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Posted

I am considering replacing my Primare i30 with something better.  I have my eye on one, but it is expensive - over $7000.00 second-hand.

 

Can you suggest integrated amp's which are most definitely better, but not necessarily as much as the one mentioned above.

 

What amp's should I look at - either new or used - to get a definite increase in sound quality at a reasonable cost.  I want to avoid sideways moves, of course.  If possible I'd rather avoid large and heavy amp's, but that my not be possible.

 

In case you need to know, I will be using it with Proac Response 1Scs for now, and and only CD as a source.  Music is a little classical, jazz, instrumental, minimal rock, and elevator music (according to my wife).

 

Thanks.

Posted

What is your room like?  It has, by a long way, the biggest influence on the sound...  Hence, a suggestion to look at room correction software e.g. Dirac in a NAD or Room Perfect in Lyngdorf.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
35 minutes ago, Antipodean Brad said:

Thanks for the suggestion, Snoop, but I want to keep things very simple.

 

I am only looking at replacing the i30.


I guess the question is what is that is lacking in the i30 that you are trying to improve on?  How have you concluded that this the weak link in your system?

 

BTW I think @Snoopy8 was suggesting looking at an integrated amplifier with onboard room correction, not adding another device.

Edited by POV
  • Like 2
Posted
58 minutes ago, Antipodean Brad said:

Thanks for the suggestion, Snoop, but I want to keep things very simple.

 

I am only looking at replacing the i30.

As @POV mentioned, I am suggesting replacing the i30 with an integrated that includes room correction software.

 

Have you looked at the room, done measurements, or done room treatment?  If not, then I suggest looking at this because the room has, by far, the biggest influence on the sound.  A "cheat" is to use an integrated with room correction that will likely give a bigger improvement than just swapping to another integrated. 

 

Options include a NAD M10 V2 and Lyngdorf TDAI 1120.

  • Like 2
Posted

If you want a bargain amplifier that does everything try this. I would buy it myself if I had the $$

 

  • Like 1
Posted
9 hours ago, POV said:


I guess the question is what is that is lacking in the i30 that you are trying to improve on?  How have you concluded that this the weak link in your system?

 

BTW I think @Snoopy8 was suggesting looking at an integrated amplifier with onboard room correction, not adding another device.

 

Second point first.  I missed the implication of integrated with onboard room correction.  Sorry about that.

 

What is lacking?  Nothing much, except that I have been using the i30 as a pre-amp with a power amp., and, as much as I have liked the i30, that combination beats the i30 in my opinion.  However, for various (family) reasons I need to keep things as simple as possible.   This means that I will most likely have to dispose of the power amp I currently use, and even the other one I have and which I am loath to let out of my possession.   I'd love to keep a selection of gear, but ...

 

I have seen rantan's suggestion (thank you, rantan), but I have to either be convinced, or convince myself, that it would be a decided improvement. Hence, my hope for suggestions based on your collective greater knowledge and experience.

 

Any other advice or suggestion are very welcome.

 

Thanks to everyone.

Posted (edited)
16 hours ago, Antipodean Brad said:

 

Second point first.  I missed the implication of integrated with onboard room correction.  Sorry about that.

 

What is lacking?  Nothing much, except that I have been using the i30 as a pre-amp with a power amp., and, as much as I have liked the i30, that combination beats the i30 in my opinion.  However, for various (family) reasons I need to keep things as simple as possible.   This means that I will most likely have to dispose of the power amp I currently use, and even the other one I have and which I am loath to let out of my possession.   I'd love to keep a selection of gear, but ...

 

I have seen rantan's suggestion (thank you, rantan), but I have to either be convinced, or convince myself, that it would be a decided improvement. Hence, my hope for suggestions based on your collective greater knowledge and experience.

 

Any other advice or suggestion are very welcome.

 

Thanks to everyone.

 

Fair enough.  For what it's worth my take after trialling literally hundreds at all price ranges is that in general the amplifier is a substantially lower order consideration after room and speakers and that's why I always tend to quiz why people want to upgrade amplification.   In your example your Proacs are pretty old right, and speaker design and performance has come a very long way since the 90s.  If you are happy with the features of your Primare, have you considered upgrading your speakers?  Your $7k (assuming this is your budget from your post) would likely blow you away in terms of performance upgrade if moving to a modern speaker system. 

 

If set on keeping speakers and changing amplifier then yeah would recomend moving to a modern fully featured intergated amp that has onboard modern DAC, DSP, and room correction.

Edited by POV
  • Like 1
Posted

Hi, I have an i30 and I loved it. When I wanted to upgrade, I test drove a Rega Aethos and I thought it sounded substantially better than the i30. It had a much richer thicker sound. 
I decided to upgrade to pass labs separates instead just to guarantee an improvement but I have experimented with using the i30 pre outs into the pass power amp. It made an improvement but not that much as you might think.  Most of the gains came from the pass preamp. 
I know you said you wanted an integrated, but I’m sure if you put a proper preamp with your existing power amp you would  get the improvement you’re after. If not, try the Rega Aethos. I thought it was excellent. There  even one for sale here. 

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted
On 04/09/2024 at 7:45 PM, Antipodean Brad said:

What is lacking?  Nothing much, except that I have been using the i30 as a pre-amp with a power amp., and, as much as I have liked the i30, that combination beats the i30 in my opinion.  However, for various (family) reasons I need to keep things as simple as possible.   This means that I will most likely have to dispose of the power amp I currently use, and even the other one I have and which I am loath to let out of my possession.   I'd love to keep a selection of gear, but ...

 

Simplifying ... that is sad.  :sad:

 

OK so you need to go integrated - and the integrated needs to sound better than your i30-as-a-pre plus the power amp you are using.

 

That might be a hard call with your Proacs.  :shocked:  I don't agree with POV - in that, yes, they are "old" ... but my mate's Proacs sound pretty damn good with the right amp.

 

As to which integrated sounds better (with your Proacs) than what you're currently using ... mmmm?  There are not many integrateds that have enough power to drive 4ohm speakers well.  The Pass Int-150 and 250 certainly would ... the Pass Int-60 ... maybe.

 

Posted

To be fair, I didn’t say that the proacs don’t sound good.  I’m simply saying a $7k pair of speakers from 2024 are very likely going to be a substantial upgrade over a $2k pair of speakers from the 90s.
 

Posted
11 hours ago, POV said:

To be fair, I didn’t say that the Proacs don’t sound good.  I’m simply saying a $7k pair of speakers from 2024 are very likely going to be a substantial upgrade over a $2k pair of speakers from the 90s.

 

My mate thought that too.

 

So he got himself a pair of (comparably-sized) new Proacs ... and decided they didn't sound as good as his old ones.  :lol:

 

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