Preamp/Amp Pairing w/ Paradigm Studio 100 v.4

[kitjv]

I would like to pair a tube preamp & a ss power amp with Paradigm Studio 100 v.4 speakers to create a detailed, yet musical sound without being overly warm. (I generally listen to jazz - both vocals & instrumentals). The Rogue Perseus tube preamp & the Rotel 1080 ss power amp that I auditioned seemed to move the sound in the direction that I liked.

Since I do not have any brand allegiance, are there other preamp/power amp combinations that you might recommend?

Thank you for your help.

[beardog03]

I run a Parasound HCA-3500 and a Cary SLP-98 F1 DC PreAmp...

Works great for me

I have no experience with those speaks though...

...maybe someone else will chime in that does

If you have a solid amp base, with enough juice to make you happy, find a pre amp that has what your looking for and roll some tubes until you find the magic your looking for


Good luck on your quest, and...



...Welcome to the Forum

[dorokusai]

Do you have a price range?

[sucks2beme]

I would like to pair a tube preamp & a ss power amp with Paradigm Studio 100 v.4 speakers to create a detailed, yet musical sound without being overly warm. (I generally listen to jazz - both vocals & instrumentals). The Rogue Perseus tube preamp & the Rotel 1080 ss power amp that I auditioned seemed to move the sound in the direction that I liked.

Since I do not have any brand allegiance, are there other preamp/power amp combinations that you might recommend?

Thank you for your help.

I went the other way. I've got Paradigm studio 60's with a Parasound pre and
Audio Research 50 watt tube amp. The Paradigm speakers are typical for
HT use. They seem to like an amp on the warm side of neutral. The 100's have
better bass than the 60's, but have the same house sound. They
are fairly easy to drive, so a good amp in a lower wattage would be fine.
I listen to a little of everything. With a Rotel amp, I didn't like the sound.
A B&K st202 seemed to sound better to me, and the tubes brought them to life.
I don't listen at high volume levels, and like a warmer sound. Don't ask
how I ended up with the 60's. I had a stupid moment. But with the AR vt60,
they sound good. I listened to an all Rotel setup with B&W 683 speakers a couple of
weeks ago. My home setup sounded better. The tube pre and SS amp might work well too.

[analog97]

I had the Paradigm Reference 100's V2 and ran them well with a SS Parasound 125 watt and a SS Anthem 200 watt (both at 8 ohms). Also used a tube pre-amp, the Hagerman Clarinet successfully. I am a believer in tube pre/phono pre pairing with high current SS amps of good quality, e.g. Adcom, Parasound, etc. The Paradigm's are excellent speakers and you can't go wrong with a good tube pre/SS amp combo as above. Enjoy them.:)

[beardog03]

At the moment I am running the Tube Amp and Parasound Pre Amp...works well also..


Like Doro asked....got a budget ?

[Emlyn]

I would avoid the Rotel amp with a metal dome tweeter speaker. I do think you're on the right track with a tube preamp. Any tube preamp should serve well. I'd suggest looking for one that has a level of convenience features and connections you'd be comfortable with. For amplification with the big Paradigms, I'd recommend solid state, something on the warmer side of neutral like Parasound Halo or older Classic line, Classe, Anthem, or B&K in the 200 watt or above range, with B&K being my first recommendation.

[kitjv]

Do you have a price range?

I'm figuring about $3500 total for the tube pre & the ss amp.

Thank you, everyone, for your comments. I hadn't even considered a tube preamp until I listened to the Rogue Perseus. The Paradigm 100s sounded warmer without losing the detail that attracted me to them in the first place.

I originally was considering the Rotel RB-1070 (130W) power amp. But since I tend to listen to my music at moderate levels, I thought that the additional horsepower of the Rotel RB-1080 (200W) might be preferable. I plan to audition the RB-1080 in a week or so.

[beardog03]

go with as much horsepower as you can afford....200wpc and up....IMO

[dorokusai]

I'm figuring about $3500 total for the tube pre & the ss amp.

Thank you, everyone, for your comments. I hadn't even considered a tube preamp until I listened to the Rogue Perseus. The Paradigm 100s sounded warmer without losing the detail that attracted me to them in the first place.

