Pls advise on budget integrated or pre/power comb.


Currently using Rotel (RC-1070/RB-1080) set-up with JM Labs 816s towers with audioquest cable. Marantz SA-8260 on the front end. Right now the system is a little "too bright". I listen to Jazz ( Miles, Wes Montgomery to Spyra Gyra) some R&B. Looking at Audio Refinement Complete but worried about the power. My Rotel put 200 wpc I might miss if I go to an integrated.
james3

Showing 1 response by saki70

I used the Rotel amp and pre/pro with my JM Labs Electra 926's. I too thought, on some poorly recorded rock CD's, that the sound was a little bright. I then moved to an Audio Aero Prima integrated amp. The brightness went away and a body came to the sound that was not there before.
The JM Labs are fairly easy to run and really love tubes.
The Audio Aero integrated is a hybrid amp. It has only one tube in the preamp section. It also has more power (40 watts) than I need and I listen to rock. The newer ones have fifty watts. At the used prices, that they are going for, they are a steal. They are also easy to sell if you don't like it. I love mine.