That is one monster pre/pro...

 

Well done,

 

M

A tempory setup while we getting ready to move, ironically I think it's the best it's ever sounded.

 

I just realised the benefits of a pre amp, had Paul Simon "Call me Al" on and when the whistling bit came on it was a little bit ear splitting but the TRUE test was that the dog came running in from another room and just stared at the speaker. that never happen with an AVR so thanks to guys like @:) al, @JohnL @blybo and @Sime for drumming the virtues of a pre/pro into me.

Just a tempory 3.1 setup while renting and waiting for house to get built.

 

 

Replaced Elektra with Rotel RMB 1075, unfortunately the Elektra was just all too hard to upgrade to 7 channels, was hoping to do myself. Very happy with the Rotel so far.

While I was enjoying 2 channels I was just missing the surrounds just too much. Although this is all temporary due to renting and just slapped together it has never sounded so good.

 

 

 

Edited February 25, 20179 yr by powerav

always wondered how the 1075 was, you are a hard man to keep up with, thought integrated amp was your next destination?

56 minutes ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

you are a hard man to keep up with, thought integrated amp was your next destination?

Yeah I'm a bit nuts. I thinking is, with this Rotel I have a great 5 channel system now as I am in a rental and can't do much more but when we move into our new home I will get an Integrated with HT bypass and I will than have a 7.1 set up. 

Been a long journey and now I feel I am almost there. I should make a list all the different bits of gear I have had over the last year or 2, that should be fun.

By the way I am loving this old Rotel.

 

On 14/09/2016 at 7:25 PM, powerav said:

Good examples were Hotel California and Linda Randstadt poor pityful me. I am sure anyone doing a blind test would pick the audio coming straight from the 651R everytime.

Cambridge Audio's HT receivers are excellent for music, as they have separate dedicated stereo amplification and 'direct in' circuitry. Also for LP's, with 'analogue direct'. For HT, they truly 'kick ass'! PS: oops....now I see you don't have the CA anymore. Awkward!

Edited March 9, 20179 yr by stevoz

44 minutes ago, stevoz said:

PS: oops....now I see you don't have the CA anymore. Awkward

Not awkward at all, I fully agree they are outstanding but unfortunately  unusable as a AVR in today's world or for me at least as they had zero features of modern avr's.

I have surpassed the sound now anyway with current setup and should only get better when I can include integrated amp.

Latest edition to sytem. Pioneer N50k. Only $300 brand new so hard to pass up. Only using DAC at moment as I haven't worked out the streaming part, it wont open the album folders, bit more investigating needed but at the moment enjoying the DAC part if it. I have KODI PC - Jitterbug - USB IN Pionner to CD Analog in of Integra.

 

Streaming now fully functional and working well.

 

Talk about climbing the mountain and coming back down again, pre/pro and power amp gooooonnnne. Replaced with this little Integra 30.7 and soon to come Creek Evolution 2. Big risk here but pleasantly surprised already, the little 30.7 on it's own is incredible for movies, the detail is amazing, lacking in 2 channel duties as expected but this where the Creek will come into play. 

In this day and age I believe HT Pre/pro are a waste and no wonder that HiFi stores are only offering pittance for them as they have trouble re-selling.

Anyway anxiously waiting for the creek to arrive.

 

 

Well I'm think I'm done as in this is the best I have had so far. Woh what a ride it's been and I don't think there are many left on this bus that would really care anymore anyway maybe @Hi-Fi Whipped , I know @:) al and @blybo jumped off a few stops ago.

So yeah the Creek Evo 2 arrived today, hooked up with some trepidation, fired up the Aries mini and got that feeling straight away of "oh have I done the right thing" then yes as soon a big bass note hits or some cool stereo imaging or whatever yes baby we have a winner.

This little amp alone with it's poultry 75 odd watts spat out more bass and crisp detail than the Integra 80.3 and Elektra and or Rotel amp!!!  I don't like Hip Hop much but Snoop Dogs California Roll had better bass than when I was using the sub, in fact I walked out side and I could hear that thump,thump when the sub is going.

Then switched to AVR to test in out in HT Bypass mode with some classic Dire Straight Alchemy and seriously it's as good as the 80.3 and other power amps.

Now just waiting on a power supply for the Aeries from Clay and really my only next major upgrade would be a Chord2qute DAC.

The only negatives so far are the hassles of switching amp back to AV Direct for AV duties and that the creek doesn't have a 12V trigger. A universal remote should fix that.

I would like to thank @:) al for sounding like a broken record about integrated amps are so much better than AVR's for music, it does slowly sink in.

 

Edited May 4, 20178 yr by powerav

@powerav haha yeh well i think i did jump off a while ago too but have always been intrigued by your journey because in some ways its similar to mine.

 

Hope you enjoy it for a while, funny you've already named the next upgrade, just always seems that we can't be 100% happy with everything (me included), we always think theres a great new sound with just one more purchase!

 

Enjoy!

14 minutes ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

funny you've already named the next upgrade

Yeah it's gonna be a while and probably a 2nd hand one but from reviews the Chord DAC is the only one that can make a real difference to the Aries as the internal DAC is pretty darn good. Just hope I don't get addicted to Integrated amps now. Very happy though that you don't need the ducks nuts in terms of AVR's just something that has pre outs.

not always an easy journey finding something your looking for, so glad to read this has hit the spot

 

its good honest gear the creek stuff too, so also good to see it getting appreciation that deserves !

The best thing is especially with the Creek and music is that are absolutely nothing to fiddle with, just connect play done.

The best thing is especially with the Creek and music is that are absolutely nothing to fiddle with, just connect play done.

Until you get a dac ;-)

Glad you are happy. The pro & pre & power amp option will usually provide improvement but it will be subtle, or different flavors or different micro details, perhaps not the whoa, macro differences you were hoping for


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9 minutes ago, blybo said:

Until you get a dac ;-)

The Aries Mini has 3 sound options on its dac, I may have to play with them.

I'd consider a Schiit Modi Multibit or a used Geisler Klein DAC instead of a Chord.

6 hours ago, Cardiiiii said:

Geisler Klein DAC

I have  had a Klein before and thought it was superb but time to try a different flavor but yeah if a 2nd hand popped up again I may have to grab it.

Well, well, well. I have that glorious 2 channel sound back in an AVR. Integra 60.6.

It probably shouldn't be no surprise that this surpasses and by a long way any brand new avr that I have tried in the 2000 - 3000 price category as these retail at over 4000 and is twice as heavy.

The best thing is no fancy room correction to interfere with sound, what you put in is what you get out simple. 2 sub setup not as good as sub ht eq but miles better than ARC.

Love it.

 

36 minutes ago, powerav said:

The best thing is no fancy room correction to interfere with sound...

Yep, now you can just enjoy your room interfering with the sound.

12 minutes ago, Satanica said:

Yep, now you can just enjoy your room interfering with the sound.

After ringing 4 HiFi stores yesterday and explaining my disdain for fancy room correction in AVR's they all agreed with me and said they only use it for initial easy set up and then turn them off.