Hoping you guys can weigh in on a debate I'm having, both internally and with a friend of mine. We're debating which direction to go - stereo amp vs. two monos.

The system, as it will be in about a week, is as follows:

Linn Sondek LP12, Ittok tonearm, AT150MLX
Yaqin MS-12B preamp
currently Onkyo 805 receiver, soon to be....?
Monitor Audio Silver RS6 floor speakers

I'd like to get the entire analogue system detached from the digital. This will probably require separate speakers, which I'm tracking down. But the current question is concerning the amp(s). What do you think?

Budget for the amp setup is ideally less than $1500, but I'm willing to run what I have and put some money away to do more than that.

Thoughts?

Hoping you guys can weigh in on a debate I'm having, both internally and with a friend of mine. We're debating which direction to go - stereo amp vs. two monos.

The system, as it will be in about a week, is as follows:

Linn Sondek LP12, Ittok tonearm, AT150MLX
Yaqin MS-12B preamp
currently Onkyo 805 receiver, soon to be....?
Monitor Audio Silver RS6 floor speakers

I'd like to get the entire analogue system detached from the digital. This will probably require separate speakers, which I'm tracking down. But the current question is concerning the amp(s). What do you think?

Budget for the amp setup is ideally less than $1500, but I'm willing to run what I have and put some money away to do more than that.

Thoughts?


Are you thinking tubes are ss?

For that budget , I found this
http://www.emotiva.com/

Very good reputation and should drive about any speaker you throw at it. Audio Advisor also has a nice close-out deal on a Vincent combo-a SS amp and tube preamp , also in your budget. You should be able to find something good in either category for that budget.

Hi run two monblocks. one amp for each speaker is better. I would to love have monoblocks to run my speakers:banana:

Darren

Well you have the tube pre-amp, that although limited in line stages, does phono and one line stage well...so check.

You have the Linn for your analog playback and it doesn't get much better in belt-driven than that so check.

Your speakers have a 91db efficiency, so they are faily sensitive and have reviewed very well (I looked them up), so they should stay in the system...so check.

Since the Yaguin has a line stage for CD there is no reason to do a seperate digital system....tubes do digital far better IMO, than solid state...give it a much more "living presence"...plus you can put the coin towards the amps instead of searching for a seperate digital system (lose the Onkyo..with this system, you will never use it again).

Now the amp...you are running analog input and tube pre....do not go solid state as it will defeat your pure analog dreams. For the money you're willing to pay, you can find a fairly clean set of Mcintosh MC30's with fresh tubes. Display those Mc30's proudly and you'll not only have a great sounding system, but one hell of a looker!!!

James R.

Hi, thanks for the thoughts so far. Am definitely thinking tubes. I also have a line on a pair of Kef 104.2s that I think I can get for a pretty reasonable price, so I'm hoping to split the two systems (whichever speakers I like more I'll throw on the analogue).

The Yaqin will be dedicated to the Linn - nothing else in my system that would require a pre, so even the one line stage is unnecessary for my needs. I'll roll some tubes through it depending on funds, sound quality, and time available to devote to the efforts.

I'm also curious as to the benefits of monos vs. one stereo - I appreciate sound but am not the most versed in how exactly all this stuff works. Any ideas along those lines?