A New Integrated Amp
Hello. I'm soliciting opinions/experience with integrated amps. I wonder about hybrid integrated amps also (ie., Advance Paris A12). I am not all that impressed with Arcam, Marantz, Yamaha, but I've heard Luxmans (wow), Parasound (a bit sterile) and Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III (impressive in a demo environment). I have not chosen speakers as of yet but I'm leaning towards DynAudio Evoke, Sonus Faber Sonetto, and PMC.
I listen to primarily artier rock (although Metallica, Soundgarden, The Who and Zeppelin hits the spot from time to time), electronica, trip hop, new wave and punk from the late 70s and early 80s, spacey prog, and P-Funk; we also like to hear the musica de Latin America.
Budget for an amp ought to be in the $3K-$4K range. Room size is 15 x 20 x 9.
Thanks in advance
+1 @ghdprentice Amp first usually are those who are very familiar with the sound of the amp, often a boutique amp such as Kondo, Shindo, etc. Otherwise it’s usually best and easiest to start with speakers first. Speakers first one goes out to demo speakers typically at audio stores and audio shows to find the sound that personally resonates with them, then take notes of the accompanying electronics to help decide what direction to go |
I would suggest finding your speakers first. The more efficient they are, the more integrated amp choices you will have. I got nice sound from a rega, ps audio and rogue pharaoh with dali’s and jm reynauds. The rega hit its ceiling with my magnepans. The ps audio and rogue pharaoh handled the magnepans better. I tried an nad amp on the magnepans but the sound lost musicality. I did also have good results with a vinnie rossie integrated on all the speakers. Component matching and room treatment go a long way.
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Agreed with cdtd. If you end up down the path of the Maggies, the 1.7 series is ideally paired with the Cronus Magnum III, along with a separate and self-powered sub, like Rythmik F12 or comparable. |
