2. amps-preamps
  3. 1447212645

Looking for integrated better than my Rogue Sphinx

I have owned a Rogue Sphinx integrated amp for two years (100RMS). I don't have any specific complaints about its performance except at times when played loud, it sounds like it is clipping and delivering more distortion than clean signal. The Rogue retailed at time of purchased for $1325.00 (remote cost $100 bucks more). I thought it wise to check around with members as to their opinions about a step up in sound quality from the Rogue integrated before starting any serious searches.

Most higher end integrated amps today are decked out like cuckoo clocks and so this might be tough one. I have read a lot of good things about the Hegal integrated amps, but don't need a DAC unless it is going to be superior to the one in my Ayre CX-7emp CD player. In addition, I have no interest in computer audio and many of the accessory features of the newer amps will be useless to me.

However, I will need an MM phono stage, and will miss the one in the Rogue which is first rate.

Is it worth while to take a look at some of the older, highly praised integrateds, like Sim-Moon series of 7 years ago, or Krell, Vincent, Musical Fidelity, and possibly Conrad Johnson. CJ offered an integrated amp about 10 years ago and tagged it at $6500. It was rated 200RMS, but had no inboard phono stage It got excellent reviews at the time, though never took the market by storm ( probably because of its price tag in a depressed market) .

Having more power than 100RMS would be nice, but not a priority. My speakers are (newly acquired) Golden Ear Technology Model 7; so far, an extraordinary sounding speaker considering its price of $1400 per pair. Thanks to all
sunnyjim

Showing 2 responses by lowrider57

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
Jim,
If your Sphinx sounds like it's clipping and you can hear distortion during loud listening sessions, changing the tubes in the preamp stage isn't going to help your situation.

Stay the course and get an amp with higher current.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
As you know, it all has to do with amp/speaker matching and I don't believe the Sphinx can deliver enough current into a low impedance load.

My understanding is that high current amps produce a stable output of power that is coherent across the amp's impedance range

Yes, that's true, but what if the speaker load is not stable? An amp that delivers high current can drive low impedance spikes in the bass frequencies with authority, and will have plenty of reserve power so that it does not go into clipping. There will be no distortion and the speaker will sound more dynamic.
It will handle transients at all frequencies with power to spare.
An example of a high current amp is one that can double it's power from an 8 ohm load to a 4 ohm. e.g., 300wpc/8ohms, 600wpc/4ohms.

I don't think high current and damping factor are related, any well designed amp can have a high damping factor.
A driver with a voice coil is in a magnetic field and for each motion, the coil generates current to the amp. The damping factor is like using the brakes on the voice coil and driver.

Jim, you don't need an amp that doubles it's power to drive your new speakers, but you do need a bigger amp, at least 200wpc.
I've always owned separates, but maybe look for a used Music Fidelity amp.
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