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Integrated vs Separates, New vs Used - Rogue Audio, Simaudio, McIntosh??? Input Needed!

Hey everybody - I'm getting back into Hi-Fi after a few years off (three kids will do that!). Prior to marriage (2007), I owned a McIntosh MA7000, Logitech Transporter, Focal 1027BE bookshelf speakers, and HSU VTF-3. Great system for my small bachelor pad. I'm a bass player (upright bass from 4th grade thru high school in chamber group and 5-string electric bass since college) and tend to favor setups on the warmer side of the spectrum. I listen to a wide range of music - Willie Nelson to Radiohead, Neil Young to DMB. The McIntosh with the Focals was a nice combination but after listening to higher end equipment, I'd like a little more soundstage, dynamics, etc with my new system.

OK, enough background. I'm struggling with integrated versus separates and new versus used. Here are some options that I worked through (in no particular order).

1. Simaudio Moon Neo 340i (New). This integrated sounded good at the dealer. I wasn't blown away but know that i could be happy with this amp. In order to spread out cost, my bigger picture plan would be to buy this amp and trade up within a year using SimAudio's "To the Moon" program to purchase the Simaudion 700i. A KILLER integrated.  Total cost over two years = $14K plus I'll need a buy phono (TBD) and DAC (Mytek Brooklyn?).

2. Parasound JC-1 Monoblocks (Used) and Rogue RP-7 Preamplifier (New). I liked the RP-5 coupled with the Simaudio 330a power amplifier at the dealer but think the combination could be improved with more gas in the amplifier department. The new RP-7 is a fully balanced tube pre and supposed to be even sweeter in the midrange department (vs the RP-5). Total cost = about $10K ($5K for the used monoblocks + $5K for the new pre). Like #1, I'll still need to purchase phono and DAC.

3. McIntosh MC275 (New) and Rogue RP-7 (New). Tube driven by tube! As a bass player could this be harmonic bliss? Total Cost = 10.5K. In the long run, I'd want to add an addition MC275 for 150 watts (16K total plus Mac cost increase). I'm fearful of cooking with all the tubes and a relatively small office, the high system cost, and I haven't heard this setup. 

4. Rogue M-180 Monoblocks (New) or Rogue Stereo 100 (New) and Rogue RP-7 (New). Same idea as above but with more juice and possibly a mono block configuration. Total Cost = 11K with mono blocks or $8.5K with Stereo 100. I have no experience with the Rogue amplifiers.

5. Sit tight for a (newer) used Simaudio Evolution separates. An 740P preamp and 860A power amp was just on Audiogon for about $13K (versus $24.5K new). My fears that once I enter the world of uber high-end, matching  interconnects, speakers, etc becomes mission critical. I'm not interested in this end of the Hi-Fi spectrum...just want to enjoy the music!

As for speakers, the set-up will be in my office driving KEF LS50's (total overkill I know). Once I'm confident the kids fingers wont be poking the drivers, I'll be looking at floor standing speakers (Focal Supra No 2, Sonus Faber Olympic III - both pretty....Golden Ear Triton?....decisions for the future).

I'd appreciate any insight and/or recommendations! All the options has my brain scrambled!!!
Thanks,
Ken
keoliphant
oblgny's avatar
oblgny
845 posts
 
I just purchased the top o' the line model of the 340i - dac and phono on board - as I've recently opted to "dumb down" from my amp/preamp setup because I found myself chasing equipment instead of just enjoying the music.  

The 340i is 100 watts into 8 ohm, 200 watts into 4 ohm - sufficient to work with my Thiel CS3.5's - at the level I listen at.  The Sim is a very good integrated. Comparing it to my Pass Labs X150.5/B. A. T. VK3i setup remains a work in progress, but I don't feel I've truly lost anything in the switch.  The Sim is a tad "warmer" than the Pass was, but Pass has been noted to be too analytical by some.  Not I, though - pairing that with Thiel which has also garnered similar opinions was a sweet match.  

I just bought a pair of Thiel CS 3.6 which are replacing my 3.5. - the only way I would ever get rid of my Thiel. 

You have a very enviable budget for your return to this madness. I suggest sticking with the Neo and deciding if the trade up program they offer is worth your while. My MC275 amp blew a tube in the first 14 days of ownership and my experience with their customer service was abysmal. I sold it within a week of that. 
gary_c
46 posts
 

Hi Ken,

If you currently don't have the room for floorstanders, then I wouldn't outlay the funds for options 2-5, except for a moderately priced integrated at this time.

I agree with others that you should ideally nail down your speaker selection before dropping a lot of money on amplification, unless you know that there is a brand of amplification that you really like, which might justify matching the speakers to your amp.

If you liked the Simaudio Neo 340 over what you currently have, then perhaps that's a good intermediate step, and has the options of selling here at some time in the future or upgrading through your dealer; when you have more room for new speakers.

That said, the options that you listed will all have different sonic signatures. You would need to carefully evaluate each of them to find your preference, and also match to new speakers (or vice-versa); regardless of which option you start with.

I have owned the Simaudio i-5, i5.3, 600i, and 700i (currently using 600i). I like many things about the Simaudio sound, which can sound warm at times, but they aren't the warmest out there. They will show differences between speaker cables and interconnects (and power cords), which will also end up giving you something to do!

Good luck and have fun,

Gary

gary_c
46 posts
 

I forgot to mention that for any future speaker and amp purchases, you should try to have everything in your system be of the same league of performance. There is no need for some of the more expensive separates or integrated amps listed in your options, if the speakers won't be in the same league.

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