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Integrated amp for Totem Sttaff

Hello all. I am new to the site but have been ravenously reading reviews and posts the last few weeks. I am in the proccess of replacing my 20 year old Boston A 400's with the Sttafs....Now my dilemma.I am currently running a Denon 2106 and have found a helpful dealer selling...Naim, Creek, Sim, Cambridge, Arcam. I am seriously considering jumping in the deep end of the audio pool and get a new power source as well to match....My problem..The dealer is a 3 hr drive away so auditioning the Totems and the matching amps is possible, im hoping your experince may help me have a better starting point if im to drive that far....I know other brands are out there, but I dont have access to viewing them, let alone buying them. Im hoping $ 1,500 cdn will put me in a good spot to get the most from the Totems...Thanks in advance.
mxwizard
bargie
8 posts
 
I recently heard the Sttafs through a Cayin SP10A integrated tube amp ($2000) and they blew me away. Enough so, that I purchased a used pair of Staffs on Audiogon. The source was a Cayin SPCD300 CD player and the cables were transparent Music Wave and Music links. I'm currently playing the Sttafs through my McIntosh 4300v receiver with an Arcam CD73t using Signal Ultra speaker cables and Analog two interconnects. Although I happy with the sound, they definitely lack the warm, extended bass I originally heard through the Cayin. I usually listen to my MAC through a pair of JBL L100's and primarily listen to Rock & Roll and smooth Jazz. I intend to keep the MAC/JBL system for R&R duty and the new integrated will be in our Living Room for Light Rock, Smooth Jazz and Classical. I'm open to the Cayin, but would like to hear feedback from anyone who has heard the Sttafs through the Naim 5i, Simaudio Moon i-1, Creek 5350 or Primare i21. We only have a Naim and Creek dealer where I live so before I begin traveling great distances to audition the other amps I'd like to hear some feedback. Thanks.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
Bargie, I think you should trust your reaction to the Cayin/Totem STtaff signal chain and complete it with a Cayin integrated just like the one you heard. We can spend a lot of time mixing and matching trying to come up with a synergistic combination. When you hear one that rings your bell better than what you have at home, buy it if you can afford it. You were impressed with the Totems, but they only got you part of the way there. Get the amp.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
knownothing
1,298 posts
 
Agree with Johnnyb53.
bonger
47 posts
 
Bargie,

I had Staff/Cayin combo before and was happy with combo. Went back to Arro/Cayin combo only because I like imaging/tonality of Arro's more.

Cayin amp is quite good, even my friend admitted his Arro/SS amp w/3x more "watts" didn't sound as initimate, organic, "you are there" as my setup.

Trust your ears.
dmg
12 posts
 
I have recently bought Sttaf's on the Gon and am using the Cambridge 840a to drive them. When I upgrade I will consider both the Krell 400 and MF A5.For now I have, what for me, is a very full and pleasing sound.
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