I originally was considering the Rotel RB-1070 (130W) power amp. But since I tend to listen to my music at moderate levels, I thought that the additional horsepower of the Rotel RB-1080 (200W) might be preferable. I plan to audition the RB-1080 in a week or so.

You can do that for WAY under $3500.

[F1nut]

Just my opinion, but since you asked. I'd look at something other than the Rotel. For $3500 in the used market you can get quite a lot. BAT offers a nice selection, a Cary pre and Parasound 3500 like Bear has works nicely. There's so many choices.... Audio Research, Plinius, Musical Fidelity, Joule, Manley, VTL, CJ, etc. all make very nice gear.

[wingnut4772]

I agree. For that $$$ look beyond Rotel.

[kitjv]

Just my opinion, but since you asked. I'd look at something other than the Rotel. For $3500 in the used market you can get quite a lot. BAT offers a nice selection, a Cary pre and Parasound 3500 like Bear has works nicely. There's so many choices.... Audio Research, Plinius, Musical Fidelity, Joule, Manley, VTL, CJ, etc. all make very nice gear.

I agree entirely. I have heard very favorable comments on the B&K 200.2 S2 power amp. Any thoughts? I might have an opportunity to audition one this week.

[dorokusai]

Excellent product line.

[kitjv]

I really appreciate everyone's input since this is my first foray into a serious 2-channel system. I am curious though. One thing that I have learn in this whole journey is that within the realm of quality separates, the final arbiter are my own ears. In other words, subjectivity plays a pivotal role in assembling the "best" system.

Are there specific objective reasons for recommending other ss power amps over Rotel? Is my decision to likely go with the Paradigm Studio 100 v.4 speakers influential in considering a brand other than Rotel?

Again, you guys have been very helpful. THANK YOU!

[phuz]

I think you'll be happy with Rotel. I think the thing here is that many of us are "best bang for your buck" type of people (which is probably why POLK has brought us all together). Many of us buy demo/used/older equipment to avoid the high retail prices of the stuff. So with that in mind, when we see a $3500 budget... we think that it is very possible for you to take it up a notch. I own both Rotel and B&K equipment, but if I had $3500 today to spend on an amp and pre-amp I would probably look in the direction of Conrad Johnson, Krell, Musical Fidelity, BAT, Classe, or other brands that most consider to be at the top of the food chain vs. the Rotel, B&K, and other "mid-fi" brands.

The B&K Reference 200.2 S2 is an awesome amp that I don't see myself getting rid of any time soon. I'm tempted to say go with the B&K or Rotel, and use the rest of your budget for sources, cables, tubes, and power conditioning/etc.

Check out http://www.audiogon.com

[kitjv]

Thank you, Phuz. It seems to me that my goal here is to find a preamp & power amp that pair well with the big Paradigms. Putting retread tires on a Lamborghini or stuffing a Porsche 911 Tubo engine into a Geo Metro seem equally as silly.

[kitjv]

Several of the comments I received imply that Rotel would best be considered as "mid-end" compared to many other power amps available (especially on the used market). Since most of you are more knowledgeable on this topic than I, I am sure you are correct.

However, it seems that my goal here is to select a power amp that has a synergy with my speakers, as well as with the other components in the stream.
Since I will likely go with the Paradigm Studio 100 v.4 speakers (certainly not "hi-end"), is it possible to pair the speakers with a "hi-end" amp whose capabilities are out of synch with these speakers?

Thank you.

[cfrizz]

Welcome Kitjv.

There is nothing wrong with having a midfi anything in your system. I happen to be a Rotel fan myself & will probably always have a piece of their gear in my system.

You like them & they are a known item. So get the Rotel & enjoy.

Other amps to consider are Sunfire, Parasound, & B & K. All amps mentioned will get the job done, some will just cost you more because of the name.

[F1nut]

Other amps to consider are Sunfire, Parasound, & B & K. All amps mentioned will get the job done, some will just cost you more because of the name.

That's just not true. Circuit design and power supplies play a large role in how an amp sounds and how much it costs.

