Which Power Amp or Integrated to pair with Audiolab M-Dac

[admin_exported]

Hi all this is my first post here, I currently have a system consisting of :Sonos ZP120 / ZP90 B&W M1'sB&W ASW608 Sonos ZP120 not driving speakers easily so have tried ZP90 plus seperate integrated amp this worked well but felt I needed more.Listened to Sonos and B&W speakers via Rotel RA12 (Amp with built in Dac) massive improvement in sound detail and space. Then tried the Audiolab M-Dac with an Audiolab power amp and the improvement over Rotel was equally amazing. Still felt more was available so swapped M1's for CM1's sound much fuller and deeper midtones as one would expect. I have M1's as wall mounted either side of desk in office, I can put shelves in and use CM1's although they are best in free air I expect at volumes i will use not likely to be an issue. I cant afford to replace dac, amp and speakers in one go so was going to go for DAC, and Amp first and put speakers on Xmas list. Rotel one box improvement but M-Dac blew me away. When I downloaded M-Dac instructions ( no I haven't bought it yet) I realised it can be used as a DAC or preamp. So should I go for a stand alone power amp or a decent Integrated Amp ? Plenty of integrtaed amps competting for 1st place but not many power amps out there ? Looking probably for Second Hand Power Amp or Integrated Also many integrated can be hidden in cupboard and trigger from remote standby haven't seen many power amps with this functionality ? Thoughts anyone ?

 

[Anonymous]

Went for a Musical Fidelity X-AS100 Dual Mono Power Amp from fleabay

 

[Anonymous]

Went for a Musical Fidelity X-AS100 Dual Mono Power Amp from fleabay

 

[gregvet]

Let us know how you find it. Have you got the mDac yet?

 

[Anonymous]

M-Dac sat on desk warmng up nicely only used headphones so far but already starting to enjoy..... (Heaphone amp pretty darn good)

 

[Anonymous]

M-Dac sat on desk warmng up nicely only used headphones so far but already starting to enjoy..... (Heaphone amp pretty darn good)

 

[gregvet]

Cool. Will be interesting to hear how it gels with the musical fidelity