Integrated amp with Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v5…

Hello all! I’m wondering how to match an integrated amplifier to speakers? Or could you recommend a decent integrated amp for these speakers.

I have a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v5 floor-standing speakers.

I currently don’t have an integrated amp. I have a Marantz SR7007 AVR. 7 channels at 125watts per channel.

The sound is great but I think it can be better. Yesterday I visited a local high-end audio store and listened to comparable speakers to mine but they were connected to a 200 watt/channel McIntosh. What blew me away was the sound quality at the mid to high notes.

The McIntosh is way over my budget but it gave me a goal to strive for with my system.

So, I’m wondering if it’s even possible to get closer to the sound I heard with the audio store’s setup?

As I mentioned the sound from my system is very good but not as refined and beautiful as the sound I heard yesterday. The mid/high notes on my system seem a little too “bright” I think. Not sure I can describe it accurately but I’m trying.

My living room is about 15 x 22 ft.

Thank you!

 

I owned the Paradigm Reference Studio 60 and used these speakers with Arcam FMJ amps, the A32 pre and P35 power amp. This was a great match to my ears.

 

You should definitely try the German Vincent SV-237MKII hybrid integrated amplifier. It is a current model of outstanding quality in all aspects.
I believe you will be delighted, because the hybrid technology gives the best of both worlds. Vacuum tubes are in the preamp section, and MOSFET output transistors are in the dual-mono output stage.

Link:
Vincent: SV-237MKII

I had an older Vincent SV-237MK and I know very well why I recommended it (the current SV-237MKII is a newer model that has BT). Now I have a Vincent amp again (SV-700)... that's saying something, isn't it?

P.S
If you think that an amplifier with 2x150 W/8 Ohm is not enough for your room and speakers (and it is enough, I guarantee that it is), consider the Vincent SV-737 (2x180 W/8 Ohm).

Link:
Vincent: SV-737

 

If you decide to make a change, what budget are you hoping to stay within?

 

Why does an amp that’s 75watts per channel give better performance than an amp with 125watts per channel? What’s the 75 watt amp doing to give better performance?

My AVR is 125 watts per channel. I don’t have anything connected except my speakers and the AppleTV so I’m not using all 7 channels.

 

I’d like to stay under $4000 if possible! If I could spend $2,000 and get a very noticeable increase in sound quality over my SR7007 I’d be very happy!

 

You can somewhat relate this to a car example...... Why does a new Porsche 911 with "only" 380'ish horsepower perform better on a track than a Dodge Challenger Hellcat with 700+ horsepower.....that's what it was built to do (track). Your avr is great for movies, but not purposely built for high quality 2 channel audio.

So a dedicated 2 channel integrated amp, even with less wattage, will generally outperform your avr when it comes to dedicated 2 channel listening.

 

That's a great budget, so you would lots of options that would likely work....

Off hand, units that I personally use/sell that would fall in that range would be the Marantz Model 30, Marantz Model 40, Rogue Sphinx, Rogue PharaohII, Rega Elicit, Rega Elex.......and those are just options I have here. I'm sure others will chime in with additional great possibilities for you.

 

I’m just wondering what is different between an AVR and an integrated amp that makes the amp’s sound better than an AVR? When you a 2-channel amp is “made for music listening” I don’t understand what makes it better for music. And why wouldn’t manufacturers use that same technology in an AVR!?

 

I think the general reason is because at the same retail price, the budget for an AVR is spread across the circuitry for 7 channels versus 2 channels. Also more available budget can be used for better quality components that in theory would sound better.

 

One key question for you is what type of music do you prefer. As an example, this is one experience I had with a listening session of a speaker (actually a Paradigm speaker) being paired with two different amplifiers:

I was auditioning a pair of Paradigm Reference 95 speakers powered by a Parasound integrated amp. Though the speakers sounded wonderfully lush and full sounding on orchestral music, they also sounded a bit slow and lead-footed with jazz music. Changing the amplification to a Cambridge Audio integrated improved the ability of those speakers to convey rhythms and "carry the tune" by a surprising amount. However, the sound with the Cambridge amp was also noticeably grainier and less smooth than with the Parasound amp.​

My takeaway would be that the best amplifier for you depends on what type of music you prefer. Sounds like you are seeking a "sweeter" sounding amplifier than what you are currently hearing in your system. One integrated amplifier that I can recommend that fits that description (but also one that you won't be able to audition) is a Belles Aria. They sell for about $2,500 new and seem to go for about $1,500 used. Belles Aria Integrated - Audio Connection Belles, Integrated Amplifiers

I've listened to the Belles Aria in my system and thought very highly of its sound.

I personally also have my eye on LFD integrated amplifiers, but ideally want to listen to one before I get one in my home. You might be able to get one that is used in your price range.

 

AVR and 2 channel integrated amp are focused on 2 separate things. AVRs have to deal with multi-channel amplification and codecs for all the many multi-channel formats. A 2 channel integrated is built strictly for 2 channel audio....so the build and parts quality are more selective for that purpose.

