2. amps-preamps
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What’s in a watt

Ok guys, here’s my current dilemma. 

I’m running my TV into an OPPO BDP-105D, which in turn is plugged into my MA6500. AppleTV is my main music/tv source, so now, we have 4 different components in play for the system. I’m running Focal 1028BE II with a pair of Velodyne VX-11 subs hooked onto the pre out from the Mac. 

Not a high priced system, but it sounds great in my smallish living room and I can (and do) listen for hours on end without fatigue.

The problem: the OPPO is on the fritz and is no longer made or supported. The other problem: while she knows how to use the system, my wife finds it to be a pain in the ass. The OPPO randomly powering off was the last straw. She watches TV on her phone and listens through AirPods when I’m not home to avoid all the components. 

I’m building a separate theatre room, so the system were discussing is strictly 2 channel w/subs. 

Ive been eyeing the Anthem STR Integrated as a good option to centralize the whole system into one box. Then, the Naim Unity line was recommended to me and it looks really intriguing. The Anthem is in the high end range for what I would like to spend, about $4500. This puts the Unity Atom in my sights. My concern is that at 40 watts, I might come up short with certain types of music, especially if we move to a bigger home.

I’ve been told that ‘Naim watts’ are superior to other watts and that it’s 40 would outperform the 120 in my MA6500 but I’m skeptical and don’t want to short change myself in the long run for ease of use now. 

I’d love to get the communities thoughts and recommendations on what a good direction or solution to current situation might be. 

Thanks!
hybrid81

Showing 4 responses by auxinput

auxinput
2,920 posts
 
First, if you have concerns about your 105, I would call Oppo and see.  Even though they are not making new devices, they will still support in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs.
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As far as NAIM goes, it sounds like a "naim fanboy" was making these claims.  I'm not saying NAIM is bad or anything at all, but beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder.  In your situation, the focal speakers are very fast responding and are definitely very efficient (at 91.5db).  They would probably be fine with the NAIM.  However, in my experience, Focal will sound best with a slightly warm or laid back amplifier, which makes your McIntosh MA6500 a very good match.  The NAIM may or may not sound better, but it will sound different.  In my opinion, I would probably want to keep the larger power supply of the McIntosh and look at speaker cables or interconnects to improve performance or resolution (if that's what your looking for).
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
@hybrid81 - It seems like you are really focused on the features of an "all-in-one" solution.  One thing I would like to caution (again) is to pay more attention to component matching.  The Anthem STR integrated is a very good piece, but it is going to be very fast and high resolution.  It is definitely not warm or laid back.  The same goes with the Lyngdorf solution.
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I heard a set of mid level Focal Be speakers at RMAF.  They were driven by a very high resolution set of Classe Delta monoblocks.  While it was not bad, per say, the high resolution amp really revealed that the Focal sounded a bit thin in the midbass and midrange.  This tilted the emphasis to the highs and caused the speaker to be somewhat bright (bordering on harsh).  So, with your Focal speakers, component matching is definitely important.  (unless you don't care about this).
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I have a set of Focal speakers that I use as surrounds.  They are driven by a stock Parasound A21 amp.  The result is very good.  However, the stock parasound amp does not do well with my B&W D3 speakers and it ends up sounding too warm and veiled.  So the Focal speakers really need a warm and very full sounding amp.  When I try to bump up the amp resolution with the Focal speakers, they become a little hard edged and I lose body / volume.

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I don't know what your feature requirement is, but another "jack of all trades" integrated you could look at is the Parasound HINT 6.  It does not have Apple Airplay (like NAIM) or room correction like Anthem, but it has a crap load of inputs/features and may be a better sonic match to your Focal speakers.  
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Personally, I would avoid higher resolution integrateds such as Anthem, Lyngdorf, Classe, Hegel, etc.  But in the end, it depends on what your priorities are. lol.
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If you did end up choosing something like Anthem or Lyngdorf and found it became bright or harsh, then your solution would be to add as much gold-plated elements as possible to "slow down" the fast integrated.  This includes stuff like Isoclean or Hi-Fi Tuning "Cu" gold-plated fuses, gold-plated spades/bananas on pure copper speaker cable.  Gold plated plugs on power cords (such as Audioquest solid-core - an excellent.  And take out all silver or silver-plated elements.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
That is awsome that you’re getting an in-home demo of the Lyngdorf! Let us know what you think when you hear it!   Regarding the Anthem, the difference between 170 watts and 200 watts is not anything that you would be able to tell the difference on.  It would mainly be about sonic signature differences between Lyngdorf and Anthem.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Oh crud, I missed the fact that the Lyngdorf 170 watts is at 4 ohms.  This is a lot less than the Anthem, which is rated 400 watts at 4 ohms.   The Anthem will definitely be able to handle the impedance drops of your Focal speaker much better, but of course, it all depends on how you feel about the Lyngdorf sound.
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