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Please tutor me on some integrated amp basics.

I’ve recently purchased Magico A3 speakers and a VPI Classic 2 SE turntable with an Ortofon Black 2M moving magnet cartridge. I have a Marantz SA 8005 CD/SACD player to play the few (maybe a hundred or so) CD’s in my possession.
I’ve mostly vinyl albums and no streaming sources. I’m next going to upgrade my old amp/preamp purchased back in the late 70’s with a new, probably integrated, one and am starting to do some research.

Here’s where I need some tutoring. A lot has changed since the seventies with the advent of digital technology. As well as I need to learn more about amplification components in the high end of audio technology. I keep running across terms I don’t understand. I’ll give you a list and if someone would be kind enough to explain these basics I’d be obliged.

For instance I was reading about the Hegel H360 integrated amp that Magico’s Alon Wolf recommended for their A3’s. The review mentioned they were a Class A/B amp, another person commented Class A’s were better, and a third person said he didn’t care for Class D amps. What do these classes signify? 

A second question is about DACs. I generally understand their purpose of the DAC, converting a digital to an analog signal. However my only digital device, the Marantz SA 8005 already has a DAC, ostensibly of good quality. The turntable ’s Ortofon cartridge would not need to play through a DAC, I presume. Would I bypass the CD’s players DAC if I purchase the higher quality Hegel H360 integrated amp?. Or could I find an equivalent integrated amp without an integral DAC?

On the other side of the equation I understand the turntable’s cartridge cannot play through the Hegel without first going through a phono stage. My old Phase Linear 4000 preamp you just plugged the turntables RCA cables into the back of the preamp and you were done. What’s that about? Do they make equivalent integrated amps to the Hegel H360 with integrated phono stages already in place, so I can just plug my turntable in as I’ve been able to do before. The amps don’t seem to be well integrated at all if you have to add a pricey phono stage to make them work, and end up having an extra DAC. That’s just me whining.

Third question is what are monoblocks, how are they used, and what are their advantages to a system? They were used at one of my speaker auditions.

I figured out the answer to what amplifier damping was myself, so I’m sparing you that one, but what does the term impedance mean? I keep coming across that.

Thank goodness I don’t have to figure out the cabling nightmare yet. Thanks for any help.

Mike
skyscraper
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
Monoblocks are about as far from an integrated as you can get. They're individual amplifiers for each channel. One amp per speaker. The advantage is the least possible interaction between the channels. It's also the most expensive, space consuming option. A good compromise is a dual-mono amp which is basically two monoblocks in the same box. I'm not sure if anybody builds integrated amps like that. 
I'm a class A man myself. Generally class A amps sound and perform better. I'm not a fan of class D. Class A and AB simply add gain to an analog signal. A class D amps reduces an analog signal to high frequency garbage, amplifies the garbage, and then tries to reassemble music from the garbage with very complicated filters. The benefit is the amps are small and very efficient. On the other hand, a 100 watts class A amp makes a good space heater turning at least 2/3rd of it's power draw into pure heat. 

skyscraper OP
219 posts
 
Thanks inna for explaining what monoblocks are. $5000 to $6000 max will really be my upper limit, unfortunately ruling out the Gryphon Diablos. And yes I'm only looking to purchase new equipment.

I'm not really looking for integrated amp recommendations at this point, only to have a better understanding of what's involved with these amps when I read their reviews. It should get clear eventually if I read enough.

I really don't want a lot of unnecessary technology I'll never use. A simple integrated amp in my price range, that I could plug my turntable and CD player directly into, and that would mesh well with my Magico A3's would be perfect. 

Mike  



georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
skyscraper OP
I’m not really looking for integrated amp recommendations at this point
Well if that’s the case and not Halo Hint 6 intergrated, then have a listen to the new John Curl designed Halo JC 5 poweramp, also has everything you need for those current hungry Magico’s, and you know it’s going to be great value coming from Parasound.
http://www.parasound.com/jc5.php

Cheers George
2psyop's avatar
2psyop
779 posts
 
George mentioned a really good amp already, Parasound Hint, John Curl design. Another choice is the Modwright KWI, which is a beast, has tremendous design and is beautiful IMHO. A third choice, I don’t know if it is still being made, but I would not hesitate buying used is the Musical Fidelity M6 500i. A dual mono integrated that I have heard and has the power for demanding speakers. Mono amps are preferrable but one needs the space and that choice is uber expensive. Plus the WAF (wife acceptance factor) is not very good.
djones51
617 posts
 
You say you just plugged your TT into your old Phase 4000 and it worked then that old amp had a phono stage so if you want the same ease of use with your new one it would need a phono stage. The stats on the A3 show a min 50w and max 300w with 88db sensitivity at 4ohms. You say you want simplicity just something to drive the speakers with ease have a phono input and cd input and are not particluarly concerned about a dac and aren't looking for specific amp recommendations. Taking that I would look for an integrated amp with a phono stage, at least 200w into 4ohms or higher they will all have  line level inputs for cd and one with a dac for future use. As mentioned above integrateds with dual mono design would be a good thing as well. There are a lot of choices out there a lot will have more functionality than you want but that could come in handy someday. Good luck. 
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