Arkay
Lunatic Member
I'm considering buying a preamp plus power amp for another system, and have found two pre+power amp combinations that appeal to me. I don't know which one would be better to get. They are:
Kenwood Basic C2 preamp plus M2A power amp.
Hitachi HCA-8300 preamp plus HMA-8300 "Dynaharmony" power amp
It seems these are both roughly similar (200 WPC) in power output. The Hitachi HMA-8300 is apparently (one of, if not) the first Class G mos-fet amp, and despite being a Hitachi, may be excellent, too.
I've read a number of posts here praising the Kenwoods - they seem to be a lot more common and widely respected. I can get the pair for about $150, and I think I'd be happy with them. Can't seem to find as much about the Hitachis. Less common and less well-known, but that doesn't automatically mean not as good; the Hitachis look very impressive, too. [See here: http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT/8300/8300.html ].
Does anyone here have experience with, or knowledge of, these Hitachis? OR even better, of both of the Hitachis and the Kenwoods, who could tell me their respectiive strengths and weaknesses? I can't afford to get both (getting a 9090DB and some other things this month, so already over-stretched on budget ...let's not get into storage space! :sigh, so I need to narrow it down to just one pair. I'd rather do it by reasoned choice than by "whichever one sells first and I'll take what is left" as that approach is likely to leave me with the less-desireable alternative.
Any advice or suggestions appreciated.
Kenwood Basic C2 preamp plus M2A power amp.
Hitachi HCA-8300 preamp plus HMA-8300 "Dynaharmony" power amp
It seems these are both roughly similar (200 WPC) in power output. The Hitachi HMA-8300 is apparently (one of, if not) the first Class G mos-fet amp, and despite being a Hitachi, may be excellent, too.
I've read a number of posts here praising the Kenwoods - they seem to be a lot more common and widely respected. I can get the pair for about $150, and I think I'd be happy with them. Can't seem to find as much about the Hitachis. Less common and less well-known, but that doesn't automatically mean not as good; the Hitachis look very impressive, too. [See here: http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAULT/8300/8300.html ].
Does anyone here have experience with, or knowledge of, these Hitachis? OR even better, of both of the Hitachis and the Kenwoods, who could tell me their respectiive strengths and weaknesses? I can't afford to get both (getting a 9090DB and some other things this month, so already over-stretched on budget ...let's not get into storage space! :sigh, so I need to narrow it down to just one pair. I'd rather do it by reasoned choice than by "whichever one sells first and I'll take what is left" as that approach is likely to leave me with the less-desireable alternative.
Any advice or suggestions appreciated.