2. amps-preamps
  3. 154615-2897

To integrate or not...

Hi all

Many of you have far more experience of products & change of equipment than me, so... which of you have moved from seperate to an integrated & why? Are some of you having serious consideration switching to an integrated...?

I know there are reasons for not due to the inability to change amps & interconnects. Plus if there is a failure then you're without pre & power.

I'm currently inclined to move to an integrated, preferably tube. Present contenders are PrimaLuna Evo 400 & Pass INT-60.

I'm currently using Octave HP700 pre (tubes upgraded to gold pin Siemens) with phono module, Wyred 4 Sound SX-1000R monos & Audio Physic Avantera III.

The Avantera III are fairly sensitive at 89db so not such an issue for lower power integrated options. 

Thanks 
Rich
infection

Showing 6 responses by infection

infection's avatar
infection OP
809 posts
 
@yogiboy  what did you have before Quicksilver? Why do you like Quicksilver?

@noble100  what was your last amp prior to your current combo?
I think I'll be keeping my Avantera III for a long time... 


Having checked out Raven I reckon the Reflection Mk2 would work very well with my speakers. 
infection's avatar
infection OP
809 posts
 
Thank you both for that; very helpful. 

I think I'm still a bit scared at the thought of making a mistake!

I'm in the UK & there is nowhere to hear a Raven. Interesting you should mention them as I wanted to hear their amps a couple of years ago. What did you get after the McCormack DNA1?


I have also looked at L-509x... Is the phono stage good?


infection's avatar
infection OP
809 posts
 
@4425  that was a manufacturer suggested by my dealer a couple of months ago...

@needfreestuff  never heard of them but the fact they state counterfeit models exist is worrying. 



With tube amps what you see is what you get. Having looked inside them, having modded and all, I know. The one thing you can’t know about is the transformers. Seemingly little things like winding patterns are the black magic going on inside the black box that explain why two otherwise near identical amps can sound so very different.


In your opinion which manufacturers produce the best transformers? So do Raven tick all the boxes for you?

I watched an interview with Dave Thomson...Interesting to hear about the super precise boards.
infection's avatar
infection OP
809 posts
 
@noble100 Hi Tim, I think you make a good point; I do indeed love what my HP700 does, so purchasing an integrated (potentially blind) that didn’t have the elements I love about it would be tragic!

There are certainly pros & cons for integrated & seperates. I suspect I would need to be absolutely blown away with an integrated if I were to switch.
There will be some that would but I reckon they would be beyond my budget...e.g. Vitus SIA 030
infection's avatar
infection OP
809 posts
 
@jerry_gt3rs  what did you have prior to the V80SE? Do you have the additional Black Box? 
I have considered the V80SE... Did you choose the phono module option?
infection's avatar
infection OP
809 posts
 
@david_ten  yes you're right...it's a very personal thing.

@avanti1960  i would not want to lose any of the elements I like about my current set-up IF I get an integrated...
I would agree about my monos.


I am now considering 2 more - Mark Levinson 585.5 & 5805. Plus I could demo these...
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