcraft 3502AAU connectors but I noticed PC sold KLEI™ plugs also.

I did reach out to you back then but you graciously suggested I look elsewhere cause at the time you were not making shielded IC’s and I needed shielded for my turntable IC's to my phono preamp in. From the phono preamp out I used unshielded Duelund IC's with KLEI™Absolute Harmony Plugs.

Duelund double IC’s!? Dang! That’s more money on upgrades!

@grannyring,

After doing more research, I'm really liking the Clayton Audio S40 Class A amp, The Truth preamp and MHDT Orchid dac in combination. In fact I see on the net, sold used Clayton Audio M70 Class A monoblock amps sold in pairs are priced lower than the single Clayton Audio S40 Class A stereo amp sold used by itself!  

My question is, what interconnects did you use between The Truth preamp and the Clayton Audio S40 amp? Thanks again.