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I'm looking at some amplification for the Magnepan 3.6Rs, and noticed something odd in pricing out some packages.
The [pre + power amp] combo is a lot more expensive than the integrated amp that carries the same power amp ratings.
Do the integrateds carry the same pre-amp package as the stand-alone pre-amps?
Examples:
NAD c165 pre-amp $1000 plus c275 power amp $1300 is $2300 total.
NAD c375 integrated amp has same power specs as c275, but costs $1500.
W4S STP-SE pre-amp $2000 plus ST-500 power amp $1500 is $3500 total.
W4S STI-500 integrated amp has same power specs as ST-500, but costs $2000.
Based on pictures, the integrateds seem to have the same "facial" appearance as the pre-amps.
Are the pre-amps the same in the standalone and the integrateds, or are they seriously shortcutting the pre-amp that goes into the integrated? Does anyone have insight into this? Thanks very much.
=K
Follow Ups:
Thanks for the replies - quite helpful, since I was not aware of some of the construction and design differences.
You guys are slowly but surely pulling me "upward" in the amp dollars allocation!
=K
NAD c375 integrated amp has same power specs as c275, but costs $1500.
It doesn't. Look closer at the peak power capability of each where you'll find up to a 100 watt per channel difference. Most likely due to a larger power supply.
Indeed separates have always been more expensive. I would not want to have a moving coil phono preamp in the same chassis as a power amp. Coincidentally, the C165 preamp has a phono stage and the integrated does not (although you can add one).
With regard to the W4S system, the STP-SE preamp is far superior to the preamp section built into the STI-500 integrated.
For one thing, the STP-SE uses costly precision discrete resistors in the attenuator, the STI-500 does not. The STI-500 is built to a lower price point than their flagship preamp and does not use a discrete resistor attenuator section.
And as viridian mentioned, you have two separate and dedicated power supplies in the separates (a good thing) and the flexibility that separates offer. From a cost perspective, you also have the added cost of two separate enclosures and there's no getting around that for any manufacturer.
I've been very curious about the STP-SE preamp. It looks like a very good design.
....as well as two seperate sets of case work, which is a major percentage of the total cost of budget components. There may be differences in circuitry and improved parts as well.Of course there are sonic benefits associated with seperating preamp and amp sections, as well as running preamp and amp sections off of discrete transformers in addition to parts upgrades and better circuit design.
As far as how that plays out in the value proposition, you would just have to decide that yourself.
Edits: 03/20/12 03/20/12
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