 

Actually, you would be able to listen to both a Belles Aria as well as LFD amplifiers. You might even be able to get a loan to listen in your own system. I just saw that you are in Santa Barbara, CA. Gene Rubin Audio, one of the main US dealers for Belles and LFD, is only about 30 minutes away from you in Ventura, CA: Gene Rubin Audio

 

Anthem same company as Paradigm

 

There's no way that anyone could attribute the difference that you heard between that demo, and your current system, to the McIntosh. Too many differences; too many variables.

Go ahead and make the change / spend your money. But don't let that demo be the driver behind the decision.

Jeff

ps. Why not take your AVR to that same store and have it drive the "comparable" speakers in that store's listening room, and then make the comparison between the AVR and the McIntosh?

 

That’s a good idea. I’d also like to compare my Marantz sr7007 to the Marantz Model 40. The Model 40n is getting pretty nice reviews. I’m curious how it would sound compared the sr7007

 

40N is great......has a bit of old school Marantz sound.

 

I’m a fan of these speakers, dazzling detail in the tweeters. But….I find them to be bright and fatiguing after about an hour. They really were designed to be used with a suit of paradigm speakers including a very large sub. Not that those speakers don’t have enough bass but a sub tends to balance out the high end to sone extent.

for me….I’ve found the way to get the best out of these speakers is to put fairly warm sounding electronics behind them that has a priority on the mid range. That’s not any AVR. Tubes would be nice but despite these being 93db efficient, they sound their best when you come in closer to the top of their power handling which I believe is 300wpc RMS. That would require an unreasonable amount of power tubes and far more money that a person would spend to drive those speakers.

a class A power amp is really where you want to be and one that is well over 100wpc RMS. And for clarity, most AVRs rate their power by peak WPC not RMS. That’s one reason why your 120wpc AVR doesn’t sound as good as a 100wpc RMS amp. The other reason being the complicated circuitry for video and surround sound dulls the detail. I think that’s a reason the tweeters tend to be a little hot, these speakers were sold primarily for HT and they compensated for that AVR dullness.

a 200wpc rms integrated would be perfect but those aren’t very common as the heat they produce isn’t great for preamp circuitry in the same chassis. The easy choice would be McIntosh, powerful integrateds are kind of their thing and they do it very well.

but I digress, with a $4000 budget for an integrated amp, it would be hard to find one that’s a dud for those speakers. The key is warmth and power. I also prefer analog sources with those speakers. While I’m not generally a fan of a tube buffer stage, it’s not a terrible idea. Or something with tubes in the preamp can be helpful. You could probably find a BAT vk-300 used in your price range that would give you 150wpc and tubes in the preamp all in one chassis.

 

I need to study up on power and watts needed etc… I’ve been reading about watts and evidently it seems people over spend on the watts needed to be able to obtain a good, clear sound experience with their receivers. Many of the integrated amps I’ve looked at are rated at 50 or 75 watts per ch. yet they cost quite a lot of money.

I saw a pretty good video about this but it left me with more questions. Is there an easy way to calculate watts desired for a set of speakers and the listening distance? For me it’s about 12-15 ft from my speakers.
“Supposedly” one needs about 10 watts to have good clean music experience!? Is that true!?

 

The amount of amplifier power you'll need depends on on efficient a speaker is, but it's helpful to hear an amplifier paired with speakers. I've found that how powerful speakers sound with an amplifier doesn't necessarily correlate directly with the number of watts that a manufacturer claims an amp puts out. Lower powered amplifiers can also be easier to design for better sound quality due to lower circuit complexity.

Listen for changes in dynamics in music. That's where amplifiers that don't put out enough power can run out of steam. However, I've also found that high powered amplifiers can sound like they are not keeping up with changes in volume and not able to reproduce transient changes in music. I'm guessing that complex circuitry and big power supplies could (?) be slower to respond to demands for more power. The type of music you prefer matters a lot. Classical music, especially orchestral music, tends to need more amplifier power due to large dynamic swings.

Currently, my Monitor Audio Silver 300s are powered by a 35 watt per channel integrated amplifier. The stated sensitivity of my speakers is 90 dB (1W@1M). My room measures about 300 sq. ft in area and about 2400 cu. ft in volume. Typically, my amplifier has its volume knob set at just less than 25% which produces about 75-80 db of sound. I've never turned the volume past 50% as that is much louder than my ears prefer.

 

Damn i loved my Paradigms. Had Studio 20 & 40. Paired well with Exposure integrated amp. Underrated amp.

 

Never heard the 100's but my studio 20's v1 and v3 had great timbre, detail and stereo image with a sphinx v3.
And a little more laid back with more bass and power with a yamaha a-s1100. I would look for something with power, 150+ watts.
Next Amp I'd like to try with my 20v3 is the rogue pharaoh v2.
Paradigm studios are great speakers.

 

+1 on the Exposure amps

 

I did a little homework and learned that my speakers sensitivity is 93. I used the Crown Amp calculator and it says all I need is a 5 watt amp! What am I missing here? This is with the volume of my Marantz SR7007 AVR turned to about 55%.

 

Owned by the same organization.