Question Which integrated

[ossieb]

System: Bluesound Node 2i - Denafrips Ares II 12th- Exposure 3010S2 -PMC Twenty5 22i


Fancy a integrated upgrade, budget 2-3K, room size 6x4m. Any recommendations, maybe Naim- which one, Hegel???

 

[Integralista]

Is a size of your room 12x8m = 96 m² the right info? PMC Twenty 5 22i are tiny little speakers for such a huge room. This will be my start of the upgrade for so big room.

 

[ossieb]

Quite right, dunno what I was drinking! Room size corrected

 

[Al ears]

Just get what you need. No point in an integrated that includes a DAC if you already have one or two....
Having said that most noticeable improvement will probably be a speaker upgrade.

 

[plastic penguin]

System: Bluesound Node 2i - Denafrips Ares II 12th- Exposure 3010S2 -PMC Twenty5 22i


Fancy a integrated upgrade, budget 2-3K, room size 6x4m. Any recommendations, maybe Naim- which one, Hegel???

If you like Exposure, demo the new 3510. Or you could look at Roksan Blak. Too many good choices in your price range. The trick is to demo as many amps as your nerves can stand 😉

 

[Al ears]

If you like Exposure, demo the new 3510. Or you could look at Roksan Blak. Too many good choices in your price range. The trick is to demo as many amps as your nerves can stand 😉

Or Leema?
Something without an inbuilt DAC or phono stage if you don't need them.

 

[daytona600]

Rose RA280

HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier

More sober than the 'steampunk' styled RA180, and more powerful too, the new RA280 takes HiFi Rose's GaN FET-based Class D architecture into the audiophile zone HiFi Rose delighted, and in some cases flabbergasted, hi-fi enthusiasts with its RA180 [HFN Jul '22], an amplifier that looked like it...

www.hifinews.com

 

[Al ears]

Question is 2-3k what? Baht?
If pounds... 🙂

Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated Amplifier

Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated Amplifier offers immense power and stability that can drive any loudspeaker and deliver high quality sound. Fully Equipped Amplifier The M6si Amp is essentially a pre amp with 2 monobloc power amps housed within the same unit. It achieves low distortion and noise...

www.audioaffair.co.uk

 

[gasolin]

What is wrong with your Exposure 3010S2 ?

 

[nopiano]

A left field idea would be to look at the Active conversion that PMC now offer. It’s not cheap, but you only mention one source, so there’s no need for switching.

https://pmc-speakers.com/home-audio/active-twenty5i/twenty522i/

 

[plastic penguin]

Or Leema?
Something without an inbuilt DAC or phono stage if you don't need them.

Yeah. I didn't mention Leema as it opens me to ridicule.... the Tucana would be a good match with the OPs PMCs.

 

[Al ears]

Yeah. I didn't mention Leema as it opens me to ridicule.... the Tucana would be a good match with the OPs PMCs.

Oh, I don't know why. It's a very good suggestion, which is why I did 🙂

 

[matthewpianist]

You might struggle to 'improve' on your Exposure with that budget, but you can certainly make a change to a different sound if you wish. You have an excellent amplifier, so I counsel thorough auditioning of any possible replacements.

 

[Al ears]

You might struggle to 'improve' on your Exposure with that budget, but you can certainly make a change to a different sound if you wish. You have an excellent amplifier, so I counsel thorough auditioning of any possible replacements.

Agreed. This is why I suggested that a change of speaker might be a better option.

 

[Jasonovich]

System: Bluesound Node 2i - Denafrips Ares II 12th- Exposure 3010S2 -PMC Twenty5 22i


Fancy a integrated upgrade, budget 2-3K, room size 6x4m. Any recommendations, maybe Naim- which one, Hegel???

