Mike Popp Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 I am looking at buying some Apogee minors and heard they like a bit of juice. I currently have an integrated amp, Cambridge audio 640a which is 65 wpc in 8ohm which should be able to drive the apogees. To me its seems like a fine amp, but I've only ever driven bookshelf speakers (QUAD 11L). My question is, any guesses on whether you think there would be a discernible difference if I were to look at buying a power amp / pre-amp set up? I have a low budget, under $1000. And if so, what sort of power amps might be in that range (2nd hand mostly I guess?). Also, are there any tube pre-amps around the $500 range? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 26 minutes ago, Mike Popp said: I am looking at buying some Apogee minors and heard they like a bit of juice. I currently have an integrated amp, Cambridge audio 640a which is 65 wpc in 8ohm which should be able to drive the apogees. To me its seems like a fine amp, but I've only ever driven bookshelf speakers (QUAD 11L). If you mean "Apogee Centaur Minors" ... then, from the specs I found for your Cambridge 640a, here: ... it should be able to drive them acceptably. 30 minutes ago, Mike Popp said: My question is, any guesses on whether you think there would be a discernible difference if I were to look at buying a power amp / pre-amp set up? I have a low budget, under $1000. And if so, what sort of power amps might be in that range (2nd hand mostly I guess?). Also, are there any tube pre-amps around the $500 range? Yes, a power amp which can drive 4 ohm spkrs better than the 640a would probably make the Apogees sound better ... but I don't think you'll find one for your budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Popp Posted May 29 Author Share Posted May 29 (edited) Even 2nd hand, like Rotel and NAD amps? Edited May 30 by Mike Popp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
075Congo Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 Looking now at a HYPEX N-Core Power Amp.....250 watts per channel (Class D)...unsold at $550. Use your Cambridge Audio 640A as a preamp and connect the Pre-outs to the Hypex and watch your new Apogees "sing". Need some RCA's as well. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
075Congo Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 Chilled Strings the Seller is in Melbourne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Popp Posted June 16 Author Share Posted June 16 Can you send a link? Can’t see on classifieds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
075Congo Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 Sorry no link.......search "power amps" everywhere on SNA.....go to Page 2 or 3......should find it.Send ChilledStrings a PM and see if its still available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 16 Volunteer Share Posted June 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 16 Volunteer Share Posted June 16 and a touch over your budget but it's a "live" ad 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tripitaka Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 On 16/06/2023 at 3:36 PM, 075Congo said: Looking now at a HYPEX N-Core Power Amp.....250 watts per channel (Class D)...unsold at $550. Use your Cambridge Audio 640A as a preamp and connect the Pre-outs to the Hypex and watch your new Apogees "sing". Need some RCA's as well. Mick +1 I had one of those Cambridge 640a's and thought it was totally gutless and ended up running it just as a preamp for a while. I thought it was a good preamp for the price range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
075Congo Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 A March Audio P252 Power Amp has appeared in the Classifieds for $680. Not sure what type of interconnects would be used to hook up to a PreAmp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 1 hour ago, 075Congo said: A March Audio P252 Power Amp has appeared in the Classifieds for $680. Not sure what type of interconnects would be used to hook up to a PreAmp. Why don't you ask Alan March? (He posts on SNA.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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