[siava1018]

hey guys im looking for a reasonably price amp around $400 that i can use on my GR insignias and then use with my N3 when their done.  New or pre loved is fine with me and way less than 400 would be killer as i wana get a new DAC and get rid of my H/K receiver for a good pre amp, my set up so far is iMac > Behringer uca202 > H/K 3385.  I had my eye on this amp let me kno what you guys think http://www.emotiva.com/upa2.shtm

[Danny Richie]

I can make you a great deal on a Virtue Audio amp. I have not heard a better sounding amp in that price range, especially if you run it on batteries.

[eclein]

I can make you a great deal on a Virtue Audio amp. I have not heard a better sounding amp in that price range, especially if you run it on batteries.

+1-I love my TWO.2 by Virtue..game changer for sure!!

[jtwrace]

I was also impressed with the TWO.2 for the money.  Small real estate required as well.

[dvenardos]

Another Virtue fan. 
From the Virtue Tour thread:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=82191.msg812514#msg812514

I brought the TWO.2 to my parents house today and gave it a listen on my dads Counterpoint Clearfield Continentals and his brand new speakers whose name escapes me.  This thing kicked some serious butt in those rigs.

Plainly outclassed his emotiva amp in every way and brought the magic back to his Clearfields which had been missing (he was getting ready to sell them).  Soundstage, tone, detail, pace, it was all there driving these speakers. 

I didn't get a chance to try it in with his bedroom warfdales, but I lef it at his house and am sure he'll let me know how that went tomorrow (assuming he was able to bring himself to remove it from his big rigs).

[siava1018]

lol one.2 it is then.  Now what would you guys recommend next replacing the uca202 with a real DAC( http://www.acoustic-fun.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=29 ) or get rid of the HK receiver for a nice preamp.

[eclein]

siava1018- if you can swing it get the 30V/130Watt power supply for your ONE.2...its worth it! I'm using my TWO.2 with a Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 as a DAC/preamp and it truly shines. When you get your unit let us know and we'll show you some easy, easy tweaks to make it even better. Give whatever piece you get a few days to break in before you do any critical (keep it or not) listening. Mine came on a Friday afternoon and by Sunday afternoon I was hearing it open up and it gets better from there. As far as the next piece goes I'd wait and see how everything sounds with the new amp....FWIW..Enjoy!!!

[siava1018]

thanks, before i posted i googled one.2 mods and saw some cool stuff cant wait.

[Danny Richie]

The battery power supply takes it to the highest level (sound quality wise).

[dvenardos]

The One.2 comes with virtue caps (unless Danny has the sonicap version in stock) versus the auricaps on the Two.2. I like the auricaps much better than the standard caps. I would upgrade the caps to sonicaps or auricaps. I will be doing a comparison the classic Two with auricaps to the Two.2 with sonicaps.

[dvenardos]

I haven't gone through a bunch of DACs, but I bought the Channel Islands VDA-2 based on reviews and it was a night and day improvement over the analog out of my squeezebox SB3 (there was no point in doing an a/b). Based on this experience I can say that a DAC can make a huge difference.

lol one.2 it is then.  Now what would you guys recommend next replacing the uca202 with a real DAC( http://www.acoustic-fun.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=29 ) or get rid of the HK receiver for a nice preamp.