New integrated amp/pre-amp for 2014

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I wonder if Dan designed the tone controls with a detent and true bypass on this new integrated amp?

Dan
It is supposed to be true bypass just as they are in the pre-amp.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Still-One

Dan
It is supposed to be true bypass just as they are in the pre-amp.

Jim.......The reason I made mention of the detent in the controls is I have heard the D'Agostino preamp's Bass and Treble controls do not have a detent so it would be difficult to know when the tone controls were truly bypassed. Personally, I prefer a switch that bypasses the tone circuit all together so that you can make direct comparisons of a particular tone setting and flat.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jim.......The reason I made mention of the detent in the controls is I have heard the D'Agostino preamp's Bass and Treble controls do not have a detent so it would be difficult to know when the tone controls were truly bypassed. Personally, I prefer a switch that bypasses the tone circuit all together so that you can make direct comparisons of a particular tone setting and flat.

Dan, the bottom row right hand button on the left side of the front panel and also duplicated on the remote control turns on/off any power to the tone controls.

http://www.absolutesounds.com/pdf/ma...ino_Preamp.pdf

[jdandy]

Jim.......Thank you. I enjoyed the review as well. It seems that I remember the preamp originally did not have a tone bypass feature. Am I mistaken? Was the addition of tone bypass a running production change? I am pleased to see the tone bypass. In my opinion it is essential when tone controls are implemented on a preamplifier at this level of performance. I will be looking forward to the reviews and owner comments one the D'Agostino integrated amplifier is available.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jim.......Thank you. I enjoyed the review as well. It seems that I remember the preamp originally did not have a tone bypass feature. Am I mistaken? Was the addition of tone bypass a running production change? I am pleased to see the tone bypass. In my opinion it is essential when tone controls are implemented on a preamplifier at this level of performance. I will be looking forward to the reviews and owner comments one the D'Agostino integrated amplifier is available.

I think what concerned some individuals is that there is no zero position on the bass and treble. No one makes a 13 position control so D'Agostino has 6steps for plus and 6 steps for negative. You cannot have zero on treble and plus one on bass because there is no zero, just off. During a demo Dan showed how subtle the 1 position is. No one could easily tell when the tone controls were on or off if the +1or -1 positions were chosen.

I hope this makes sense.

[jdandy]

Jim........Again, thanks for the explanation. It makes perfect sense. I would be inclined to operate the preamp in tone bypass mode rather than have a subtle +1 or -1 on either of the Bass or Treble controls, but that's just me.

[enit]

Uncompromised integrated amp by providing the same power supply on the dedicated amp into this. What about power supply for the preamp section? Will the preamp section draw from the "power amp" power supply?

Why then is it uncompromised? Just being nit picky for $45,000.

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jim........Again, thanks for the explanation. It makes perfect sense. I would be inclined to operate the preamp in tone bypass mode rather than have a subtle +1 or -1 on either of the Bass or Treble controls, but that's just me.

Dan
I doubt I would ever use them either. When I had the pre-amp in my system For about a week I never used them.

If you look a the lab report in the review I previously linked. I think you will see that the tone controls are pretty innocuous in the 1 position.

[jdandy]

Jim.......Yes, I saw that position one represented a mere plus or minus 1 dB centered on 1kHz. More measurable than truly audible with the exception of those with Golden Ears.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by wizard

Dan D'Agostino's long-awaited Momentum Integrated has finally come to fruition. The original plan was to make it a multifunction device with streaming and digital functionality, but the finished product is essentially a combination of circuit boards from the Momentum Preamplifier and Stereo power amplifier in a chassis that's not as deep as the separates but makes up for it with height. This is because the power supply is underneath the distinctive copper-flanked casework. Dan D'Agostino explained that he built the Momentum Integrated because he saw demand for a totally uncompromised integrated amp -- that's why this model has the same transformer as the Momentum Stereo power amplifier and delivers 200Wpc into 8 ohms and 800Wpc into 2 ohms. It has a copper-and-aluminum "thermal engine" to provide cooling. The price is $45,000, and it will begin to ship in March.

I'm sure the $45,000 price will bring D'Ag products to a "broader market"....

This integrated is twice the price of a DarTZeel CTH-8550....