2. amps-preamps
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Starting from scratch and say $5000

my original post (written, edited, then lost to the cloud) was: "Will I regret selling my McIntosh gear"  I will let it remain in the netherworld and rephrase as above. Truth is I bought an MC2155, C33, and XRT 18 speakers about 15 years ago but because of moves and family stuff, never got a chance to deploy them until this last fall when we became an empty nesters (not the speakers; bad surrounds). Lugging the heavy McIntosh amp told me I needed to sell it because I expect to be moving again soon and it is just too much of a beast that I'm also afraid to damage. But now that it is playing I am enjoying it, even driving mediocre 90s Acoustic Research AR208 speakers I had previously dismissed until hearing them with the MC power. Anyway. contemplating a completely new system to be financed with the sale of the Mc gear and even though I know this is an absolutely unanswerable newbie question, I need the therapy of talking about it to get any sort of orientation in the hundreds of brands and technologies of today. So here goes: I would like to put together a pre+amp+speakers somewhere around $7000 and have no idea where to start.

thanks in advance and apologies for such a vague question. details can follow

ps I like the sound signature of the mc but don't really know anything better; curious about class D. used is fine but not so much vintage unless it is still a value/performance contender. I like diy and projects but hitting 60 next year and starting to value my time in early (unplanned) retirement 

kidcreole123

Showing 1 response by petaluman

petaluman
179 posts
 

Like many, I'd encourage you to listen around & choose your speakers first.  I do have a suggestion for a moderately priced, versatile all-rounder integrated, though.  Admittedly, I have no experience with this specific model, but I have a lot of faith in the Parasound company.  All of their gear offers good SQ/$ ratio, is well designed, cost effective, & dependable.

Their budget NewClassic 200 Integrated is the 200 Preamp with a Pascal class D amp included.  110wpc, includes an MM/MC phono section, DAC, tone controls, subwoofer out, HT bypass, remote control, headphone amp...  They go for $1400 new; saw a used one recently at $999.

That would give you a lot of versatility & enough power to work with most speakers, without seriously denting your budget.  You'd have plenty $$$ left over for the speakers (maybe a streamer, too!).

The big advantage of an integrated is you get all the pieces at once, and they're compatible functionally & offer a consistent level of quality throughout.  It is possible to then upgrade piece by piece to all separates if you're so inclined.  Alternatively, you can just kick back & enjoy the music.  It's sort of the middle road, with separates at one end and active speakers at the other.  Active speakers may possibly give you the best SQ/$, but with no ability to upgrade amp or speakers other than replacing them both at the same time.

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