Integrated Amp Recommendations for Sierra-2

[Wadia171i]

Hi all,
I've ordered a pair of Sierra-2s last week- really excited to get them. I'm very much a beginner in this audiophile world, but I've been reading a lot and listening to different setups whenever I get a chance. But I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. To describe my level of novice: my current setup is a PS Audio Sprout, KEF Q100s, a Rega P1 turntable, and a Sonos Connect unit for streaming digital. The room is 8x15 (I live in an open floor plan rowhouse). I have the Sierra-2s on order, as I mentioned, as well as a completely overhauled Thorens TD-160 Super turntable from Vinyl Nirvana. I do not expect to use this system for anything but vinyl or digital streaming- likely as a 2.0 system with the potential for adding a sub down the road.

While I love the Sprout, I'm a little worried it's going to be underpowered to handle the Sierra-2s and have been researching potential replacements. While I've read lots about the benefits of using separate components, but I'm pretty set on an integrated. In particular, an integrated amp with a nice phono stage. A DAC would be nice as well, but it's not imperative- I can use the built-in DAC on the Sonos. The benefit is that this limits my options, but I still feel a little bit lost. I've read about the options offered from Rogue, Peachtree, Roksan, Parasound, Rotel, Croft, and Creek among many others. I'm most intrigued by the new Peachtree Nova150 and Rogue Audio Sphinx V2 at the moment, but I'm open to all options.

I've tried to make my way through the Sierra-2 forum and looked for other thoughts online, but I haven't seem much on integrated amplifier recommendations for the Sierra-2s.

My top end budget is around $2k (but hopefully a fair amount less). And I'm perfectly fine with pre-owned, demos, and b-stock. Does anybody have any suggestions? Or experience with any of the models I mentioned above?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have. And happy new year!

Parasound integrated is amp preamp and ess dac. As well a very good adjustable phonostage. And many other features in my opinion way better that the class d peachtrees. Plus the fact it's a John Curl designed amp and pre is awesome. In the review it drove Maggie's 3.7 with woofer compo had no problem. Probably the best amp for your situation. Also the new Yamaha integrateds are awesome I'm not talking about the Yamaha 801 I'm talking about the 2000'and 2100. I have the A-S2000 it's awesome a fifty pound beast. Another I would suggest is Pathos Inpol which I have not cheap but so sweet. . Also look at pathos classic and Primare excellent Integrateds. I also own Sierra 2's they are fabulous. Good luck have fun! That's what this is all about.

[justthinking]

Parasound integrated is amp preamp and ess dac. As well a very good adjustable phonostage. And many other features in my opinion way better that the class d peachtrees. Plus the fact it's a John Curl designed amp and pre is awesome. In the review it drove Maggie's 3.7 with woofer compo had no problem. Probably the best amp for your situation. Also the new Yamaha integrateds are awesome I'm not talking about the Yamaha 801 I'm talking about the 2000'and 2100. I have the A-S2000 it's awesome a fifty pound beast. Another I would suggest is Pathos Inpol which I have not cheap but so sweet. . Also look at pathos classic and Primare excellent Integrateds. I also own Sierra 2's they are fabulous. Good luck have fun! That's what this is all about.

There is a slightly used Halo Integrated on US Audio Mart for $1,900..FWIW, the amp section of Halo Integrated is better than A23 but not to the level of A21, but the DAC section is better than P5..

As far as Peachtree, I am not a fan, have seem quite a few cases of reliability issues with their previous gen of Decca and Nova and their new Nova300 and 150 seems to be a bit overpriced..

[Wadia171i]

There is a slightly used Halo Integrated on US Audio Mart for $1,900..FWIW, the amp section of Halo Integrated is better than A23 but not to the level of A21, but the DAC section is better than P5..

As far as Peachtree, I am not a fan, have seem quite a few cases of reliability issues with their previous gen of Decca and Nova and their new Nova300 and 150 seems to be a bit overpriced..

I agree with justthinking I owned a nova 125 the USB input quite working. And the pole piece out of the volume pot was to short and the volume knob would get loose constantly and fall of periodically. Sold it. The parasound is awesome piece heard it on a pair harbeth hl5 plus it was sweet. Also I bought mine from Best Buy it had no serial number. So when I called peachtree about repair it was a mess needless to say.

[bkdc]

I run my computer speakers on Wyred4Sound mINT. Small form factor, plenty of juice.

As to the sound of amplifiers, I believe all solid state amplifiers sound the same unless distortion is introduced intentionally by the designer.

[Wadia171i]

I run my computer speakers on Wyred4Sound mINT. Small form factor, plenty of juice.

