2. amps-preamps
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Upgrade Nakamichi PA 7All power amp with mono blocks

Current System:

Acoustat 1+1 speakers

Rythmik pair F12SE subwoofers

SPL Crossover (German Brand.  This separates the signal and reduces the demand on the Acoustats.  It helps bring out the mids and highs on the 1+1's

NAD C165BEE pre amplifier (plan to upgrade long term)

Technics SL-1500 C with AT 540ML cartridge in a RigB housing (think AT740ML+)

Marantz 8003 SACD (essentially retired with all CD's on digital card)

Eversolo DMP A6 streamer (occasionally use the DAC, but find it is too bright for extended listening

Schitt Bifrost 2/64 R2R DAC

Nakamichi PA 7All Power Amp (Nelson Pass Stasis design)

I am currently considering replacing the PA 7All with mono blocks, but am also willing to consider a  higher end stereo power amp.  I am looking for improved stage and instrument separation (already very good.  just want more).  I stream Amazon HD (60%), use the digital card for CD material (20%), and vinyl (20%).

These are the power amps I am currently considering:

PS Audio M 700 Mono Blocks ($3498 for pair)

Schitt Audio Tyr ($3198 for pair)

Buckeye Amps ($1550 for pair).  Worried about missing the low level Class A sound (70% of listening is done at low to mid level with 80% primarily background sound).

I would love to test these at home, but with a bad back and restocking fees I am inclined not too.  Once I get a new unit I will A/B it with the PA 7All to confirm it is an improvement.  Trying to minimize bringing too many units into the home.

I would love to hear the community's thoughts on these and potential other units to consider.  I am willing to try used, but it needs to be essentially a lock.  (I purchased the Acoustats and Nakamichi used.  Everything else was purchased new).

 

Thanks, Ralph

thriftyaudio

Showing 3 responses by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
5,026 posts
 

@thriftyaudio Thanks for the response. I now remember reading your take on the m700 in another thread (late night reading yesterday). I think I am going to take a chance on the m700 since my office Magnepan Mini does not drop as low as your speakers.

With regards to your LA4. It is a keeper. I had the LA4 and the HPA4 (2x) and it is not something I will replace. I have 2 systems, and I bought the Holo Audio Serene preamp instead of a LA4 since I had the HPA4 and wanted to try out something else. It is an excellent preamp too and sounds and measures like the LA4. It is just a bit warmer and a lot of people like that over the LA4. In retrospect I should have gotten the LA4. First world problems.

If you want to go for an even more powerful XA25, I am going to be selling my CODA #16 amp in a week or 2 along with my Audience FrontRow speaker cables I use with it. I need to raise funds for a headphone and new speaker. I think we are both in Southern California if you want to have a listen.

How did the Schiit Tyr mono blocks sound when they did work on your speakers. I am thinking of getting a used pair to hold me off until I raise fund for the CODA #16's replacement or just do not use the speaker connected to the #16 until I get a proper replacement. The new speaker (second speaker I will keep) will work with 8 watts.

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,026 posts
 

@thriftyaudio How did the LA4 and the M700 work out together. I am thinking of raising funds for a headphone and replacing my Sanders Magtech for a M700 to use with my HPA4 preamp. This seems like something that may work. It is for a Magnepan Mini office system, so some compromise is OK.

BTW - I have the Yggi+ OG and the Yggi+ LIM. I love the OG and would buy another in a second if I could find one. The LIM is OK with a brighter system, but it is rolled off on top. That does not work in my new setup so I am in the queue to convert the LIM to a MIB. I may even sell the LIM and see if I can get a used Yggi+ OG. I have not heard the MIB but a review and some comments indicate it is closer to the OG and not the LIM.

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,026 posts
 

@thriftyaudio I also owned the CODA #8, and it is not as good as the #16, but the #8 was pretty good to my ears, just not reference level. The CODA 07x is too noisy for my LA4 + Serene perspective. Once I heard the hiss I could not unhear it even in louder passages. My brain would focus on that and annoy me to no end, so I sold it. I sold my HPA4 to buy the 07x and that was a mistake. I repurchased the HPA4.

The only preamp I heard on your list was the C900u. It was too warm for my tastes. I heard it with the Luxman m900u which I loved. I was planning on getting a m900u to use with the LA4 or HPA4 but got the more powerful CODA #16 instead. The new Luxman M10x sounds more like my #16.

For me, the LA4 + HPA4 is exactly what I want in a preamp. That is add nothing to the sound. I have my sources and amps for the coloring.

A friend of mine in Ventura, CA is building an open baffle speaker that I recently heard and loved. He ran it with Class D on the bass and an 8-watt headphone amp for the top. It was incredible. I expect to listen to this speaker in the Livingroom a lot and will park my Yamaha NS5000 after I will sell my #16. I need a low-cost amp for the NS5000 and the Schitt Tyr or maybe the new Schitt Wotan came into my mind. The PS Audio M700 thoughts were for my office Magnepan Mini, if I sold my Sanders Magtech amp, to raise even more funds.

 

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