I’m so glad you do these “budget” videos. If I had the budget I’d buy the expensive stuff but I don’t, so getting the opinion of someone who knows his high end on more affordable things is extremely valuable
Hey Mickey .. subscribed today and trust your expertise .. look forward to future videos. Here’s my recommendation for those looking for a $2,500 alternate option .. I own the Denon 1600ne integrated amp (high current, 70W into 8 ohms, 140W into 4, built only in Japan, weighs ~ 40lbs, ~ $2,200). When upgraded from my old Denon amp (100W in 4), bought in 1989, to this newer Denon 1600ne beast.. my Warfedale Denton 85 (4 ohm) bookshelves speakers INSTANTLY came alive, play clearer, louder, and more dynamical than ever before .. and now can also FEEL the music energy in the room. Wow, a totally unexpected huge positive step improvement. Also currently use its excellent sounding internal DAC (Burr Brown, PCM 1795), instead of my BlueSound Node’s DAC, bypassed it. Recommend to try the Denon 1600ne amp, or the newer released Denon 1700ne. If not to your liking, return it and try another. Crutchfield’s (online) has a 60 day return policy and a stellar customer support staff!
I'm happy to see more and more components in this price category are finally offering balanced XLR inputs. Most DACs these days come with balanced XLR outputs, and actually sound better while outputting a balanced signal. We can take advantage of using our components to their full potential. Win win! Thanks for your review OCD.
Hi Mikey Thanks for following thru on finding affordable equipment for those who can’t afford the high end equipment Would love to know if these could drive the LRS’s since they command a lot of power Take Care
Simon Says "Lets copy the Rowland Look". Can't blame him though as the Rowland face is still my favorite. What is the warranty? Transferable? Not made in China? Which other $2,500 INTs brands did you compare this to? Good Video. You will sell these!
Well not really as Rowlands face is NOT scalloped its a machining cut that casts shadows and looks 3D, but Simon is simply giving you a higher level than a simple flat front panel. (Most companies dont care at $2500) 3 year warranty transferrable, and NOT made in China and I dont compare $2500 Ints as it does not excite me.. I compare this to $35K amps and if it images and punches thats all I need for $2500, so I stick with a friend that I KNOW has integrity in design AND great tuning ability for his products.. No comparison needed.
I like the looks. Does it push some current? Sound demo please. OCDstyle, none of that Diana Barber crap. You know whats up, rip it homie. Some RHCP, maybe? 💪
You shouldn't do cheap amps. But something can be great value for money. And those you should do. This integrated looks very impressive. I am pretty sure these will sell. Even your big budget audiophile buyers have family, second or third systems, etc. And for music/gear lovers with more budget then I have, but who aren't rich this might be a wonderful piece to upgrade to or start a system around. Keep em coming. How much quality items can you find in this more affordable range? Can you make a system around this for between 5 and 10k? A system you would feel good selling every component? Because your big buyers know you have something for them, now can you do the same for this group of buyers?
could you comment on how this will compare to a pair of class AB monoblocks by Schiit Audio, maybe a pair of Vidars (400w each for 1600 usd the pair) made in the USA?
@@roberthart9886 Dual Vidar and some iteration of the Freya will fall into this budget.. I have one Vidar and it's very good. I'm currently running a Parasound Hint 6 that I bought used for $2k and that's going to be a hard value to beat. Especially with a very decent built in DAC. If you want to go cheaper, try an Emotiva TA-2 for $1k. I also have the TA-1 and it sounds quite good, but was too underpowered for the speakers I was using at the time. Adding the Vidar to that setup made a night and day difference with my precious speakers. The new ones are more efficient, so it's less pronounced, but Vidar is still better.
