I'm not the best at describing what I'm hearing or not hearing. There is a lot more detail since I changed preamps. I had a Rotel 1572. My youngest boy said right away how much clearer it sounded with the STR. We can hear a lot more detail. I bought the Focal 948's because I listen to a lot of rock. Around here (Toledo) there isn't much variety to choose from. The B&W's in my price range were auditioned with a Macintosh amp and just sounded dead. So I feel the midrange has gotten better after playing with the sub settings in the preamp but just aren't where I would like them. This isn't as noticeable with the master quality (Tidal) or hi-res Qobuz but is still lacking a little.
Want a new amp but what to get?
I'm using an Athem STR Preamp with a Rotel 1582 MKII. My speakers are Focal 948's with a JL Audio e-110. I stream Tidal and Qobuz hi-fi through a laptop. Am also open to suggestions for streamers. Budget for the amplifier could go as high as 5k maybe a little more. I'm more interested in finding a good match than spending loads of cash. I want a good quality well built amp that holds it's value and will last a long time and of coarse mix well with what I already have. Anyone have any informed suggestions?
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- 12 posts total
Sounds like you may be looking for a little more heft or meat on the bones in the midrange? McCormack amps are known for having expressive mids for a solid state amp, and as an owner of a DNA 0.5 Rev A amp I’d agree with that. Here’s a nice DNA 1 with recent Gold Special revisions that would be a big step up over your Rotel and is priced at half your $5k budget. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9fehd-mccormack-dna-1-smc-gold-special-solid-state There’s also a very clean Pass Labs XA30.8 available under your price cap that would give you rich and expressive mids and that Class-A smoothness and liquidity. As it’s a pure Class-A amp it will run on the hot side, which might be a concern if you like to leave your amp on all the time or don’t want the heat. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9f6j0-pass-labs-pass-labs-xa30-8-power-amplifier-solid-state Both are excellent amps that will yield significant improvements in the mids and many other areas as well, and your speakers will definitely benefit from and reward you for the additional refinement and capabilities of either of these fine amps. Hope this helps, and best of luck. |
I had those exact speakers for two months. I used a Primaluna HP Dialogue premium. That was plenty of power; the 948 are surprisingly easy to drive. The sound was effortless. I currently have Dynaudio contour 60's which really benefit from the power of pass x250.8 (or similar). I did have an xa30.5 for some time and it was a stunning amp with incredible power margin...far stronger than 30 wpc (actually its a 100 watt into 8 and 200 into 4 in class ab) I strongly suggest you try the Pass XA30.8 or xa30.5...you will be in for a treat. |
Here’s another excellent option that’s cheaper than the others I mentioned but will make your 948s sing. Like the Pass amp it’s also pure Class A. I’d just check to see how old it is just to see when/if it might need to be recapped. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9di3b-clayton-audio-s40-solid-state If it were me, I'd buy a Valvet amp. Read the reviews. The E2 is probably a little too flea powered even for your speakers, but the A1.2 should work just fine and is well within your budget new. https://highend-electronics.com/products/valvet-bricks-a1-2-power-amplifier?variant=31868821635 |
- 12 posts total