Honestly, with Rockport Atria !! speakers IMO you need to spend more than the budget you've set out to get what those speakers deserve--you should be looking at Aesthetix (no Phono though) or MBL (i've heard the MBL with a pair of Rockport Cygnus and never wanted to leave that room) or even the Mac 12000--any of those if getting warmer while maintaining crystal clear clarity is your desire/criteria. Just my 2
McIntoish C8 or PrimaLuna EVO 300
Both of the McIntoish C8 and PrimaLuna EVO 300 preamps seem to check the boxes in terms of inputs, outputs and features, and I can lift them. Does anyone have experience of either or both of these preamps?
I think my system is in need of a bit of warmth, I have noticed recently that the very highest violin notes are a bit aggressive - in the recent past I've been listening to mainly choral works and had not noticed this.
I was playing the Hilary Hahn sonatas and partitas, (I have the disks and digital) and noticed the problem. I dug up my 40 year old (!) C-J PV6 and the sound was sweet to the top, but that pre-amp lost the air and space of the choral recordings; everything was warm and cuddly but the sense of the recording space was lost.
My interconnects are Cardas Clear Reflection and I have the issue on both analog and digital - and with SS or tubed Power amps.
My current preamp is the Benchmark LA4 which is, perhaps, a bit on the analytical side of neutral.
Changing from my Rockport Atria II speakers is NOT an option.
So, I am looking for warmth but not losing the sense of the space, Am I asking too much in the $5k price bracket?
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I’m an old guy with a sensitive back. I use leverage, hand truck, rolling and other people to deal with heavy equipment. I just bought two 85 pound subwoofers. I had the delivery people bring them in. I rolled the boxes to unpack the subs and roll onto furniture sliders and used those to position... then a furniture fulcrum to remove the sliders. No heavy lifting... just some thinking. |
Understand budget limitations, esp if the spend on those Rockports ate most of your budget (speakers should do that!) but are you seeking only new? B/c you may find Aesthetix, MBL, Mac on used market within or close to your budget--i kind of drew the line instead of also recommending Acoustic Research--i thought @ghdprentice would bring that up😀 But i also have adopted his solutions for heavy equipment + friends to help if needed...Didn't mean to send you down a rabbit hole upgrade path but those Rockports need lots of love...and $$ |
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