@@zackw4941 Im am way above that level, though maybe 6 years ago I had a Parasound P5 later a P6, which was much better. Im sure the Hint is very good value
Hi Cristhian, I wish I could but 400W monos for $1600 means corners are cut to make that happen. 400W at what 4 Ohm ? that means these amps are 100WPC ... Ive got no interest (And im sorry) in my career conversations revolving around something like $1600 400W monos... just those 3 things together immediately deletes it off my radar. I am not being cheeky or an ass either, just realistic.. I only deal with certain level products and a 50WPC at 8Ohm Integrated amp at $2500 is the lowest Ill dip... Thanks for watching however and Im sorry I cant be more informative..
Nice looking integrated. I have a hegel h160 and a Keces E40. I really like the little Keces. It is tiny, has similar wattage output and seems to deliver sufficient current in spite of having 2 caps for a total of 13,000 µF. Its great for desktop and does well for a moderately sized room on standmount speakers. Small, lighter and less powerful quality integrated amps are desirable for alot of consumers who may not look at more expensive gear yet want something that just brings it for their needs and listening habits.
@@OCDHIFiGuy Didn't you see when you turned to look at the back that it had a pair RCA outputs ...it has one XLR input ,two pairs of RCA inputs and one pre out ...unless the pre out is fake Mike .
Hey Mikey great job on showing us mere mortals that have a limited budget on some reasonable stereo gear Also lots of people that start out with a reasonable priced rig at the start of their journey and the more they get into the Audiofile journey more than likely they will upgrade over the years I started with a Marantz 2265B reciever, Teak cassette player and Cerwin Vega speakers back in the day
Wow Koski, clearly you're not a machinist. Front plate is bolted on not tacked and its all plate construction. Not ONE SINGLE FOLD ... lol. Clearly your first time here....
Is there a 4ohm rating? Is the 50 watts RmS or continuous? Are the specs available anywhere? I've searched but haven't found a pdf or anything with details. Thanks
The Rowland 125 is higher level... and needs a preamp or DAC with volume control... Different piece for different situations... You bought right ... ;-)
You’re wrong about A/B class not available below $2.5k. Look at brands like Cambridge Audio for example. Or Willsenton if you prefer tubes. In US - Schiit, Emotiva, Heaven 11… The list goes on and on.
Its a reduced form factor... Are you in this at just $2500 for performance or looks ? Do you want great sound or matched boxes ? Perhaps a one box solution is good for you ??
Hey Mike I just bough a Sugden for 3k This them although only 23 watts of pure class A. It destroys everything I have every listen too. This sounds good tough.
I know you’re not a fan of China made gear but pretty fond of my Kinki Integrated. Would love to demo a Rowland unit one day though. I also agree Hegel is over rated.
I used to be the USA importer for Kinki, Denafrips and Jay's Audio. Kinki integrated was a good deal. ( how do you like your wobbly knobs ?) That's not my issue with China. It's 100% political. That govt is bad for Humans and the world in general.
@@OCDHIFiGuy I had a wobble knob issue and they showed me the easy fix. The volume knob ring nut needed to be re tightened and all is good now. I think they are not tightening them down tight enough at the factory.
Gotta say the easiest clients are for sure dudes that are totally chill because this audio thing is just a check box to mark off. They are not worried about money. There's no audio system that's gonna make or break thier chill....
@@OCDHIFiGuy I was thinking about a video in the 4k range. I would have to do research and try it but I think it's good that you put a spotlight on a brand I never heard before
How about Emotiva XPA-DR2 Differential Reference Two-Channel Power Amplifier $1899. 550 watts RMS into 8 Ohms, and 800 watts RMS into 4 Ohms, both channels driven, with less than 0.1% THD
The problem is that you think watts per dollar matters. Or that specifications can tell you how something sounds. Dan is a great guy and makes a great product however. I knew him before Emotiva...
Cool stuff but to me, totally underpowered.... unless they changed thier models. Steve's design was actually my FIRST tube amp I owned. And I distinctly remember tearing up listening to Jerry Garcia Band on it.. first time I dropped tears from Audio was Decware... sold it close after and bought me a tube amp with balls to better drive my speakers however ....
$2500 would have to include the DAC. You might not be able to sell so many units directly to customers, but I'll bet that the audience is much larger for the < $3K price range. Perhaps you could do it just for the RU-vid channel.
