Biggest impact: moving from integrated to separates

So I am going to focus on a preamp with balanced ins/outs up to $5,500. Yes I’ve increased the budget and I’ll start a new thread to gain recommendations. Thanks all for your feedback. 

Asp307, has there been any word from Rogue on the output impedance of the variable output?

BTW, for those who may own a Cronus Magnum II, I found the following statement in a description of that version of the amp at a dealer’s site:

The Cronus Magnum II comes with a host of upgrades over the original Magnum.... The variable outputs are now buffered for better subwoofer performance....

Assuming the buffer which is referred to is an active buffer, which it almost certainly is, I would caution anyone owning a Magnum II that Rogue’s suggestion to the OP that it would be ok for him to connect the output of a line stage to the variable output of his earlier version of the Magnum will not work with the Magnum II. And although it is probably unlikely, doing so could conceivably even cause damage, depending on the specific design of the line stage and the Magnum II’s buffer.

Regards,
-- Al

@almarg they said 100K

@asp307

they said 100K

OK, if so you won’t have an impedance compatibility problem connecting any reasonably designed line stage to the variable outputs.

That would certainly explain, though, why they added a buffer stage for that output in the Magnum II version. A 100K output impedance would be pretty much useless for driving many and perhaps most powered subs, which commonly have line level input impedances in the area of 5K to 20K. And in an application where treble response may be important, such as using the variable outputs to drive a separate amplifier for biamping, the resulting sensitivity to cable capacitance would be very likely to cause poor results as well.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

@almarg thanks, any rule of thumb for best matching on 100K? I know you said it should match anything reasonable. I’ve seen different ratios offered in other threads..thanks.