Integrated Amplifier for Passive monitors, options!

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ambi

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I've pondered the Hi Fi route with the likes of a Rotel RA-02.
http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/ra02.htm

And the only, well i guess you'd call it pro audio, route i've looked at is something like the Hafler TA1600.
AAH i just checked Hafler's website, www.8thstreetmusic.com is LIEING IN THEIR ADD! They say it's 75 watts per channel at 8ohms.
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.aspProductCode=2231&Category=Monitoring

The Hafler website states that it is 60 watts per channel at 8 ohms.
http://www.hafler.com/home/


Well jeesus, anyways. What would you recomend? I've heard the debates about underpowered amps and how they can clip and blow up your monitors, but it seems like you have to pay around 800 US for an amp that will provide ample power for the average studio monitor/speaker.

I'm looking at the Yorkville passives, YSMi's. Their website doesn't work now, i think they are putting up a new one, so i don't the their exact wattage.

What size amp would be best? What are some brands/models of Integrated amplifiers i can check out?
 
Yo Ambi of BC:

Yamaha AX-592 integrated amp -- a good one.

I don't think a lot of folks use integrated amps for their studio but I do.

Why?

Well, I connect two tape decks to the amp, two sets of speakers, one Monitor the other commercial hi-fi, a turntable for 78s, 45s, or LP's, and it has a patch for radio, and CD.

One nice feature is there is a "straight" through button to eliminate any color from the amp when mixing.

My monitors are Yorkville passives and I've had no problem with the amp -- plenty of power for me.

I can record from either tape deck or input from my mixer to either or both tape decks and you could use a DAT if you wanted.

All this is controlled by a few switches and buttons. Works for me.

Hope this helps.

Green Hornet :D :cool: :D
 
what is the difference between an integrated amp and a regular power amp? or is there any difference?...(I'm not versed on poweramps other than PA and guitar poweramps)

thanks..
 
Integrated is hardly ever a good word when it comes to audio or computers. Reminds me of packard bell...
I assume you're talking about a "reciever" when you say integrated amp. I would stick to just using an amp.
 
Integrated i mean like the Rotel up above. It has volume controls and other controls, instead of just being an amplifier. I need volume control one of the only reasons i'm going amp instead of Active monitors. And also to be able to do all of the stuff The Green Hornet was talking about.

Would you recomend any regualr amps Subtractor? How would i control the volume, assuming i won't be using a mixing board and don't want to use the digital faders in the windows control tool.
 
Yo CDT of the SHAG:

An integrated amp has all the RCA connections that I mentioned in my first reply.

A regular amp, like a Haffler, is used for powering passive speakers -- it has No inputs for CD or phono or tape decks.

I use a SIAB Yam 2816 and I just run the stereo outs right into my integraged amp and can do the mixing while listening through the monitors.

If I used power monitors, I could still run a stereo out from the 2816 directly to the speakers.

I like the integrated amp because it offers all these connections.

The Yam model integrated amp mentioned in my first post IS NOT AN AM/FM RECEIVER.

But, the amp has a patch for a receiver if someone wants to record radio music, etc.


Green Hornet :D :p :cool:
 
Doesn't that hafler have gain or volume control on the front? I have a mackie 1400i that is a really nice amp, and it has volume for both channels right on the front but that might be a bit of overkill for monitoring. Tex uses a hafler, and I'm pretty sure he's fairly happy with it. Lemme go look around and I'll report back.
 
Actually... If you can afford it, that rotel looks pretty well suited for what you need. And there few unsatisfied rotel owners. Most people don't even know the name rotel, but for those that do know it's nice shit!
 
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Yo Subterranean Man:

Just punched up "Rotel" on the net. As I thought, they are into high fidelity gear, surround sound, amps and pre amps.

Of course the amp I use by Yam is also in that area but is a great piece of gear geared for my particular set up.

Looks from the other sites I piped up that "Rotel" is a European product and is highly regarded by some hi-fi buffs.

Green Hornet
 
I think rotel is actually japanese...
cinemagrandsig.jpg

avm2front-lg.JPG

These are my sonic weapons of choice.:)

Although I don't use them anymore with my progear. But dat shit sounds gooood!
 
I would look for a stereo line preamp and use it with a good power amp. That's effectively what I'm doing now. I have an old integrated NAD amp that allows you to bypass its internal power amp and run the signal out to an external amp, in my case a Hafler TA1600. Switching sources and volume control are all good under this setup.

I would definately recommend a good power amp...even the cheap TA1600 made a suprising difference...especially in the stereo image, it's amazing!

You're right about underpowering an amp...I used to just use the NAD which was rated pretty low even at 4ohms. At the end it started to make the woofers in my Events make "farting" noises...it was distracting and made monitoring very difficult. Upgrading the the TA1600 (which is still underpowered) helped the problem a lot, but if I really crank up some sharp, deep bass, I still get the fart, so it's permanent :(

BTW, with the TA1600 into the Event 20/20 (which recommends at least 100W into 4) I can do about 105db of noise before clipping (according to my radio shack meter). That's not mega ultra loud, but considering that optimal monitoring while mixing is down around 80db, I find it adequate.

