Rotel

[Angels]

I just purchased the Rotel ra1592 mk11 and paired it with a pair of Left Q 950 and it sounds amazing I was really surprised I love it

 

[Old_School_Brad]

I wasn't familiar with that model. It looks well-built, but the use of surface-mounted components could make repairs more challenging.
Enjoy!

RA-1592MKII

The RA-1592MKII delivers 200 Watts of Class AB output into 8 ohm speakers supporting your favorite analog, digital, XLR, aptXTM and AAC Bluetooth, PC-USB with MQA and Moving Magnet Phono stage inputs. The audiophile grade 32-bit/384kHz DAC and precisely tuned circuits delivers an unprecedented...

rotel.com

 

[BDWoody]

I just purchased the Rotel ra1592 mk11 and paired it with a pair of Left Q 950 and it sounds amazing I was really surprised I love it

Isn't it nice when a new purchase just makes you happy?

I hope you continue to love it!

 

[Castore]

I wasn't familiar with that model. It looks well-built, but the use of surface-mounted components could make repairs more challenging.
Enjoy!

RA-1592MKII

The RA-1592MKII delivers 200 Watts of Class AB output into 8 ohm speakers supporting your favorite analog, digital, XLR, aptXTM and AAC Bluetooth, PC-USB with MQA and Moving Magnet Phono stage inputs. The audiophile grade 32-bit/384kHz DAC and precisely tuned circuits delivers an unprecedented...

rotel.com

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I'm also interested to change my current amplifier, but as you mentioned, I would like to choose something that is not made full of IC or SMD. Any advice of brand that are still building really with discrete components? Some brand advertices that are doing in this way, but usually is just marketing

 

[solderdude]

I would like to choose something that is not made full of IC or SMD

Why ?
SMD components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors etc. are also discrete and opamps basically are also 'discrete' designs but with most of the required components on one small 'chip'.
Try to find a DAC or any digital music source for instance that is all 'discrete' anyway there is bound to be some IC's in there anyway.
And ... consider that the music has passes though many chips before it arrives at your analog out anyway. How are the last 'discrete' components going to 'help' anything ?

Most 'tube gear' will have what you seek. All discrete components so will some 'high-end' gear that promotes that idea/philosophy. I am not in that kind of gear though so can't recommend some.

Now ... if it is about service-ability and being able to repair easily it would require components that are still available after 10 years or more and one would likely need a schematic (though this is not essential for experts).
I can understand that ... fortunately all the gear I built 40 years ago can still be repaired so is do-able.

 

[Castore]

Why ?
SMD components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors etc. are also discrete and opamps basically are also 'discrete' designs but with most of the required components on one small 'chip'.
Try to find a DAC or any digital music source for instance that is all 'discrete' anyway there is bound to be some IC's in there anyway.
And ... consider that the music has passes though many chips before it arrives at your analog out anyway. How are the last 'discrete' components going to 'help' anything ?

Most 'tube gear' will have what you seek. All discrete components so will some 'high-end' gear that promotes that idea/philosophy. I am not in that kind of gear though so can't recommend some.

Now ... if it is about service-ability and being able to repair easily it would require components that are still available after 10 years or more and one would likely need a schematic (though this is not essential for experts).
I can understand that ... fortunately all the gear I built 40 years ago can still be repaired so is do-able.

Why?
it's easy to explain. Currently I have a Harman Kardon from 90s that I own from 2009. Because it has some issue I bring it to repair, but in the meantime I'm taking a look because I would to have something new with a little of power more.
The Harman Kardon has inside different boards with resistors, transistors and so on, but no IC inside. For that reason every repair shop can fix. Nowadays some very beautiful amps that are also relaible, needs specific tools and software to repair, and some parts are not supplied as spare parts (the microcontroller on their mainboard for example). So if I spend for example 1000 or 1500 €, why in 10 years after the warranty I have to buy a complete board ? (expensive) if still available of course?
Don't take care about DAC or others, I'm asking just for integrated amplifier, my DAC is a Cambridge Audio that I bought for 200€ 10 years ago, and if it faults I know that I have to trow in the garbage, but why an integrated amplifier musty be so complicated? Basically it is just a current amplificator with an input selector and a volume control?
This is not an 'high-end' gear idea/philosophy, is just a sustainable and practical way.

 

[voodooless]

pair of Left Q 950

Imagine if you had a left and a right-handed Q950

Jokes aside, I'm glad you're happy with the setup . I would, however, have switched priorities here and spent the money that went to the amp on speakers and the money on the speakers on an amp. That might have gotten you something with room correction as well.

but why an integrated amplifier musty be so complicated? Basically it is just a current amplificator with an input selector and a volume control?

Those do exist, but these days, integrated usually means "highly integrated", and that means that it comes with a DAC and steaming functions build-in.

