Need New amp or integrated...have some options
OK, posted a few days ago looking at a CLASSDAUDIO option to replace a dying McIntosh MC250. After lots more research, I dont think I am going that way now just to get this done, no time for testing. Thinking I am going to go integrated and use later as a backup. Been looking around on the Gon/USA/TMR etc for options and have seen a few things that I am either familiar with or have actually heard. In Hawaii, so it is a "blind faith Hail Mary" kind of buy for the most part. I see a Rega Elex mkii that gets good writeups at a good price for a demo unit. Also, some Rogue Sphinx V3/Magnum and Rotel A14mk2 and a larger Rotel 1572mk2 units and a few Marantz Model 50 and 30 and an Exposure 2510. Only one of these I have heard is the Rogue Sphinx in V3 form. All have enough power on paper, some allow for 2 sets of speakers which is a plus, some even have pre out option so I can use it as my pre with remote down the line. I probably sound a little crazy right now but I am trying to solve multiple problems (2 dead amps actually) and balance good sound now with options for down the road with this eventually being either a backup unit or moving to my office. I am interested especially in the Rega and Rotel input. I heard a Brio years ago and it impressed for what it was. Never heard modern Rotel. I like Marantz and had a PM8005 but thinking that I should try a different sound/pov. This stuff is entry level or one step up I know. (My wife quashed going into a higher investment by reminding me of other priorities (new car, paying for a river cruse she wants to do) so marital harmony takes precedence after 35 years.) Anyone familiar with the sound, operation or reliability of these units, I appreciate your input. There is no substitute for others considered opinions given no options to listen. I kind of just want to get this done as I have other pressing things to address. Mahalo.
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If you are driving two sets of speakers, assuming they’re two different stereo pairs, you may benefit from having fully independent control of each pair. For this we suggest the miniDSP Flex TRS along with the Hypex nc252 Quad from Deer Creek audio. |
A budget figure might help the discussion. My vote on class D is the Peachtree Carina GaN. 200W. Has a DAC. Lovely sound. Very accommodating footprint and would have generally high WAF. Not a 2-pair speaker amp, though. $3K. But you are setting aside class D, now. Not a difficult ship to Hawai'i. I would vote for the Yamaha A S1200/2200/3200 units. Very clean, lovely cabinet. Excellent sound. ~90W. You would need a separate DAC. The JBL SA750 is a one-box solution 120W Class"G" which is a hybrid class-A/AB. Has a DAC and streamer. Vintage look in a good way. The new Heaven 11 Billie Mk3 is about to hit the market, offering a hybrid tube pre with class D amp, with a choice of either Hypex or ICEPower. I haven't heard it but the pre-release reviews are good. If you are considering a tube integrated, I can suggest the Audio Research i/50 which is excellent. Class-AB, operates on 6550s in the power section. It can be optioned with both an AR DAC and a MM Phono pre, as in-the-box modules. $6.5K-8K new but there are regularly nice examples used at about $4K, some even with the module upgrades. I bought one used, fully optioned, and like it very much.
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I’ve owned quite a few integrateds within your budget. The standouts are Yamaha’s MOSFET powered series (A-S2100 or 2200), the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum 2, and the Axxess Forté1 (within your budget used). Most others were good to mediocre but did not connect me with the music. I like Rogue’s full tube products but I would avoid their hybrid amps. I’ve owned both the Sphinx V2 and Pharaoh. Both were mediocre in my system and left me cold. The Axxess Forte1 is my current integrated. It doesn’t compete with $20K of separates (hardly any integrateds do) but it does remarkably well and most importantly, draws my attention toward the music rather than having me critique its performance every time I sit down. A bonus is you can leave it powered on 24/7 with negligible power draw. I preferred this integrated to a Luxman 507Z in a back-to-back comparison. The Rogue CM2—great sounding amp—engaging, but was noisy in my system. Allegedly they addressed the noise floor in their mk3 revision. If so, I think it is a no-brainer if you can live with the heat of tubes. One thing the CM does particularly well is throw an extremely wide soundstage—on par with megabuck amps. To my ears it only sounds solid-state in the good ways but offers plenty of tube bloom and dimensionality. I’ve also liked Rega integrateds throughout multiple auditions. They tend to have excellent PRaT.
