[T Bone]

  Question for you guys, I just bought an HA-1 and I'd like to use it as a pre-amp, as I don't have enough to buy both another pre-amp and a speaker amplifier. What would ya'll recommend?
I would like it to have silver finish, be the approximate size of the HA-1, and preferably have balanced inputs.

It all depends on what kind of budget you have and what kind of speakers you're planning on driving.
 
Personally, I've used my Oppo a few times as a pre-amp feeding a massive Cary Audio tube amp.  Not a typical pairing, but it certainly was entertaining.  

 

[polecrab]

Question for you guys, I just bought an HA-1 and I'd like to use it as a pre-amp, as I don't have enough to buy both another pre-amp and a speaker amplifier. What would ya'll recommend?
I would like it to have silver finish, be the approximate size of the HA-1, and preferably have balanced inputs.

Doesn't the HA-1 meet all of those criteria? What's wrong with the HA-1?

Edit: were you asking for power amp recommendations for your speakers?

 

[OhMyGodPancakes]

  It all depends on what kind of budget you have and what kind of speakers you're planning on driving.
 
Personally, I've used my Oppo a few times as a pre-amp feeding a massive Cary Audio tube amp.  Not a typical pairing, but it certainly was entertaining.  

 
Good point, since I have never had a speaker set up before, all I'm sure of is that I'd like a stereo setup, I'd like to spend less $1,000, and I would like it to fit the HA-1 asthetic.

 

[OhMyGodPancakes]

Doesn't the HA-1 meet all of those criteria? What's wrong with the HA-1?

Edit: were you asking for power amp recommendations for your speakers?

Yes sir, I am giving speakers a chance

 

[ray-dude]

I'm irrationally lusting after the Schiit Vidar's right now, for no reason than the grass is always greener.  I'd like to try them as mono blocks coming off my HA-1 (currently running the HA-1 as a DAC/preamp for my Classe 2300)
 
Not available yet (hence the irrationality) but looks very interesting at the price point

 

[polecrab]

Yes sir, I am giving speakers a chance

What speakers are you using and how much power do you need into what kind of load?

 

[Xyrium]

I've used the HA1 with a Parasound A23 and achieved excellent results. However, the silver of the A23 is not identical to the HA1. 

 

[T Bone]

  I'm irrationally lusting after the Schiit Vidar's right now
..snip..
Not available yet (hence the irrationality) but looks very interesting at the price point

While they're not a cosmetic match to the HA-1, the Vidar should prove to be an excellent choice for a sub $1k amplifier.
Schiit makes some great products.  They're hard to beat in the "bang-for-the-buck" department.  

I believe the Vidar has balanced XLR input which will mate up with the HA-1's balanced output rather nicely.

 

[OhMyGodPancakes]

What speakers are you using and how much power do you need into what kind of load?

Well see thats the thing, I am still doing my research there, I've always been a headphone guy, but I hate letting all those outputs in the oppo go to waist. Maybe a set of Polk Audio TSi400s or maybe some KlipschR-24Fs. I need to establish a baseline first since sound taste is so subjective.

 

[OhMyGodPancakes]

  I've used the HA1 with a Parasound A23 and achieved excellent results. However, the silver of the A23 is not identical to the HA1. 

Oh wow actually this looks like a pretty good fit for me. Thanks! But see, now I wanna wait for the Schiit Vidar O_O

 

[polecrab]

Well see thats the thing, I am still doing my research there, I've always been a headphone guy, but I hate letting all those outputs in the oppo go to waist. Maybe a set of Polk Audio TSi400s or maybe some KlipschR-24Fs. I need to establish a baseline first since sound taste is so subjective.

In that price class, I think it's going to be challenging finding an appropriate balanced amp. You should be spending a lot more of your budget on your speakers than on your amp, so that means you'd be looking at amps in a price range that doesn't include any balanced models. The Schiit and Parasound, etc., would all be overkill for those speakers.

 

[OhMyGodPancakes]

In that price class, I think it's going to be challenging finding an appropriate balanced amp. You should be spending a lot more of your budget on your speakers than on your amp, so that means you'd be looking at amps in a price range that doesn't include any balanced models. The Schiit and Parasound, etc., would all be overkill for those speakers.

 
Ok that makes sense, and I do plan to get something more refiened down the line, any recommendations?

 

[polecrab]

Ok that makes sense, and I do plan to get something more refiened down the line, any recommendations?

I have a Magnepan .7 pair with my HA-1 as preamp and an ATI power amp. I totally love my Maggies, but they need several feet of space behind them and plenty of current to power them.

 

[OhMyGodPancakes]

I have a Magnepan .7 pair with my HA-1 as preamp and an ATI power amp. I totally love my Maggies, but they need several feet of space behind them and plenty of current to power them.

Awesome, Thanks for the advice Those Magnepans look amazing!

 

[wgb113]

Have you looked at active speakers? They'd simplify your setup and take the guesswork out of power amp pairing.