@jackalope -- any updates? If you haven't already, try pulling the Josephs 4-5 feet into the room if possible, with the speakers aimed at the outside of your shoulders. Magic starts to happen there.
How would you introduce tubes into this SS system?
I have a Rotel RC-1070 preamp and a Parasound HCA-1000 amp driving a pair of NHT Super Two’s. The Super Two’s sensitivity is 87 db (2.83V at 1M), 8 Ohms nominal impedance (3.8 Ohms minimum), and recommended amp power of 25W/ch min. and 175W/ch. max. The Rotel’s output level and impedance are 1V and 100 Ohms, and the Parasound’s input impedance is 33 kiloOhms. The budget is around $2000 for either a tube preamp, tube amp, or integrated tube/hybrid amp. I like the sonic qualities of tube equipment, but I don’t want to sacrifice too much bass. I should also mention that I use this system primarily for listening to vinyl on a Music Hall mmf-5.1 turntable. Should I replace the Rotel, the Parasound, or both? Thanks for your opinions.
Showing 4 responses by soix
Not sure if these would be outside your budget, but I know they’ll sound fantastic with the RM22s, and the bass will be sublime as will the imaging/soundstage... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis966hf-audio-research-ls-16-mkii-tube https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649468342-mccormack-dna1-w-smc-silver-mods/ |
Congrats on the speakers (if it works out)! Might be worth a call to the guy with the Cayin to see if he has any thoughts on parts and service, and he may be willing to lower the price to compensate. If he's had the amp for a while and it's been reliable, it bodes well going forward. But, if you're not up for that, you could go with something like this to get some tubes in there... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis966he-audio-research-ls-16-mkii-linestage-preamplifier-tube and pair it with omething like this... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis966he-audio-research-ls-16-mkii-linestage-preamplifier-tube or this... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis95f22-belles-150a-hotrod-power-amp-factory-reconditioned-solid-... I've heard the McCormack with the RM22s and they're a very good match, and you can upgrade the amp later if you want to bring it to an even higher level. Combined with a good tubed preamp you'd have one sweet sounding system. |
Both. Actually, and I don't mean to be, er, mean, but replace the whole shebang. It's time. Buy this... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis96205-cayin-audio-usa-h-80a-class-a-hybrid-amp-solid-state Then bid on these... https://www.ebay.com/itm/202466159940?ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F7... Your total cost cost would be about $2000, let you get some tubes in your system, and the sound will blow you away. Best of luck. |