2. amps-preamps
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Can it get better?

Seeking the advice of folks who have experienced significant gains when moving from an integrated amp to separate pre and power. I realize there are several threads on the topic but specifically, I’d be concerned about a lateral move in terms of sound quality while dishing out close to 2x what I purchased my integrated for. For example, my system consists of a Pass Labs Int-25 driving Harbeth Shl5+ 40th anniversaries. It’s a combination that gives coherent and smooth sound yet is quite resolving. 
Why change? For one, I would like to experiment with different power for the Harbeths and am intrigued by some of the class d options out there. The Pass was about 5k and some of the pre and power combinations I’m considering would push the cost north of 10k. There are a number of well designed preamps out there in the 5k range that I could see serving me for many years. Assuming good synergy with the power amp, is there good reason to believe that separates would sound significantly better than the little Pass which has system synergy built in? In what way? Or would I have to venture into a higher tier in terms of cost?

thanks for the advice

 Brian

128x128voodoochillin
elliottbnewcombjr
5,249 posts
 

SIGNIFICANT gains. No.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,866 posts
 

@voodoochillin Good comments, here. One thing I know about separates is that choices of additional interconnects, power cables. adds even more complexity/fun/headache to the mix. Something else to consider. If you got a hybrid integrated, you could roll tubes and then perhaps experiment with various speaker cables and interconnects from the DAC. That would give you a fair amount of creative space. Just thinking out loud, here as I would talk to myself about it. Hope it contributes.

voodoochillin's avatar
voodoochillin OP
61 posts
 

@hilde45 

appreciate the discussion. This is a great forum when it’s working. 

mofojo
2,202 posts
 

I’ve had mixed results with class D. On a more lush speaker like the Harbeth might be ok. I prefer AB or tubes to any class D I have heard barring the Lyngdorf integrated and that’s only because of the room correction and only with efficient speakers. 

patrickdowns's avatar
patrickdowns
499 posts
 

I've thought of doing the reverse route: from separates to a really good integrated. When I said this to Richard Vandersteen, he laughed and said "Why? To save on one set of cables?" And I laughed.

My thinking was that the synergy between a preamp and amp integrated into one box (Ayre is the one I'm interested in) could in theory get me the same sound quality or very close compared to separates, at lower cost, with a smaller footprint. I don't need to simplify to one box (+ streamer and CD player) right now though. It would save $$ on connecting and power cables. I may still go that route if I need a much simpler system, and may end up with an integrated that offers an onboard DAC option.

For NOW, I want to primarily experiment with different preamps and may acquire both a tube preamp and a passive line stage (Tortuga, or Wyred4Sound STP-SE, though the Townshend Allegri Reference is my cost-no-object dream). It does open a can of worms, getting the synergy right between amps and preamps from different makers.

The lazy man that I sometimes am says to myself, "Get an integrated, you idiot, and stop obsessing about hardware! Just enjoy the music."
 

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