2. amps-preamps
  3. 146470-16123

Amp - preamp or integrated

This topic has appeared in the past but I like to hear audiophile suggestions specially if they honest. I currently have the Rogue Chronus Magnum II. With Vandersteen 2 sig. Soon I will sell the house and will have some extra $ for upgrades. I have 4 questions:

Is the amp/ pre amp a better way to go than integrated? Two choices Rogue and Parasound.
Is the mono blocks / preamp an even better way to go?
If I decide to go with mono blocks, due budget considerations , I will be looking at used or an small company/audio engineer where I can keep the cost under 3000. If I go with a small company product, how do I know it is a good quality prod. Vs big companies like Rogue etc?

All your comments to all or any of my questions is highly appreciated. Thanks
128x128lobinero

Showing 2 responses by plga

plga
44 posts
 
Im sorry, the Audio-gd Master 1 will cost you about 1.5k if you buy it from Audio-gd website directly. 
M1 + Nord = about 4k, a HiFi steal
plga
44 posts
 
Preamp Audio-gd Master 1. About 2k shippment included. Someone compared it with some much more expensive Krell preamp saying the M1 blew it out of the water. Some others believe it can easily compete with preamps costing 3 to 4 times its price. Look for it on Internet. 

Class D Power Amp Nord Stereo SE (dual mono) with Rev D boards. About 2.5k shippment included. Someones compared it with amps costing 50k or more. Look for it on Internet. 

Hulgich Audio won the best sounding stand award in the Melbourne Hifi Show in 2017 and second place in 2018, with Nord amps and an Audio-gd DAC, competing against systems costing up to 500k. And the Nord amp used had Rev C boards, not the Rev D ones. Ive had both and Rev D is much better.

Do your research. You can have a 4.5k preamp-amp combination that can easily compete with multi thousands systems. You wont regret it. 
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