 

[Castore]

Those do exist, but these days, integrated usually means "highly integrated", and that means that it comes with a DAC and steaming functions build-in.

Maybe I could redefine my question:

Which is the best hifi electronic brand from the side of a Indipendent/generic repair shop?
A the moment my choice could be one of these: Rotel, Yamaha, Denon, Rega ?

Any advice then?

 

[solderdude]

To go noticeably higher in output level a 'little higher' in power won't do. You would need to go at least 4x higher in power level... just so you know.
There is no point in going from 60W to 80W or so.

I understand serviceability though. Some gear has mechanical components that are not serviceable and may not be (easily) replaceable either so is no guarantee.

While an integrated amplifier just seems to have an input selector, volume control (balance, tone) and some other features it isn't just a device that increases voltage and current levels. Basically it does but to do it well it requires a bit more thought/care.

Integrated amps are not simple devices, they were in the old days but not any more. There still are some devices that are built the way you want them to but won't be in the € 200,- range but will be > € 1k,- and probably won't be made by any of the brands you are looking at.

 

[voodooless]

Which is the best hifi electronic brand from the side of a Indipendent/generic repair shop?
A the moment my choice could be one of these: Rotel, Yamaha, Denon, Rega ?

I guess that is something for @restorer-john or @Doodski to answer. They have tons of experience repairing all kind of wacky audio stuff But let's not hijack this topic for that.

 

[Castore]

To go noticeably higher in output level a 'little higher' in power won't do. You would need to go at least 4x higher in power level... just so you know.
There is no point in going from 60W to 80W or so.

I understand serviceability though. Some gear has mechanical components that are not serviceable and may not be (easily) replaceable either so is no guarantee.

While an integrated amplifier just seems to have an input selector, volume control (balance, tone) and some other features it isn't just a device that increases voltage and current levels. Basically it does but to do it well it requires a bit more thought/care.

Integrated amps are not simple devices, they were in the old days but not any more. There still are some devices that are built the way you want them to but won't be in the € 200,- range but will be > € 1k,-

My budget is about 1500€/1800€. I heard a nice sounding Yamaha A-S1200 from a friend of mine that is very satisfied of it.

 

[solderdude]

That will work fine but don't expect it to be serviceable 10 years from now by your average tech and probably also not by Yamaha itself.
It is filled with 'chips' anyway.

Your best bet might be a fully restored vintage amp. If done well it could last a few decades.

 

[Castore]

That will work fine but don't expect it to be serviceable 10 years from now by your average tech and probably also not by Yamaha itself.
It is filled with 'chips' anyway.

Just to be clear, I'm not a repair man, my electronic knowledge is very limited, I knows some repair shops that work good on old stuff, but when the electronics are too recent then they have some problems to fix properly

 

[Old_School_Brad]

My budget is about 1500€/1800€. I heard a nice sounding Yamaha A-S1200 from a friend of mine that is very satisfied of it.

That’s a fairly analog, traditionally designed amplifier, though it does contain some proprietary chips that Yamaha used in their older AVRs. If you're looking for a completely chip-free amplifier, you'd have to go back to the '80s, before Yamaha introduced HCA, for example. That said, I haven't heard of chips failing in the A-S series or their AVRs that use the same ones.

HCA ICs have been reverse-engineered and can be easily replaced.

 

[solderdude]

Just to be clear, I'm not a repair man, my electronic knowledge is very limited, I knows some repair shops that work good on old stuff, but when the electronics are too recent then they have some problems to fix properly

This will be the case with the Yamaha for sure.

What you seem to look for is (properly) restored vintage gear or some boutique higher-end stuff designed with that philosophy.
All the 'regular' brands use chips/parts that are currently easy to source but some parts may well become obsolete in a few years.
Today is all about functionality, looks, advertising and maximizing profits while claiming all kinds of 'silly' things about their devices (and reviewers go along with all of that).

 

[Castore]

I read that Accuphase guarantees the repair of its sfuff, even the older ones. Is it true?

 

[solderdude]

Accuphase, Krell, McIntosh, etc. are already in the higher-end and won't be cheap.
You may need to have vintage ones restored.

 

[Scytales]

I read that Accuphase guarantees the repair of its sfuff, even the older ones. Is it true?

In Japan, unquestionably yes.

From overseas, it may be more difficult to obtain that quality of services. Testimonies about that subject will be welcomed.

 

[Castore]

Accuphase, Krell, McIntosh, etc. are already in the higher-end and won't be cheap.
You may need to have vintage ones restored.

Yes, of course some vintage for that brand. I know they are really expensive as new.

 

[Castore]

You may need to have vintage ones restored.

Could you suggest me a good shop/online seller in Europe that restores and sells good vintage stuff?