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Looking for Int amp suggustions

post #1 of 39
6/22/07 at 1:31am
Thread Starter 
Ok guys i've worked out my budget so in the next few months I will be getting a int amp. Presently i'm using paradigm monitor mini's but will be passing these onto my dad. I'm still undecided my next set(s) of bookshelves.
I'm leaning toward the AAD S-1, Era D5's or LSI 7's as my mains and the NHT 3's or Era 4's hooked up for my second pair ( in the my bedroom is that possible). So i'm looking for an IA can support 2 sets of speakers or with a pre-out so I can upgrade later.

My budget is 1k-$1500. My preference is something new. Usage is mainly for music. My room size is well medium i'll have to double check the exact measurements but its more of an L shape. I listen to a wide variety genre's of music so soft and some kinda loud.

Essentially these are the IA's i'm considering the Cambridge Audio 740A, Music Fidelity3.5A which i hear is discontinued, the Nad C372, Flying mole CA-S10. Oh and just for convience the Music Hall mavern yes i know is a receiver but i love the look of it.

Any thoughts on these Int amps guys??? So far i've chosen these due to fact after researching them I can get them in my region. So the floor is yours i'm all ears and eyes......
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post #2 of 39
6/22/07 at 4:44am
Denon has an integrated for $1200...

You can get Rotel seperates for your price range...

Jolida tube integrated???
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post #3 of 39
6/22/07 at 1:46pm
Those Jolida Tube amps are awesome.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1187718724

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1187489584

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1187466929

In case you up your budget

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1186100538
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post #4 of 39
6/22/07 at 1:53pm
I'm a big fan of Cambridge Audio (the 840A is a very nice piece). I'm also partial to Arcam and NAD in that price range. I know there are many options, but those are the ones I'd feel comfortable recommending in your price range).
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post #5 of 39
6/22/07 at 7:00pm
Thread Starter 
I'd love to get my hands rotel but finding a dealor in the caribbean is a bit of a hassle. I've tried finding some who will ship this way no success thus far. Which model of the Arcam line??? Since the only one in my price range might not be able to power those speakers i'm looking at the A70. Is the CA840a worth taking over the Music Fidelity 3.5
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post #6 of 39
6/22/07 at 8:26pm
I would go for the Musical Fidelity 3.5. I have the A5 paired with my sonus fabers, and it sounds like no other!
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post #7 of 39
6/22/07 at 8:43pm
I'm not familiar with the Musical Fidelity (I've read about them, but I haven't heard them) line but I am confident the 840A will drive any of the speakers you listed with no problems. The Arcam A80 would have been my choice back a few years ago--I don't know what their equivalent model is today (perhaps it's still the A80?).
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post #8 of 39
6/22/07 at 9:28pm
Thread Starter 
i beleive its this one
http://www.arcam.co.uk/downloads/A90brochure.pdf I like the looks, its an arcam but not much power for the price. What about the 740A are you familair with the little brother to the 840???
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post #9 of 39
6/23/07 at 8:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chicomoralessxm View Post

i beleive its this one
http://www.arcam.co.uk/downloads/A90brochure.pdf I like the looks, its an arcam but not much power for the price. What about the 740A are you familair with the little brother to the 840???

No. Last time I looked, the 640A was the next step down from the 840A. I suspect the 740 would be a scaled down version of the 840 where the 640 is a beefier version of the 540.

The 840 is available in your price range in North America. I don't know about elsewhere.

As for the Arcam (and the Cambridge Audio), they may not have super high power rating numbers, but in the real world they are quite capable performers. I also don't know how loudly you play your music or how large your room is. In the largest room in my house, the 840A with a pair of Totem Acoustic Sttaf (not on your list, but this is a possible 2 channel rig for me in the future) would more than fill it loudly enough. But everyone has their own preferences for volume and room sizes vary greatly.

If you are looking for raw power, then your budget may need adjustment. But I think the A90 could do the job, though I would prefer an 840A. In the range of product you are looking at, though, I don't really think you can go wrong.
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post #10 of 39
6/24/07 at 10:36pm
Thread Starter 
Well of the speakers i mentioned the i'm looking for bookshelves. I cant get the rainmakers locally unfortunately. My room is well kinda L shaped not that big medium size not sure of exact measurements i'll check them out.
I'm kinda curious head to head with those speakers i mentioned how will the MF3.5 do again the 840A not just in power ratings more so in music reproduction. Mids, clean bass and over all clarity??? I'm keen to know prob is i cant audition all this equipment to find out!!!
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post #11 of 39
6/25/07 at 1:55pm
I know you said you want new, but this is a killer integrated at a great price

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ran&1186974581
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post #12 of 39
6/25/07 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
Looks nice!!! But I won't be getting anything for a few months.
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post #13 of 39
6/26/07 at 7:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chicomoralessxm View Post

Well of the speakers i mentioned the i'm looking for bookshelves. I cant get the rainmakers locally unfortunately. My room is well kinda L shaped not that big medium size not sure of exact measurements i'll check them out.
I'm kinda curious head to head with those speakers i mentioned how will the MF3.5 do again the 840A not just in power ratings more so in music reproduction. Mids, clean bass and over all clarity??? I'm keen to know prob is i cant audition all this equipment to find out!!!

