Integrated amp: Component weight
I'm an older guy with a bad back looking to spend $5-10K on an integrated amp. Before I get into functionality, connectivity, or even sound quality, my threshold considerations are price, power, and weight. My 86dB-sensitivity Harbeths do best with the equivalent of a 200-300wpc solid-state unit, I need to drive a variety of analog & digital sources, hope to keep weight under 40lbs, and want to stay away from "classic" Class D designs. Been there, done that, D simply didn't work in my system.
My question: Does anybody know of any published listing of amplifiers that compares products by weight or size?
So far, I've only found a few 15-35lb models that meet this initial filter, from sellers like Ayre, Devialet, & Bryston, and, surprisingly, even ARC. However, there are connectivity & functionality issues that make these otherwise-terrific options a poor fit.
Any suggestions?
@cundare2, If you purchase the Ayre EX-2.0 Integrated amp, would you purchase the amp only or include it with the Digital Base (S/PDIF, AES/EBU) with USB port and with the Ethernet port? To be honest, based on the amps recommended on this forum tread, I believe the Ayre EX-8 2.0 amp is your best choice and the amp only weighs 24 pounds.
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I just sold 20K of Pass Labs ...250.8 amp which weighs 100 pounds, and an XP 22 ..2 piece preamp. I bought a Coda Csib V1 which is suggested above multiple times. My big Harbeth's have never sounded better. The synergy between Coda and Harbeth is absolutely amazing. It weighs 55 pounds, but its very easy to move around. The Coda Csib V1 should be on your short list. I have the V1- 150 watts in 8 ohms-doubles in 4-and doubles again in 2 ohms. Absolutely amazing Integrated amp. |
@cundare2 Sorry, I just meant the Margules ACRH-4 only uses single ended inputs and outputs. It’s Class A/B push pull with a tube hybrid buffer stage. I understand your concern regarding quality control and discussed this with the Margules team and the US distributor a lot this year. They have since made some really good improvements in the gear and the last shipment of product I received was on a much greater level of fit and finish than before. Let’s say I had my moments of frustration in the past. Cambridge has a stigma of being mid-fi, but they really did something special with the EDGE line of electronics. I still stand by it, that it performs even beyond its already higher than typical pricing for them, but delivering beyond compared to the competition at the same price. I’d pick the EDGE A over the Ayre EX-8, for instance. I think the EDGE would sound more musical and engaging while still retaining the razor sharp incisive holography that Ayre typically brings I’m not trying to sell you on the EDGE, but rather just give it the respect it deserves when many others dismiss it because it’s associated with Cambridge’s mid-fi track record.
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>If you purchase the Ayre EX-2.0 Integrated amp, would you purchase the amp only or include it with the Digital Base (S/PDIF, AES/EBU) with USB port and with the Ethernet port? Yes, I'd go for the full package. The EX-8's DAC is the only internal DAC on the market (at least in this price range) that I would consider buying instead of a separate. Two trusted friends who've heard it, both of whom, would normally never consider an embedded DAC both gave it surprisingly high praise.
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The Coda is heavier than I would consider, although if it's superb in every other way, I might bite the bullet and consider it. But what about functionality? Does it support the connectivity features that I outlined in my original post? Here's the thing: If I'm gonna consider a 50-pound box, why wouldn't a Hegel be my first choice in that weight class? It's reputed to be a perfect match for Harbeths (Harbeth uses Hegel in its rooms at shows) and has connectivity & functionality second only to Ayre. And, if I recall correctly, is about 45 pounds (compared to Ayre's 24).
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