Mike Popp Posted May 29, 2023 Posted May 29, 2023 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?
andyr Posted May 29, 2023 Posted May 29, 2023 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.
Mike Popp Posted May 29, 2023 Author Posted May 29, 2023 (edited) Even 2nd hand, like Rotel and NAD amps? Edited May 30, 2023 by Mike Popp
075Congo Posted June 16, 2023 Posted June 16, 2023 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
Mike Popp Posted June 16, 2023 Author Posted June 16, 2023 Can you send a link? Can’t see on classifieds
075Congo Posted June 16, 2023 Posted June 16, 2023 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.
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 16, 2023 Volunteer Posted June 16, 2023 and a touch over your budget but it's a "live" ad 2
tripitaka Posted June 17, 2023 Posted June 17, 2023 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.
075Congo Posted June 20, 2023 Posted June 20, 2023 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.
andyr Posted June 20, 2023 Posted June 20, 2023 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.)
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