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Ok, thanks for the responses from all of you. Some feedback. I dont run 2 sets of speakers simultaneously. I do want, if possible, the option of being able to run an A or B. My Walshs are good for daytime and bad for night as they dont handle low volume well. So, that is why I have my old Spendor S3/5 monitors and Kef R300s. I use those at night as they sound better at low volume and I dislike headphones. ( I am looking down the line at potentially replacing most of all of these speakers but that is likely1-2 years out.) I use the Spendors in my home office most of the time. I rather not use a speaker switch as I have one and agree it reduces the sound quality. Budget is say $2-4k to as the stretch if I buy short term. I am replacing my wife's 2006 Honda and paying for a trip she wants to do, so that is depleting the "fun money" budget amidst stock market volatility. Kind of why I started with the Class D thing because of the illusion of cheap for a good amp....good but misplaced value proposition. I have a Marantz PM8005 in another system and I like the sound...just wanted to get better/different approach. The Rogue is not my favorite idea tho I like the Cronus but the heat and the fact it sounds solid state to me disqualifies that. A tube pre is ok but a full on tube amp that is hot wont work. Its almost 90 here today and its May. Adding more heat is not going to work. So, I am stuck in SS or hybrid world. The 2 Ebay ads are on another island and high freigt too. I am intrigued by the Bryston so thanks for that. I will contact that guy. My cousin lives over there and could check it out. I also know Bryston gear is well made though I think that unit is kind of old. I think the Hegel and Musical Fidelity ideas seem like the things to research some. I have never heard either but I know from reading on the forum that they both seem to be well received. Some noise about service from MF being bad but we will see. I have mostly focused on new, demo or maybe refurbed as they come with some form of warranty. BTW, I did go yesterday to the one shop on island with whom I have done business before. Owner is a nice guy but totally focused on tube amps and very high end. He played a wonderful sounding Sun Audio tube SET amp and some fabulous Audio Physik Sparks speakers for me...$13k I think. He kind of focuses on what he is promoting vs what you are looking for and because he knew me he was excited to show me something new. I did very much enjoy the system but it is not going to work for my needs right now. Best he could do was a new Luxman 505Z which he did not have to audition. So, I kind of go back to the idea of buying a "fill-in" to carry me...not because I am a gambler per se but it is a coping mechanism for living in the middle of the ocean. Sorry, getting diverted....I appreciate all the input and wisdom and experience from all of you on this site. As music/audio are my main hobby in retirement, this is one of the sites that keeps me from boredom... |
another hawaii seller https://www.stereophile.com/content/bryston-b-60r-integrated-amplifier-specifications
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is this guy near you? use it while you get your MC250 repaired, end up with a full featured classic for 2nd system https://audio-database.com/SANSUI/amp/au-7700-e.html
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@freediver is pointing you in a good direction. One other thing, since your are living remotely, the second hand market for the Hegel gear is very strong. If you bring it into your system and don't like it, you can sell it much easier. Not sure you can say that about the other brands you mentioned. Good luck, aloha. |
Maybe look at the Musical Fidelity M3si Integrated Amplifier? The M3si is unconditionally stable and will drive any appropriate loudspeaker with ease. |
I am not a McIntosh guy, but from what I know everything mentioned is going to sound quite different. I like Musical Fidelity and Hegel suggestions, these will be a step up from the ones on your list. I owned a Rogue Sphinx V1, it did not wow me. I had a MF M3si and I really liked the sound, sweet. It was underpowered for my speakers, so I had to move on. The M6 has plenty of juice though, and there are some used ones out there for good prices. And yeah, don’t run two sets of speakers off of one amp. Good luck with your search. |
I have the Rotel A11 Tribute (last Ishiwata design, apparently) in our bedroom system. Replaced an Audio Refinement Complete integrated, which itself was pretty legendary. Didn’t do a true A/B, but I think the Rotel spanked the AR. And I love that it has speaker switching (A and B) capabilities - I have a set of floorstanders in the bedroom, and separately an in-ceiling speaker in the bathroom. Drives both easily. |
You like to gamble? Sounds like it. Any decision you make in your current state of mind is going to be rolling dice with about 25 sides. There are so many flavors of sound. Also, with diligence and care in choosing the right sounding kind of amp it is going to sound a lot better than getting on that sounds great to someone else. I guess, if you just want something until you have time to take your time... then I'd listen to what @audiotroy recommends. |
I own the Musical Fidelity M-6Si integrated amp (list price is $3,149). I am VERY surprised it sounds this good. The M6si offers excellent performance, facilities, and power. As per the Musical Fidelity web site “Internally, the M6si is configured as 2 independent monobloc power amps with a separate preamp. It is, in fact, a preamp with 2 monobloc power amps that just happen to share the same casework. The M6si has 220wpc. It has very low distortion, outstanding noise ratio and extremely flat frequency response”. The M6si offers excellent performance, facilities, power and sounds very good. I am very happy with my Musical Fidelity M-6Si integrated am. My speakers, PMC Twenty5.21 Speakers, (small version) sound terrific, the magic has returned, and I am very happy. I do not know. Is this amp within your budget? My audio friends said synergy between components is what makes an audio system sound great. I hope this helps. Obviously, in my system the Musical Fidelity M-6Si integrated amp is a perfect fit for my PMC speakers. |
op a couple of points
op you don't want to run two sets of loudspeakers from one amplifier as the load will be unstable and a speaker selector will kill transparency we sell rega naim, nad synthesis unison research and many others we would recommend the unison research unico hybrid line as the addition of tubes to the circuit will have that warm McIntosh like sound but with greater transparency and more manageable weight at lower cost then McIntosh products
Dave and Troy audio Intellect NJ unison research dealers |