NAIM potentially is marmite, Hegel is a excellent choice, consider also the Caspian 4G Integrated Amplifier. 2-3K is a lot of bread, try to get an audition or if you know a dealership that has a generous returns policy.

https://petertyson.co.uk/roksan-caspian-4g-integrated-amplifier-black​

 

[Integralista]

If you like Exposure, demo the new 3510. Or you could look at Roksan Blak. Too many good choices in your price range. The trick is to demo as many amps as your nerves can stand 😉

Hi,

I will also vote for Exposure 3510 integrated, if you like their housesound. Or Rega Aethos, simple analogue but extraordinary capable amplifier. Roksan Blak will be I think also very good option. Especialy when there is new generation of Roksan Caspian just arriving with better sound, build, ergonomy, design...and higher price🥲. But Blak could be later available with some nice price discount. Than it is a champion of this Premiere League.😆

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi,

I will also vote for Exposure 3510 integrated, if you like their housesound. Or Rega Aethos, simple analogue but extraordinary capable amplifier. Roksan Blak will be I think also very good option. Especialy when there is new generation of Roksan Caspian just arriving with better sound, build, ergonomy, design...and higher price🥲. But Blak could be later available with some nice price discount. Than it is a champion of this Premiere League.😆

Hellooo

I quite like Roksans. Certainly worth demoing whatever model takes the OPs fancy aesthetically. I would avoid Rega given their quality control issues, but sound wise they could fit the bill.

I still favour Leema Tucana MK2 (not anniversary edition). It's a fantastic sounding amp, I still regret selling mine.

 

[plastic penguin]

Agreed. This is why I suggested that a change of speaker might be a better option.

Concur. Speakers can be bettered than his current PMCs. As with amps, there's a shed load of worthy alternatives.

My money would be either on Harbeth P3 or Amphion Argon 1. Loved both these when I home demoed. It's about the OP getting the right balance, hi-fi yin and yang.

 

[Al ears]

Concur. Speakers can be bettered than his current PMCs. As with amps, there's a shed load of worthy alternatives.

My money would be either on Harbeth P3 or Amphion Argon 1. Loved both these when I home demoed. It's about the OP getting the right balance, hi-fi yin and yang.

Yep, when you have an amplifier of a certain quality some people would be hard pressed to notice any audible difference if replaced by a slightly dearer amp. Biggest improvement will come through the speakers.

 

[plastic penguin]

Yep, when you have an amplifier of a certain quality some people would be hard pressed to notice any audible difference if replaced by a slightly dearer amp. Biggest improvement will come through the speakers.

When I've heard the PMC Twenty they seem to be a 'one-trick pony': Very highly detailed but lack bottom end definition. As with my Grado SR60i, great for a short blast, but as long-term keepers? Nah, not my bag. This is why I mentioned 'yin and yang' between amp & speakers.

This is why I'm so happy with my combo: Beautifully detailed without putting your teeth on edge; great midrange and bottom end definition. No doubt there are better individual components than my kit, but as far as synergy goes....

 

[Witterings]

If you deide amp rather than speakers Atoll IN 300 definitely worth consideration.

 

[Al ears]

If you deide amp rather than speakers Atoll IN 300 definitely worth consideration.

Doesn't that have a DAC? Don't think he needs yet another one as he already has two in his set-up

 

[Clarkey_71]

Moon? 🤷‍♂️

https://www.avforums.com/reviews/moon-250i-v2-integrated-amplifier-review.21277/

 

[Witterings]

Doesn't that have a DAC? Don't think he needs yet another one as he already has two in his set-up

Does it make it a bad amp just because it's got a DAC ... in otherwords if he's comparing 2, one that has a DAC and one that doesn't, the one with a DAC sounds better ... is he not allowed to chosoe that one just because it happens to have a DAC?

 

[Al ears]

Does it make it a bad amp just because it's got a DAC ... in otherwords if he's comparing 2, one that has a DAC and one that doesn't, the one with a DAC sounds better ... is he not allowed to chosoe that one just because it happens to have a DAC?

Of course, it just doesn't seem economically sensible to me.
That said the cost of an internal DAC module these days is probably not excessive.
The cost will, however, be factored into the price of the amp somewhere and there are plenty of excellent amps out there without DACs.