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Integrated All in one, Still in Style |
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#1
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What is the best compact integrated amp without breaking the bank?
I just picked up some Sonus Faber Cremonas for a 3rd system setup which will hopefully “live” in my living room.
WAF is a major factor for the living room. My wife really likes the look of the McIntosh MHA100 (or MHA150) and approves it because it will fit depth wise on narrower bookshelves. (Full sized McIntosh integrated amps are out as they are too deep for the space). I heard the MHA150 powering some full sized towers in the McIntosh room, which was a surprise how well they did. My concern is if the 50WPC would be up to the task in my larger living room (18’ ceilings). The MA252 looks interesting, but I’d need to buy a DAC as well since I’m all digital. I’m hoping to buy used, and I really do like the McIntosh sound. If I could stay around $2000 +\- I’d be happy. Thoughts/recommendations?
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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
#2
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From experience - either Moon Evolution, Pass, or ASR Emitter.
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Poland: Silenzio, Simaudio, Luxman, Bricasti, Bryston, Shunyata, Stax, Meze, Linn, Audeze, and Dan Clark Headphones, Stax, Wireworld, Crystal, Nordost, Siltech. Home Main System: Magnepan 20.7, Pass Labs XA 100.5, Audio Research Reference 6, Esoteric P-03, D-03, G0-Rb, DV-60, Clearaudio Innovation & Tangent arm, VPI HW19 MK4 & ET 2.5 arm, Mark Levinson 37, Aesthetix Rhea Signature, Magnum Dynalab Etude, Kiseki PHS, Sumiko Palos Santos Presentation,Wireworld, Crystal Absolute Dream, Shunyata, Acoustic Zen, and Stealth cables Other Avalon Arcus, Snell Type AIII, Tympani IV, Green Mountain Europa, Martin Logan CLS, Tympani 1D, Counterpoint, GAS, Yamaha, Levinson, Perreaux, Proceed, Theta, Linn, and other collectibles, including 60 different headphones and 30+ headphone amps, over 60 cartridges, and too many cables, stands, and tweaks to list. |
#3
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Naim Uniti Nova?
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AcousSignThunderTA5000PurpleHeartNS WandMasterPearwoodII PSA DSD BHK ThielCS3.7SS2.2 |
#4
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Rouge Audio
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#5
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#6
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Jason.......You may want to consider PrimaLuna. Check out my PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium Integrated Amplifier Review. Great price point, solid build quality, and excellent sound.
Also check out my Schiit Audio Yggdrasil Review. A PrimaLuna ProLogue integrated amplifier and Yggdrasil DAC will deliver first rate audio for less than $5K total.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 05-08-2018 at 01:58 PM. |
#7
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PrimaLuna is outstanding. Very musical and engaging integrated. Step up to KT-150 tubes if need more oomph but unlikely to really need it unless you like to listen at very loud levels.
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#8
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Quote:
Thanks! I’ll have to check out primaluna
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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
#9
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Dan,
I just read through your review and the thread for the Yggdrasil. I must say that I am impressed with your words, and intrigued at the product. I had borrowed a friend’s Peachtree Nova300 in my system before I ultimately picked up my McIntosh MAC6700 for my living room system. I was shocked at the difference a DAC makes as they are both a very different presentation. The McIntosh has a very familiar sound to my main rig which has a D100 run off a Mac mini into a c2300 > mc402 > b&w signature 800s. I used to have a Wyred4Sound Dac2 (non-se version). In fact, I think I might have owned your old one, as I bought it from Maks here on AA a few years ago (and I thought he bought it from you). In either case, I know you are familiar with the DAC2. When I compared the W4S dac2 with my D100, I noted the w4s had a much wider soundstage. It also seemed more detailed but the trade off was it rendered a little brighter than the d100. The d100 is super easy to listen to and tends to smooth everything out (at the expense of some detail). I do miss the larger soundstage sometimes, but I have a major sensitivity to brightness. My question is what would you expect I’d hear in my setup with a Yggdrasil streaming tidal/Audirvana off of a Mac mini into the c2300, vs my existing d100? (I’d also bring it upstairs once in a while as the DAC for my mac6700 for fun). What would I expect in that scenario (contrasted with something like the d100 and an older dac2)? Thanks in advance. Quote:
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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
#10
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Quote:
As for streaming Tidal with Audirvana through a Mac mini I would suspect the Yggy to deliver a very convincing performance that will have you favoring the Yggdrasil over your other DAC's, but using the Mac mini, although a decent server rig, it is not delivering a premium level presentation. A true dedicated, purpose built music server will up your performance bar substantially. Something else to consider is the modularity of the Yggdrasil DAC. The newest Analog 2 with Gen 5 USB version of the Yggdrasil DAC can be installed in all older Yggdrasil DAC's, thus allowing owners to remain at the leading edge of Schiit Audio's hardware and software updates. This will remain true for future updates if and when they may become available. In other words, you will never be stuck with a Yggdrasil DAC that has become obsolete. I hope this helps clarify your questions. The new Yggdrasil DAC is an amazing D/A converter. It's sound is worth far more than it's price. Once you hear the Yggdrasil in your system I would be very surprised if your general impressions did not parallel mine.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 06-03-2018 at 10:51 AM. |
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