Onkyo A-5L worth selling DAC and Phono Pre for?

raysracing · « **on:** 9 Apr 2013, 01:26 am »

So this is what I own currently. Trung Optocoupler style pre (One input is only drawback), Indeed TA2012S digital amp (8 watts think). DAC and Phone pre are Cambridge Dac Magic and 651P. I am tired of the one input thing, though I have been happy with the DAC. The 651P sounds really good, but seems a bit low in output for my Denon DL-103 Cartridge. Also my speakers are Tekton Lore's.

The Lore's are very efficient, but sound significantly better at higher volumes which is not ideal for me as I play music mostly after my daughter goes to bed in a small house.

So my goal is better sound at lower voilume (and higer too for those times when I can) of course in a more user friendly package. I would sell the DAC and Phono Pre shortly after receiving the integrated amp. I like the sound of digital amps to boot.

What do you guys know of this amp? http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKA5VL/Onkyo-A-5VL-Integrated-Digital-Amplifier/1.html

Edit: realized it only has a MM pre.

raysracing · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Apr 2013, 02:22 am »

Well I confiscated my old Yamaha DSP A970 (SOund field processor integrated amp) from my dad's basement. I remember shelving it for a Denon Receiver because of Dolby Digital. I fondly remember how good it sounded. Well it took a day to get used to how different it was from my battery powered bare basic pre and amp.

SO many wonderful surprises getting used to it again. Tekton's are very efficient, but it appears they like a basic SS amplifier even if only 60 watts power. The imaging is rock solid. Not very wide, but I think that is partially my room. It has been a bear trying to nail the width, angle, etc to dial them in.

For example listening to O-Zone percussion groups "Jazz Variants" the room was shaking at times. Never heard that form my 8 watt amp.

I am hoping my next somewhat cheap and cheerful purchase will be a Record Doctor record cleaner or possibly sell some gear and buy a $399 iPhono to replace my Cambridge 651 pre. Though that pre has been blowing me away since I put my DL103 Cartridge on my dad's Technics turntable with a 1200 style S tonearm. BLOWN away nightly and even now.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Apr 2013, 02:38 am »

The iPhono has got some good reviews, and looks very promising, but I don't know if I'd dump a CA 651 for it. The Cambridge unit is a pretty nice phono-pre.

Yeah, vintage components can be awesome. I'm running the amp section of a NAD 3020B from the 70's and loving it. Yammy's can sound pretty good depending on the vintage.

DS-21 · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Apr 2013, 11:43 pm »

Not a fan. It's fairly colored-sounding in the midrange. I bet it has very high output impedance.

People who like tubes will like it, people who like high-fidelity reproduction won't.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Apr 2013, 03:02 am »

Quote from: DS-21 on 18 Apr 2013, 11:43 pm

Not a fan. It's fairly colored-sounding in the midrange. I bet it has very high output impedance.

People who like tubes will like it, people who like high-fidelity reproduction won't.

Which one? I mentioned four products in my post.

DS-21 · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Apr 2013, 08:59 pm »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 19 Apr 2013, 03:02 am

Which one? I mentioned four products in my post.

The one that's in the title of the thread, of course. It is an antiquated design with high output impedance. Great for people who want "tube sound" without the maintenance headaches, like most of the cheap, old Class D designs. But not high-fidelity.