Slackmaster 2000
 
I imagine the pre in that ra02 is pretty good. So he would basically be doing the same thing, at least aquiring a good pre till he can get a larger amp. Assuming the rotel has pre outs. Which it should.
 
I believe it does have pre outs.
But what is the purpose of buying two amps, only to bypass the first one and just use the volume knob?

Do you gain anything doing this? Instead of say, spending 250 on one to use as a preamp and volume control. and then say 300 for one to use as an amp, shouldn't i just get a 550 dollar integrated amp that will do it all? One piece of good gear instead of two mediocre pieces?

I'm not really familiar with amps, and their setups and workings, etc.. That just logically seems to be a good route to take, but correct me i really don't know!

I am a little concerned with the fact that the Rotel is only 40watts per channel at 8ohms, but i hear that Rotel under rates their equipment quite a bit to be on the safe side, and also that Hi Fi gear is usually significantly more powerful than lower end gear. So the 40 watts on an Amp like the Rotel would be the same as 60 or more on a cheaper amp. So maybe it would be ok. I'm not planning on going much higher than the recomended monitoring levels of 80-85 dba. It would be nice to be able to pound out some tunes every once and a while, and eventually invest in a nice pair of Hi Fi speakers to plug into the amp as well just for listening and what not.
 
Well, an integrated amp is going to be a home stereo amp, which is going to be designed to sound pleasing to the ear. That is not the purpose of a reference amplifier. Granted any line preamp will somewhat change the sound, as would a mixer, but you can only do so much.

Choose whichever route you will, the only thing that I can guarantee is that the TA1600 is a fantastic amplifier for the price. Amazing detail and stereo field. The P1500 is even better if you can find one used cheap.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Slackmaster2K said:
Well, an integrated amp is going to be a home stereo amp, which is going to be designed to sound pleasing to the ear. That is not the purpose of a reference amplifier
Click to expand...
Sorry Ambi, I wasnt going to get involved in this thread but this statement is a totally false generalisation!

I believe the Rotel RA-02 is a more accurate amplifier than the Hafler.

The Rotel's frequency response specifications are quoted at <0.03% THD (total harmonic distortion) while the Hafler's specs are at 0.1% distortion ie the rotel specs are quoted at more than 3 time LESS distortion than the Hafler. This is not proof the Rotel is more accurate but a good indication it is either built to a higher accuracy standard or Hafler is fudging its specs to make its amps appear more 'powerful'.

While I have not heard the Hafler, I have listened to Alesis 'studio' amps and they were far more harsh and inaccurate sounding than any Rotel I have heard.

There are some inaccurate ('good sounding') hifi amplifiers (usually single ended tube amplifier designs) but there are also many accurate amplifiers that are built to a higher accuracy standard than the budget 'studio' amps we are talking about in this thread. You want to see an truly accurate amplifier, look at a Halcro www.halcro.com
Look at its distortion figures. Guess what, its a 'HiFi' amp.

Studio amps trade off sound quality (ie accuracy) for ruggedness and reliability (at a given price point). If those qualities are more important to you (eg you are running a full time studio or using them in a live installation) then get the studio amp. My opinion is if you want better sound quality for your buck, in a home recording situation, get the Rotel.

My main point is not to bandy around false stereotypes but deal with facts and specific amplifiers. If Slackmaster had said his hafler sounded more accurate than his ancient NAD 3020, I would have no issue with that opinion and probably agree with him.

The best thing for a potential buyer would be to get both home and test them side by side. Play a high quality recording featuring an acoustic instrument you are very familiar with live eg acoustic guitar, piano, violin or orchestra. Then you can decide which is more accurate with your own ears.
 
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Hey feel free to join in! The more opinions the better!

I like to exlore all my options. I hate it when you buy something and figure out a few weeks later that you could have gotten something much better quite easily. And everyone acts like it was common knowledge and you are a complete idiot for not knowing it. So i just like to be careful.
 
Yo Ambi/Slackman:

The Yamaha amp I mentioned earlier has a "pure through" feature which eliminates any coloration that might come from the amp. So, when I'm mixing, what I hear is what is on the recorder.

And, if you have tape decks to mess with, it's a great convenience to be able to use either, both or either way with the push of a button or switch.

Rotel is more pointed toward hi-fi listening.

Green Hornet :D :p :D
 
The Rotel also has a direct switch that bypasses the tone controls for a shorter, more accurate signal path (that is what the pure through feature is doing). It every bit as accurate as a yamaha. Both are decent amps. I woud suggest listening for comparison if anyone is buying.
 
So you don't think it would be worth getting a slightly more powerful amp, so that i could drive the speakers more efficiently, and also drive some loud speakers in the future?

Even maybe the next step up in the Rotel line...
 
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