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Ok, most of you have seem that I have been posting lots of questions to my neverending quest of perfecting what I already have. So here it goes again, Shanling STP 80 integrated amp with the T-200 sacd player and a pair of VR2's speakers. Apparently my speakers are power hungry and my STP 80 is not doing its job, nice sounding but lacking on power. So my question is, will an integrated higher powered tube system will work better or a separate pre amp/amp situation? Rogue Cronus comes to mind, Primaluna and the Jolida 1000RC any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Ups:
The typical integrated amp (tube or transistor) has certain compromises -- usually in the power supply -- for reasons of economy and size (weight). This will affect the amp's ability to deliver its rated power into difficult loads and, possibly, throughout the bass range.Regrettably, since the Federal Trade Commission stopped enforcing the audio amplifier power output rule (which requires that power ratings be measured under specified conditions for amplifiers), I've noticed that a number of the amplifiers, especially integrated amplifiers, tested by Stereophile do not meet their claimed power output ratings.
The Cary SLI-80 Signature is a very, very good all-tube integrated amp, which you should be able to get for ~$2500 or less. I went from a tube pre / SS amp to the Cary and am very satisfied w/ my choice (mine is a F-1 model from Upscale Audio, which adds some cost to the price I mentioned earlier). Separates 'can' be better, and I will probably get into separates again later, but this will hold me over fine until then.
In my own experience with VR2, I experienced a great improvement when I used a pre\power CJ set(PV14L2 and MV2250). The combination of tube preamp and a SS power is great.
This combo finally open my VR2 and take out the best of them.
I tried: Kora 150, Jolida 707, Vincent (hybrid 150W) and the CJ made a big upgrade.
This loudspeaker is 87-90 dB efficient. It has a ruler flat impedance curve that never dips below 8 ohms. How does this power hunger evidence itself?40-50 watts of tube or SS power should work fine, as long as there is not a large current drop from 8-10 ohms (SS and OTL). Voltage tube amps (with output transformers) ought to work fine - like the Rogue Cronus/Atlas, Manley Stingray/Mahi monoblocks, or Quicksilver monoblocks.
Power-hungry could also mean:
Big room?
Low sensitivity power amp?
I don't know about numbers but I had an Arcam A75 plus (50 WPC) and I feel a big (very big) difference with the CJ PV14 L2 \ MF2250 combo.
It's not only the tube preamp what made the difference, I tried the Arcam preamp section combined with the MF2250 (120W) and sounded very good (better then the Arcam alone)
Is, IMHO, the next best thing in an integrated that performs like seperates (power & finesse) and doesn't cost an arm or a leg. Admittently though, you can get 'better' performance with other seperates but the price will be higher. With your set-up though, the Dussun V-8i might very well be the ticket and will certainly drive your VR-2's to very satisfying levels.No, I'm not a dealer but i've heard this beauty and it's worth every penny.AP
# The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men # Jules Winnfield(Ezekiel 25:17)> Pulp Fiction <
Hey dussan owners, i just ordered ds99-the baby brother of the dussan line. Do any of you know what size bindig posts it has. Trying to decide between spades and bananan plug termination
but I think all Dussun amps have pretty beefy binding posts--the V8i, especially. I think you'll be safe with spades. It might be worth an email to the importer, AAA Audio, at info@aaa-audio.com just to confirm, though.
As you said, sure, you can get better performance with some separates, but IME you have to spend a bit of coin to do it. With the requisite Jena Labs jumpers, the V-8i becomes a stone KILLER. With the stock jumpers, though, it's seriously hamstrung, IMO. I'm using the Dussy in a second, "casual-listening" system with VR-4 HSEs, and I have few complaints. It rocks pretty hard.
... finest in imaging and soundstage, IMO (depends on the choice of product and system synergy, of course). Takes the integrated to seperates benefits one step farther; a big step in many cases.
You might want to try the Balanced Audio Technology(BAT)vk300se integrated amplifier. It is a 150wpc and a tube hybrid.It has fabulous bass control, beautiful midrange and sweet smooth highs. It may be just what you need.
I compared Ayre seperates to the Ayre Integrated, the integrated sounded good, but was not any where near as good as the seperates. Sorry....
Atver: I am considering getting Ayres in the near future for my Thiel 2 2s. I am debating whether to get the integrated or the 5 series separates. I don't play music too loud so I was wondering whether I could "get close enough" with the integrated. I am guessing if I purchase the integrated, I will, unfortunately,still have the upgrade bug a few months later.Some have said on this forum that the integrated gets you around 90% or 95% of the 5 series separates. I doubt that is true but in a few months I will go to my dealer and hear for myself. I reckon I will come to the same conclusion as you.
I think everyone with a modicum of intelligence knows the Ayre separates cost much more than the integrated so that is not the relevant issue, the real issue for discussion purposes (and for the ultimate purchasing decision) is whether you can hear enough of a difference to justify the steep extra cost. Certainly if you got 90% of the sound via the integrated, it would not (at least to me) justify the extra cost (unless perhaps if the purchaser had a lot of discretionary income) Thank you for posting.
About 5-6 years ago, I spent some time admiring the sound of a system driven by a V-5 and K-1 (not sure if they were "x" upgraded, but definitely before the "e" upgrade. Shortly thereafter, the AX-7 came out and I was able to listen to one of the first units. To my ears ears, the AX-7 delivered about 90% of the sonic performance, and at a fraction of the cost. I brought that AX-7 home with me!Make no mistake, the separates sound better. But the difference in price is quite large - large enough for me to be the difference between having an Ayre system and not. I've since had my AX-7 upgraded to "e" status. Wow, quite an improvement for a relatively modest cost. I suspect the gap to the '5 series could be reduced further with the new line conditioner which contains the filtering found in the '5 series but not in the '7.
More recently, I sold my bass-bare Thiel 1.6s and got the brand new Vandy 2Ce Sig IIs. The Vandy's are still breaking in, and I'm currently using a shitty jumper rather than the recommended bi-wire, but I've got a *really* good sounding system (read: musical), all within my budget.
put a new power cable on the 7 and prepare to be amazed at another level of presence and an enhanced bass response
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