As to the sound of amplifiers, I believe all solid state amplifiers sound the same unless distortion is introduced intentionally by the designer.

I am definitely not making a comment on that. Enjoy the Wyred4Sound. Just giving recommendations that's all. All the best.

[rneill]

I wouldn't rule out a class A/B just over heat and power usage. I run my towers with an SA-250, 250w per channel 8ohm / 400 per into 4ohm class A/B. I have ran it for a couple years with 4ohm towers and now the sierra towers and it barely gets warm even after long periods of high volume listening. My Pre-pro actually gets warmer to the touch than the amp does.

Actually I just checked it, its been running for 13 hours straight, lower volumes for the last hour since the wife went to bed and you can't even tell it's on by touching it.

An Emotiva Stealth DC-1 and XPA-Gen3 would be a very nice combo if you don't need HDMI support. The Gen3 is using the amp blades from their previous very pricy flagship XPR line and are supposed to be excellent. It's class H also so very efficient and it's modular so you can start with two channels and add more later if you want to expand

I know you said you're ok with using the sonos DAC but if you listen to a lot of digital music the DAC is the second most important part of the entire setup behind the speakers. Sierras are good enough speakers that a good DAC will be noticeable over an onboard chip, much more so than spending more on a pricier amp.

GL with your search!

[Wadia171i]

I wouldn't rule out a class A/B just over heat and power usage. I run my towers with an SA-250, 250w per channel 8ohm / 400 per into 4ohm class A/B. I have ran it for a couple years with 4ohm towers and now the sierra towers and it barely gets warm even after long periods of high volume listening. My Pre-pro actually gets warmer to the touch than the amp does.

Actually I just checked it, its been running for 13 hours straight, lower volumes for the last hour since the wife went to bed and you can't even tell it's on by touching it.

An Emotiva Stealth DC-1 and XPA-Gen3 would be a very nice combo if you don't need HDMI support. The Gen3 is using the amp blades from their previous very pricy flagship XPR line and are supposed to be excellent. It's class H also so very efficient and it's modular so you can start with two channels and add more later if you want to expand

I know you said you're ok with using the sonos DAC but if you listen to a lot of digital music the DAC is the second most important part of the entire setup behind the speakers. Sierras are good enough speakers that a good DAC will be noticeable over an onboard chip, much more so than spending more on a pricier amp.

GL with your search!

Agree totally with rneill. I believe you can do better than a sonos. And I would have a lesser amp and a better dac, cdplayer/dac combo. The source is very important imho. In my bedroom system I use a Mac mini with oppo 105 and Audirvana software with all hdmi and video switching off. So it's basically streamlined for music. Sounds incredible with the S2's.

[bkdc]

I am definitely not making a comment on that. Enjoy the Wyred4Sound. Just giving recommendations that's all. All the best.

The only way to prove it is to run level-matched blinded tests. But these have already been done. No audio/stereo magazine will ever assert the claim that human ears cannot differentiate between/among solid state amplifiers which are driven well within their specified parameters. Why? It would send an entire sector of businesses out of business (including the advertising revenue for the magazine). But I will say it. Modern solid-state audio amplifiers that are designed for a flat response (not intentional coloring/distortion) that are driven well within their power limitations/specs sound the same. Or they are so similar that when tested on large group of self-proclaimed audiophiles, 50:50 is the typical score. They are TRANSPARENT. The theoretical differences will not pan out in a blinded level-matched testing situation. That is not to say your particular ears are super-human and better than the panels of audiophiles who have failed to prove a difference.

The change in sound due to room acoustics comb filtering by moving your speakers 2 inches to either side will be more than the change from swapping out any modern well designed solid state amplifier with another one.

[Wadia171i]

The only way to prove it is to run level-matched blinded tests. But these have already been done. No audio/stereo magazine will ever assert the claim that human ears cannot differentiate between/among solid state amplifiers which are driven well within their specified parameters. Why? It would send an entire sector of businesses out of business (including the advertising revenue for the magazine). But I will say it. Modern solid-state audio amplifiers that are designed for a flat response (not intentional coloring/distortion) that are driven well within their power limitations/specs sound the same. Or they are so similar that when tested on large group of self-proclaimed audiophiles, 50:50 is the typical score. They are TRANSPARENT. The theoretical differences will not pan out in a blinded level-matched testing situation. That is not to say your particular ears are super-human and better than the panels of audiophiles who have failed to prove a difference.

The change in sound due to room acoustics comb filtering by moving your speakers 2 inches to either side will be more than the change from swapping out any modern well designed solid state amplifier with another one.

Sounds good to me. I'm happy with my choices and glad you are too