Hi Stuart, the issue is this already is a stretch for me. An all in one piece for under $3K is so boring to me. My next vid will be the all in one Jeff Rowland at $50K. These are the waters I'm interested in. I'm an exotics guy... quality over quantity every time. It's just where my passion lies. Cheap Audio is not my passion at all, even though we all know it's what the masses of young people like. So I could sell out for subscribership but that's not my jam ..
I think Hegel is complete crap.... Sound shitty every time I hear them. Its Scandinavian Denon. Except Denon has better R&D... but its "Cool" to like Hegel.... lol.... Thanks though for your opinion !
I think the best and cheapest upgrade is to eat some Lucy and listen to your system. Lol it works like a charm. You'll hear all the detail in the world haha
@@OCDHIFiGuy .......that bad ?.....i remember in the late 1990s, they had a humongous power amp over 30kg..........it was just under USD10K i think........not impressed at all............
sorry Mikey but I have found unknown niche manufacturers always let you down with reliabilty and time taken for parts....I'd rather spend $2,500 on a used Luxman L 509X.
Suit yourself. I know the industry extremely well and Simons product has not broken EVER in 15 years of selling his gear.... I man NOT ONE WARRANTY REPAIR... TAD is far better than LUX anyways...
That was a few minutes of constant advertising…for a not so great product, actually. How about testing these instead of showing the housing…the primitive display is not promising, though. That was ok in the 80th…
No tone controls is a no go for an amp in this price range. Who is buying an amp in this price range and what would there listening environment actually be? What kind of speakers would be in a rig powered by an amp in this price range? Yes, an amp for this purpose must be able to balance the spectrum because it is going to be needed. Very simple to install a bypass circuit and very inexpensive as well, but really not even needed. Sorry, but this amp will fail in a practical application and get out performed by any amp in this price range, or less, simply because it has tone controls and can balance the spectrum in far less than optimal listening environments. Think about it.
If you are dealing with poor engineering then you would need Tone Controls, but companies as Pass Labs, BAT, T+A Elektroakustik, Pathos, NAT Audio are True companies that design correctly.
@@joenovak6393 - You are completely missing the point. We are not talking about high end systems. We are not talking about dedicated listening rooms. We are talking about how to make an inexpensive system sound as good as possible in an unfavorable environment. Get it?
@Jamie Mitchell, Joe actually DOES get it.... only shit product uses "Tone control" no High End gear does.... EVER... This may be small and inexpensive but it is every bit of High End.. These pieces are borderline not worth it to make because you are right that $2500 buyers expect a reduced quality so they dont get it... They want Tone Controls or a headphone output or a Loudness button, or balance control... Go to Denon or Pioneer .. what does "Balance the spectrum" mean anyways ? a tone knob is a ridiculous way to handle the job of an EQ and EQ is a lazy mans way of fixing shitty sound IMHO. Audiophiles do it different, and if it has a Tone knob, it automatically disqualifies it from our choices due to the fact we know who its designed for.... People where a twist of a tone knob "fixes" the sound for them... It never would for us... Thanks for your feedback however.. I do value it ...
@@OCDHIFiGuy - Balanced spectrum means that from a listening position you can hear a balanced presentation of the bass, mid's and highs. In a room where one speaker is in a corner, opposed to the other speaker that is not in a corner, but open to a much wider area of volume, you will need to adjust the balance (tone control) otherwise the audio will be lacking in one way or the other because of the unbalanced listening area. This is not about amp design and the quality of it. This is about being able to compensate for a less than desirable acoustic listening area (as well as lower priced speakers) and folks who have rigs in this price range will be using their rigs in exactly that type of environment. The objective is to make chicken soup out of chicken feathers, because that is what we are talking about here. There is no such thing as cutting edge performance from a $2500.00 amp and a pair of Klipsch speakers made in China. The situation demands tone controls to make the best of an unfavorable situation. I value you input as well Mikey !!
