2. amps-preamps
  3. 134153-1398

Where do I start-amp or speakers ?

While in the midst of downsizing I sold all my gear: Krell monos, Thiel CS6’s, Thiel 2.4’s, EAD Powermaster 2000, Thiel MCS1, etc.
I am now left with a headphone system based on the entry level Schitt headphone amp, Freya preamp,& a very nice Vinyl NIrvana Thorens 125 turntable,
So how’s that working out for you, you ask? Not so well. I need speakers & amp!
 I went from 2900 sq ft. To 1600 sq ft; a 25x24 room to an 18 x 16 room (high 20-24 ft cathedral ceiling, though, at least.)
I’m now on the way to build a new system , one component at a time; Ceiling is 4K per unit. Every time I see a nice amp, then I see a fine pair of speakers. Back and forth. Do I start with an amp or with speakers? Input, input........
Ag insider logo xs@2xmichaeljbrown
almarg's avatar
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almarg
8,673 posts
 
Ralph makes an excellent point, as usual.

FWIW, though, my own preference over the years has been to start with speakers but to choose speakers which provide versatility with respect to amplifier selection. Meaning that they have medium to high efficiency, benign impedance characteristics, and the ability to handle (but not require) relatively large amounts of power.

Also, JohnnyR makes a good point about the relatively low 22K input impedance of the Cary SA200.2. While I don’t know if that would be a problem for the Freya preamp, it could certainly be a constraint on preamp upgrades that may be considered in the future, especially in the case of many tube-based preamps.

In addition, I was surprised to see the following statement in the manual for that amp, which appears in the manual in bold-faced type:
CAUTION!
Do not under any circumstances connect the amplifier to a subwoofer through its high level (speaker) inputs. There is a potential of damaging the amplifier using this type of connection due to differences in grounding schemes used by some subwoofer manufacturers.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see such a statement in the manual for an amp that is either fully balanced or bridged, but I believe the SA200.2 is neither of those. Which makes me suspicious that its internal grounding scheme might be unusual in some way. Perhaps creating a susceptibility to hum in some or many applications, and I note that Johnny cautioned about the possibility of hum in his post.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al


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almarg
8,673 posts
 
P.S. to my comments regarding the SA-200.2:

While the manual makes no mention of it being either fully balanced or bridged, even though the manual includes a fairly lengthy description of its design characteristics and features, I see the following statement in the description provided at its webpage:
Sharing our design goals of fully differential-balanced construction to eliminate many causes of noise, allowing more details of your music and movies to emerge, we have also “voiced” the amplifier to sound tube-like, with a sweet high end and a lush and involving midrange.  
So the reference to "fully differential-balanced construction" may account for the "Caution" statement I quoted in my previous post.  Although I also see that the amp can be readily modified into an SA-500.1, which is a much more powerful monoblock in which the channels are either bridged or paralleled (it's not quite clear which).  Together with the manual providing no indication of the amp being differentially balanced that leaves me uncertain as to the accuracy of the reference to "fully differential-balanced construction."

In any event, given also the low input impedance of the SA-200.2 it may be prudent to look elsewhere for an amp.

Regards,
-- Al
 
bluesy41
211 posts
 
IMHO - Begin with room size, listening levels, music preference and then decide on speakers. This will inform you on amplification options. I don’t agree with ever starting off with amp unless you know the above. You can back yourself into a corner really quick going the amp route first without doing the preliminary homework. As well as limit your speaker options. 
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grannyring
4,637 posts
 
There are far more differences between speakers than amplifiers in terms of the impact they have on the total system’s sound. You must start with the speakers and then match the speakers up with a properly chosen amplifier. Listen to as many speakers as possible to find out the ones you really love. Do you like the sound of single driver speakers? Horn speakers?Electrostatic speakers? Two way speakers? Four way speakers with multiple drivers? You get the point.   Your findings will definitely point you to a certain group of amplifiers very quickly.  And actually most speakers are quite happy with the whole slew of different amps.   You can work on the amp next.  
unsound
6,115 posts
 

Objectively and (I'd gamble the consensus would agree) subjectively speakers, vary in more ways and by greater degrees than any other component. Perhaps more so than all other components combined.  Speakers vary more with different listening positions than any other component, Perhaps more so than all other components combined. Speakers vary with rooms more so than any other component. Perhaps more so than all other than all other components combined, save perhaps for vinyl rigs. Speakers are more colored than any other component, one best make sure that those colorizations line up in such a manner that precludes highlighting specific listeners particular irritants, coincides within the specific listener's room, at the  specific listener's listening positions.

 In order: budget, room, listening positions, speakers, amps, etc..



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