[Ricardo]

Yes, I am biased, but I would get:

Belles 350a Reference amp (make sure it has the soft start) $2,300-$2,500

Belles 21a preamp (with Auricap factory upgrade) $1,000-$1,200

You will not want to upgrade.

I know reviews don't mean much, but we anyway read them, don't we:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/b..._reference.htm

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/b...a_followup.htm

[cfrizz]

Whatever Jesse. The fact is that he likes & is favoring the Rotel & it will do the job. As soon as some of you saw what he was willing to spend, you upped the ante & basically started putting the Rotel down because it's "Midfi."

Now if he can audition all the other "Hifi" gear as well as the Rotel & likes one of the others fine, go for it. If not then, let him get his Rotel & be happy.

I know we all like spending other peoples money,:D But just because he is willing to doesn't mean he should. Especially on the basis that one is considered "Midfi" & the other is considered "Hifi".

That's just not true. Circuit design and power supplies play a large role in how an amp sounds and how much it costs.

[F1nut]

Don't whatever me. I know that you know that with $3500.00 he can do better. It may interest you to know that he received the same comments about Rotel on Audiogon and not from anyone here. Smoke that!

[treitz3]

That's just not true. Circuit design and power supplies play a large role in how an amp sounds and how much it costs.

You "Whatever'd" this statement? What is wrong with this statement? It's spot on. There is also research and development costs, limited purchase power costs, engineering costs, overhead, specialty component costs and a whole slew of other factors associated with this.

For $3500 he can do better.

[cfrizz]

Sorry Jesse, I don't smoke!:D

Of course there is better out there, we all know it. And if some of the statements could have been delivered without being somewhat condecsending to Rotel all would have been fine. (Even kitjv noticed it!)

Rotel is a good product & will get the job done. The others are also good products, but are they really that good to justify the price difference? If so how? The only way to really tell is for the individual to hear them if they can for themselves.

On Audioholics, some guy compared 3 different speakers one of which was the LSI 7's. He thought that the Polks were the best of the 3 but chose one of the others since it had 85% of the LSI's performance for a lot less money.

Audio as we all know is subjective, and it is up to each person to decide on what they can live with when they hear/if they hear the difference in deciding if the additional cost is worth it.

Now if he can audition all this gear without having to purchase it & can make the decision great. If not, he knows how the Rotel sounds & likes it. He will be happy with his purchase and that is all that really matters.

[tonyb]

Not to but in Cathy,but in all fairness,he was asking for other brands to be thought about and when given,wonders why.If he allready knew he wanted Rotel,then why ask the question?

[cfrizz]

I understand what you are saying Tony. Yes he did ask for other brands, and all that had to be said is..."You should also check out if possible W, X,Y, & Z. market. These will also do well. And if interested look on the used market first for all brands since you can get more for your money."

Instead what was basically said, "Don't bother with Rotel it's not good enough for that kind of money since it is only Midfi."

It is these kinds of subtle & not so subtle class distinctions that tend to rub people the wrong way.

[F1nut]

I'm sorry Cathy, but you seem to have me confused with someone else. None of my comments have been condecsending.

And if you could have delivered the statements without being condecsending to Rotel all would have been fine. (Even kitjv noticed it!)

Ummm......he agreed with me!!!

I agree entirely. I have heard very favorable comments on the B&K 200.2 S2 power amp. Any thoughts? I might have an opportunity to audition one this week.

[Ricardo]

Who in this forum repeatedly says that you MUST have 200WPC or more??

That anything less is not good enough????

I've never heard you Cathy say "go listen to a 100WPC, then a 200WPC and decide which one you like best" :)

[AndyGwis]

get a good integrated :)

$3500 would go a long way towards a top of the line MF integrated, or there are some hybrid integrateds out there that may bring the warmth you like (DK Designs for instance).

if you are sticking with separates, I will vote for B&K amps as great bang for the buck SS. The 200.2 has impressive stats, including like 75 amps of current. Dats a lot of current. Mate that with a decent tube pre, and you'll have a great system for about $1500 of your $3500 budget, IMO.

Good luck! You can easily spend the entire $3500 on some more esoteric gear, but you don't have to spend quite that much to get a great sound.