2. amps-preamps
  3. 1280184538

Will it work? Copland preamp and Moon I-5 Int Amp

I was thinking of adding a Copland preamplifier to drive my integrated amplifier, will it work and will it give me what I want?

My system consists of a SimAudio Moon I-5 integrated amplifier driving Totem Hawks. My source is SimAudio's Moon Equinox CD player.

My last upgrade to my system was to get some excellent interconnects. Now the CD player sounds as if the output jacks were connected directly to the amplifier input jacks, as if there were no interconnects at all! In other words there is no colouration of the sound, no filtering, no delays or smearing to interfere with timing or percussive elements. Needless to say I have been enjoying this system for some time......however.....

Both the Hawks and the I-5 have a reasonable reputation for having a wide and deep sound stage. (Sure, maybe neither is the best in this area but they aren't all that bad either.) Lately I have been wondering if I could do better with my system. I have heard excellent reports about the Copland preamps. One of their strengths that is often sited is the holographic imaging. I was thinking about picking up a used Copland 301 or 305 and using it for my preamp; driving the HT bypass inputs of the Moon I-5. (I presume this would by-pass the preamp section of the I-5.)

Do you think this would be a good choice for my next upgrade? Do you think that this would improve the overall sound of my system? Or is there a better place to look for improvement?
rova

Showing 2 responses by rova

rova OP
28 posts
 
Good input so far thanks.

I agree that using the Copeland to drive the I-5 would be an odd choice. Long term I would add a SimAudio power amplifier, however money is still a limiter so one thing at a time. I am hoping that I would hear an overall improvement with the system by using the Copeland as the preamp. Why? Because I hear the Copeland preamps are excellent (for the amount of money spent). Second I don't think SimAudio is known for their top rank preamps, amplifiers yes, but not preamps.

Regarding the speaker as a limiting factor, that is also a good point. I heard comments that the Totem Hawks are pretty good for imaging and sound staging but I haven't had a lot of other speakers. So the question I would ask you more experienced Audiogoners would be, is the Totem Hawk good enough with regard to imaging that I should be able to hear improvements with better system components or is there more to get out of my system with alternate speakers?

ROVA
rova OP
28 posts
 
Jeff, Sfar,

Thanks for the input. To summarize your opinions are that the I-5 pre-amp section will sound very similar to using the Copeland pre-amp in its place, correct? Or in other words the I-5 pre-amp stage is just as good as the Copeland.

Sfar, do you have any other speaker suggestions for better imaging?

What about the Moon Equinox, without spending a lot, is there another CD player that would give me better imaging / sound stage but would otherwise equal or better the sound of the Moon Equinox?

ROVA
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