I am looking at several different integrateds and am getting a headache. I would really like remote ,phono and headphone but can deal with the phono and headphone issue if need be. The speakers for now are older Vandersteen 2Cs BUT I want to be able to work well with a range of speakers I am not talking about power but tonal balance/sound Not to far to the warm and not to far to the analytical / thin side. Rock and blues are the primary music (so laid back is not good) and the cables are all Analysis Plus. Using a Music Hall A 50..2 which is very impressive Liked it better then the Yamaha AS 2000 I tried. All below are very close in price used. Thanks
Tube Rogue Tempest Magnun Rogue Cronus
Solid State Anthem 225 Had one years ago and thought it was kind of dry but have different cable, gear now Classe 151 Had a 150 It was OK 151 is supposed to be more neutral Rotel RA 1570 Roksan Kandy K2 Bel Canto EVO 2 gen II Had one for 4 years almost perfect but no soul. Might be different with cables and such Musical Fidelity A 300
I second the Parasound Halo. Absolute world beater in that price range. Built in DAC and a decent phono section should put this on your short list. Personally I've owned Krell/Pass/Plinius.....I was shocked how good Parasound sounds. Also their customer service might be the best in the buisness.
The Parasound would be great but is WAY out of range The list above is the list because they all fall in the $700 to $900 range used. Another would be the HK 990. That is if i knew of one.
For your speakers,the Rotel would be my first choice from the amps you list. NAD is another good pick.
If you're open to consider other ways, have a look at Audio Advisor web site. They have a $1300 Nuforce power amp on sale for $500. If you buy that amp, you'll still have money to buy a passive line stage. That combo should easily sound better than any of the integrates you list.
I get it...we all have a budget to stay within. I would just say this..The Parasound Halo probably should cost 5K...its that good. Used if you can find one would probably cost 1500-1700. The bonus with the Parasound Halo would be....you won't need a preamp/DAC/or a phono preamp. I also think it would make your Vandersteens absolutely sing. If somehow you can bump your budget up.....this would be a great choice.
The Vandersteens are easy to drive and are efficient as well, I would look at a Parrasound Halo Integrated also, and for bonus you get a dac and phono stage init as well.
The Rotel 1570 and (Rogue only factory installed) both have the feature of pre amp out Main in This feature alone is worth its weight in gold. In future upgrades this allows the unique Vandersteen high pass to be installed with a 2WQ. This pairing further improves the in room bass response while reliving the heavy lifting in the bass area of you main amp resulting in lowering distortion of the whole system, improving clarity and transparency with genuine performance. This is the single greatest bang for the buck any Vandersteen owner can enjoy. Best JohnnyR
Not going to be adding things to the Vandersteens The Hegel is out of the question. I laid out what i can spend How come nobody is excited about the Rogue Tempest magnum? 60 w/ch?? I have had tube hybrids but never a full tube deal Worried it could be too dark but tempting just to find out. The Anthem integrated one was pretty good. The Rogue Sphnix was very good but in the end sounded like what it was A tube preamp hiding a class D amp.
(((Not going to be adding things to the Vandersteens)))
Hey not doing a High Pass / 2W at used prices starting at 499 and up is your call and yes with Rotel / High passed w 2WQ combination will smoke alone just any affordable Tube amp . Imagine later with a 2W and a tube amp you could have the best of both worlds I can promise you that the guys who heard Rotel, never heard them Hi Passed /2WQ with a pair of Steen 2s But hey if you want to stay pat and major on the minors its your call. Best JohnnyR
Please listen to John. He has your best interest at hand! I've not listened to him in the past....and it has cost me dearly. Now, I've Vandersteen and Belles and am a believer. Already trying to figure out how I'm going to move up the Vandy line ,or as he mentioned, add a 2wq to my 1Ci. Best......
If you have decent FM stations in your area, the Magnum Dynalab MD-208 is a superb integrated that has the bonus of a very good FM section. Good luck with whatever you end up with.
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Please listen to John. He has your best interest at hand! I've not listened to him in the past....and it has cost me dearly."
I can confirm that as well. He's Vandersteens number 1 dealer, and most people consider him to be the most knowledgeable Vandersteen person aside from Vandersteen himself.
Alot to read, if you can find one, any older LFD will blow away most anything sound-wise, I recently picked up an older Mistrel SE for 700, at least as good as my Odyssey Kismet Mono's with AVA CF preamp. Now I know why musicians love Dr. Bews designs. Good luck
I've not heard a Rogue Tempest, but I love my Cronus Magnum II, and its phono section and headphone amp. It has the power to drive anything, including my Harbeth SLH5+
An NAD 375 would be a very nice, powerful, full bodied amp for your set up. Used one for sale right now at around $850 here. Plenty of power and has ability to add built in DAC and phono.
My back up is a Coda Unison 3.1.... sounds like it would fit the bill for you, just a touch on the warm side of neutral, well controlled bottom end nice soul & swing character to it... 125 watts to 8 & 250 to 4 with class a for the first 35 watts... Or it was made in a 3.2 &v3.3 version, the 3.3 is 300 watts to 8 & 600 to 4... but only 5 watts class A. Same amp, just biased differently between versions.... I may sell mine some day, but it is really an enjoyable amp... you should find one for around that $1000 mark.
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