Nuprime

A rare chance to really sit and listen tonight. My stuff sounds quite good. I do wonder what I would gain upgrading. Especially because my room probably limits things. Ugh...too much to think about.

When I look at how my systems are laid out, I wonder if I am a contrarian or crazy or both.  All to say I had been using a tube power amp (Prima Luna PL5) with a solid state preamp/ cd player (Musical Fidelity CD Pre 24) for 12 or 13 years.  The reverse of what you are doing.  Speakers have changed once from Acoustic Research 302s to Opera Plateas.  

I don't know if I was getting bored, the winter was getting to me, my hearing was going, but my longstanding system was not speaking to me anymore.  

I read about the Class D Audio CDA 250 power amp and my curiosity started to get the best of me.  I scratched the itch so to speak and swapped out the PL5 with the CDA 250.  With the 10% off special, it cost me $450 ... chewing gum money in the audio world.  

4 months in and I am not having any remorse.  System has more oomph, which I was hoping for.  The sound is not fatiguing at all with CDs or records, which is a plus as I can get antsy during several hours long listening sessions.  Very enjoyable.  

I would give a class D amp a shot.  Can't speak to the Nuprime, but I can plug the Class D Audio CDA 250.  

http://www.classdaudio.com/cda-series-amplifiers/cda-250c-class-d-audio-power-amplifier/


- Rich 

As I write this ... listening to Neil Young's 'After the Gold Rush' on vinyl on a second system (Rega Brio R integrated, Technics SL1210GR w/ Shelter cartridge, Omega Super 7 MKII speakers).  A rare day off and an opportunity to re-visit long forgotten music ... 'Ram' by Sir Paul, 'Night and Day' by Joe Jackson, Neil ... Elvis can't be too far behind.

I've had one for almost two years in a second system with Spatial OB speakers and it a very good amp at a more than reasonable price.  It has gone against more costly competition in that system and won every time so far.  Great combination with the DAC-10.

Call me biased as I have an upgraded one for sale...but anyways, it is a very good amp.  I was choosing between the st-10 and the benchmark ahb-2.  The benchmark won out because of its superior transparency and I've been moving my system in that direction.  It is by far the most transparent amp I've ever owned and I've owned more than a few that were almost 3x the price.  The competition was much closer than I expected, given the st -10 is almost half the price of the benchmark.  The st-10 was warmer and more forgiving, while still being on the plus side of the ledger in the areas of resolution and transparency.  Soundstage was about equal, with the benchmark being more of a behind the speakers presentation while the nuprime was more in front.  I've never heard your anthem before, but I'd venture to say that the nuprime would be a decent improvement for not a huge outlay, at least in the realm of this expensive hobby.