In the range of equipment you're considering, I'd say either amp with the Rainmakers (Totems, right?--I like them a lot) will be fine. At this point, I'd be looking at features--connection options, ergonomics, that sort of thing. If one is significantly less expensive than the other, I'd go with the better deal (I've read good things about Musical Fidelity gear, but I've not heard any--I own a Cambridge Audio player and I've listened to a number of their integrated amps and receivers).
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post #14 of 39
6/26/07 at 11:39pm
Thread Starter 
Well i like the rainmakers i cant get my hands on them locally. I'm leaning more to the era4's
or nht 3's for my bedroom and the aad s-1 or the d5 for the main listening area. The look and power rating of the Music Fidelity give them an edge but i'm wondering how they sound compared to the CA offering. I saw this int amp not a bad price either does anyone know anything about these???
http://creekaudio.co.uk/main_product...vo_amp#Scene_2
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post #15 of 39
6/27/07 at 1:29am
Thread Starter 
I stumbled across this cite they claim to offer certified mint equipment. Have any of you dealt with them before or know them
www.hifitrader.com
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post #16 of 39
6/27/07 at 2:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chicomoralessxm View Post

I stumbled across this cite they claim to offer certified mint equipment. Have any of you dealt with them before or know them
www.hifitrader.com

Certified by who? Ebay?

You can buy new equipment from legitimate dealers for the same prices. Whats the point, unless you want to overpay for B-stock from these guys?
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post #17 of 39
6/27/07 at 7:22pm
Thread Starter 
Ok was just wondering the problem is 1 I dont know that many dealors with certain brands 2 i live outside the US, so ideally I'm looking for a dealor who can sell to me and accept payment by an easy method like paypal. I hate sending checks and all that stuff. Does anyone know of an dealors that carry stuff from rotel arcam b&k for example???? Oh guys what about the creek evo int amp????
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post #18 of 39
6/28/07 at 11:26am
I have a Cambridge 840a going to some Kef 205s. I went from a B&K to the 840a and it is night and day. Plenty of power and it sounds incredible
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post #19 of 39
6/28/07 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 
Cool glad you like it. What source are you using and what kinda interconnects???
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post #20 of 39
6/29/07 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chicomoralessxm View Post

Cool glad you like it. What source are you using and what kinda interconnects???


I am using a Cambridge 840c connected to the 840a via Audio Quest Jaguar XLRs.
My speakers are Kef Ref 205s and I am using Monster Z4
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post #21 of 39
7/1/07 at 11:39pm
Thread Starter 
Not sure how many of you are Cambridge Audio fans i just stumbled on this....
http://whathifi.com/hi-fi/archive/20...zur-range.aspx
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post #22 of 39
7/6/07 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chicomoralessxm View Post

Not sure how many of you are Cambridge Audio fans i just stumbled on this....
http://whathifi.com/hi-fi/archive/20...zur-range.aspx


I wonder if they will have a software upgrade for my 840A.
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post #23 of 39
7/6/07 at 12:31pm
Personally, I would recommend the Musical Fidelity with the ERA Design 4/5, that's an obvious combination of course. This is what I recommend to all my clients as a starting point.

The Polk LSi7 mates well with just about anything.
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post #24 of 39
7/9/07 at 10:38pm
Thread Starter 
Does anyone know anything about Revel i'm serious looking at the M12's. Also i'm trying to find something about AAD the S series line what kinda sound do these speakers have??? I've own bose polk klipsch and paradigm. Not sure how this too brands sound??
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post #25 of 39
11/13/07 at 7:28pm
Thread Starter 
Ok guys i've open to any suggustions you can give on a solid int amp around $700. Definately with pre-outs) I was leaning for separates but well finances....need i say more. I will be pairing it with a pair of opera mezza's can't tell you much about their sound traits till i get them and give them a solid workout! So far these these are the options i've come up with.

1) Within my budget or under CA640 or CA540, Vincent Audio SV-129 Rotel RA-1062
2) Close to or a little over Creek Evo, Nad C372
3) Really pushing it Rega mira3, CA840 Vincent sv-226

What i find really tempting for the price, features and convience is the outlaw2150 seems hard to beat! I'm looking for something preferablely new. Oh and i will prob be adding a pair of era d5 and or dynaudio 52's or epos 12.2's in the near future. Any suggustions guys?
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post #26 of 39
11/13/07 at 8:17pm
i just bought a rotel ra-1062 to power my B&W CM1s, comes in later this week cant wait, i like rotels build quality, the feel of the product. Cambridge feels cheap to me, but i cant argue that it sounds good
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post #27 of 39
11/13/07 at 8:58pm
Thread Starter 
thats the first time ive heard anyone with that feeling about CA......but to each their own.
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post #28 of 39
11/13/07 at 9:56pm
I know you said integrated, but I have a Rotel RC-1070 preamp and RB-1070 amp for $1200 MSRP (US) and I really like it. this might be an option for you, it has a satisfying amount of power.
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post #29 of 39
11/14/07 at 1:03am
Thread Starter 
Well prob getting an external amp from odyssey audio prob in jan. Thats the main reason i'm looking for intamp with nice preamp section.
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post #30 of 39
11/14/07 at 6:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chicomoralessxm View Post

Is the CA840a worth taking over the Music Fidelity 3.5

No. Consider also an used MF 3.2.

BTW you should really take your decision based on the new bookshelves that you plan to buy or you may regret your choice.
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