2. amps-preamps
  3. 187580-166623

another rookie question - preamp or or power amp

I have a decent integrated amp ("decent" - to my ears). SS, 50Watts to 8 Ohms. It  has a preamp output. 

I have been looking at used power amps and preamps in the 2-400 dollar range.  

For example: the Parasound 2125 power amp, the Parasound P3

This is an OR question. Which choice will yield a better improvement,

1) if I put a preamp before my integrated so the integrated acts as the power amp

or 2) if I use my integrated as a preamp to a power amp?

It's also a choice to sell my integrated and save up until I can buy both a power amp and a preamp, but obviously I am itching to try one of the above options. 

My room is 15x13 so I am not sure I need a big power amp (big: 100Watts?)

 

grislybutter
ghdprentice
6,439 posts
 

@jnovak 

 

+1

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,841 posts
 

loving the offer of the P3 :-) Holiday spirit y’all !

doni
310 posts
 

I would go pre out from your IA, into two Fosi ZA3’s run in Mono mode.  Get the 48V, 5A power supplies.  The two will run you about $300, and I believe you will be majorly delighted with the power and sound quality.  These 3255 chip amps are amazing, and I believe they will be the next big thing in terms of amplification.

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,750 posts
 

i think it is the best idea... And at the lowest price...

It can be possible to even integrate a tube pre-amplifier in these mono amp i think...

The Fosi headphone amplifier i bought for peanuts price , the Fosi sk01 + 3 tone controls is a steal...

It is not chinese junk ... I use a tube low cost pre-amp with it the Douk P2 at peanuts cost too which i use also for my near field active speakers ... Very good sound ...

It seems audio china is no more junk only ...

For a bit higher price than what i paid  ( 60 bucks ) you could have a very good tubes pre-amplifier under 200 bucks ...

 

I would go pre out from your IA, into two Fosi ZA3’s run in Mono mode. Get the 48V, 5A power supplies. The two will run you about $300, and I believe you will be majorly delighted with the power and sound quality. These 3255 chip amps are amazing, and I believe they will be the next big thing in terms of amplification.

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,841 posts
 

OR for the same $ our intrepid OP could get a GAS Son of Ampzilla and get a nice robust linear power supply vs. SMPS … 48 v or no…

Just my opinion…

 

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