Integrated Amp discussion...

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I must admit that until I saw you mentioning stereo rcvr's in another post, I completely forgot about that bunch. They DO cover a lot of what I'd like to see in my amp. I don't need all those streaming services compatibility, but who knows. Also I really don’t like the radio ga ga.

I would never go for a separate preamp unless it was for good looks.

Since you’ve asked what would come close to perfect, I’ll say that stereo rcvr’s lack the looks. If I would ever found one with the looks and an USB B input (most of those AVR’s have USB A which is for memory sticks and such, which I hate, and they always put it on the front panel which I also hate - when you connect your PC through an USB B the amp installs an audio players software on your pc so when you play a song it sends it digital to the amp’s DAC – this idea I like) I would go for it. I wouldn’t mind the radio if I could have a guarantee that the radio signal won’t be picked up anywhere in the chain, not even in the slightest, but I'd rather drop it..

What I’d like to find is an uncompromised amp (in every sense, down to the cooling and ventilating),it would be integrated and it would have all the features I listed plus the looks. Imagine a McIntosh integrated MA5300:

Plus sub-out, plus bass management, and one of the more successful room corrections, plus an MM setting for the TT, it has the MC, but I’d like both if ever needed. And I want it for 2k (I know).

The Parasound Halo HINT-6 Integrated Amp:

http://www.parasound.com/hint6.php

1. DAC
2. USB 2.0 (don't know if it's B or A type)
3. Phono
4. Dual Sub Output (XLR and RCA outputs)
5. 240W x 2Ch into 4 ohms
6. Headphone
7. Five Inputs
8. XLR Balanced Inputs and Outputs
9. $3,000 MSRP, but you might be able to find it for $2K street price

 

[GrimSurfer]

The Parasound Halo HINT-6 Integrated Amp:

http://www.parasound.com/hint6.php

1. DAC
2. USB 2.0 (don't know if it's B or A type)
3. Phono
4. Dual Sub Output (XLR and RCA outputs)
5. 240W x 2Ch into 4 ohms
6. Headphone
7. Five Inputs
8. XLR Balanced Inputs and Outputs
9. $3,000 MSRP, but you might be able to find it for $2K street price

Now remove the DAC, which will nullify the requirement for a USB port and a switch or two The price should drop with no impact on sound quality.

By how much would the price drop? THAT would be telling -- $200 (the manufacturer's cost of parts, etc. if it's an exceptional DAC. More likely a lot less.

Manufacturers often stuff a lot of relatively inexpensive features into receivers, amps and integrateds to "justify" a certain price point.

Take those features away and you start to see the true value of them... and it's usually not much. And keep in mind that Parasound is a very experienced and well respected audio company. Many out there are not.

There's another problem with such features, but that's for another time...

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

I must admit that until I saw you mentioning stereo rcvr's in another post, I completely forgot about that bunch. They DO cover a lot of what I'd like to see in my amp. I don't need all those streaming services compatibility, but who knows. Also I really don’t like the radio ga ga.

I would never go for a separate preamp unless it was for good looks.

Since you’ve asked what would come close to perfect, I’ll say that stereo rcvr’s lack the looks. If I would ever found one with the looks and an USB B input (most of those AVR’s have USB A which is for memory sticks and such, which I hate, and they always put it on the front panel which I also hate - when you connect your PC through an USB B the amp installs an audio players software on your pc so when you play a song it sends it digital to the amp’s DAC – this idea I like) I would go for it. I wouldn’t mind the radio if I could have a guarantee that the radio signal won’t be picked up anywhere in the chain, not even in the slightest, but I'd rather drop it..

What I’d like to find is an uncompromised amp (in every sense, down to the cooling and ventilating),it would be integrated and it would have all the features I listed plus the looks. Imagine a McIntosh integrated MA5300:

View attachment 28422

Plus sub-out, plus bass management, and one of the more successful room corrections, plus an MM setting for the TT, it has the MC, but I’d like both if ever needed. And I want it for 2k (I know).

I would never ever change an amp like this (which is probably why I'm not interesting to the market). I’m not into immersion, multichannel and I’m not into HT.

killdozzer, how about the Rotel RA-1592?

Come to think of it, it looks too much like an AVR.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

killdozzer, how about the Rotel RA-1592?

View attachment 28424

Come to think of it, it looks too much like an AVR.

Yeah, I think this Rotel has all the features, but I don't know if the USB is B or A.

 

[<eargiant]

The RA1592 may look like an AVR... until you pop the hood and look inside.

I realize that is not important to some.

 

[John Parks]

Yeah, I think this Rotel has all the features, but I don't know if the USB is B or A.

It's USB A as far as I can tell and no bass management/room correction as spelled out by @killdozzer . Nice integrated though!

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

I believe the PC-USB port on the back is asynchronous.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

The RA1592 may look like an AVR... until you pop the hood and look inside.

I realize that is not important to some.

When you look inside, you see that both devices fully utilize electronic components.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It's USB A as far as I can tell and no bass management/room correction as spelled out by @killdozzer . Nice integrated though!

Yeah, you're right. The Rotel doesn't have sub output. Scratch that.

Back to the Parasound Halo, which seems to have everything, but don't know about the USB-B.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

When you look inside, you see that both devices fully utilize electronic components.

LOL.

Yes. They both truly have electronic components inside the chassis.

 

[<eargiant]

Like I said- I realize that is not important to some.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

^^ I would only worry if I looked inside and there was nothing in there. It was empty.

 

[<eargiant]

^^^ And there you have it, some of us have higher standards.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

^^^^ Those higher standards are reduced to nothing more than a placebo effect.

 

[<eargiant]

I didn't realize that the placebo effect could be so strong that it requires people to buy fans to prevent their AVRs from burning themselves up. Whether you personally can hear the reduced SQ of a component under duress or one with transistors running hotter than their designed optimal operating range is another matter, but after several hours bench equipment most definitely will.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

^^^ Oh dear, then turn down the volume.

 

[<eargiant]

... or do not compromise and choose the better designed equipment for your needs. Engineering matters.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

^^^ Overpriced audiophile equipment gets hot too.

Common sense matters.

 

[Zildjianmeister]

I bought a Parasound integrated and new speakers last year thinking I would be listening to mostly music and would be fine with movies in stereo. I found that I missed the 3.1 and the LFE and went back to using my old receiver with the integrated's theater bypass option. Now whether I would notice a big difference in music just using my receiver over the integrated I don't know. I'd like to try at some point when I get the courage to re-wire everything. Biggest difference being I'm using Revel F206 as my mains and the receiver is an over 20 yr old 80 wpc Yamaha. I can say the Parasound is built solid. Not sure if would make the speakers "sing" as some use that term.

 

[<eargiant]

^^^ Overpriced audiophile equipment gets hot too.

Common sense matters.

It doesn't have to include the dirty words "audiophile" and "overpriced". Usually, quality gear that runs hot was designed to do so for a reason. There's bias like what you are displaying here and there's bias pertaining to a transistors operating range.

Yes, common sense matters and it tells me that limited puny transistors on a tin foil heatsink driving mega watts is not going to end well...