My system: Source: Transporter £1,300 79 % Pre: Rotel RC-870BX £ 75 4.5 % Power: Rotel RB-850 £ 75 4.5 % Speakers: B&W DM-610 £ 200 12 % -------------------------------------- Total: £1,650 100 %
The pre/power amps were bought from ebay a couple of years ago as a bundle and £15 of the £150 total was postage. I bought the speakers about 18 years ago whilst at University. To date, the biggest improvement in sound quality has been changing my amplification. I used to have a Rotel RA820B (20W integrated amp). I knew it was underpowered, but I didn't realise how much it was colouring the sound. I did some listening tests with ModelCitizen when I has my SB1 and neither of us could tell the difference between the stock SB1, an Arcam Delta, and a Perpetual Technologies rig (PA-3 DAC + PA-1 digital correction unit). So, I got my soldering iron out and did some fiddling. I disconnected the tone control circuitry completely (there was a switch to turn it off but it still affected the sound even when turned off), changed some caps, replaced some op-amps, etc. Wow, what a difference! The sound just opened up - more fluid, musical, transparent, etc. I experimented further by putting the tone controls back as they were and the sound went back to how it was, so I think this was the most effective mod. Anyway, that amp died on me (well, a connector went intermittent) so I bought the combo listed above. The RC-870BX has a "CD Direct" function - the CD input is connected directly to the power amp via a volume control - which is very clean. All in all, I'm happy with the sound I'm currently getting. I guess this reflects my view that the source is the most important element (assuming the amplification is transparent and the speakers are adequate). R. _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
