Looking to move to a Tube Integrated setup

@dekay I stopped in reply, restarted, and missed your prior post, only saw the MA352 post above yours. Good to know - for crying out loud. We read ya, LOL :)

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@jijoh123 Long story, have a 50yr audiophile buddy who’s been through at least 8 different Decware, Cary, Inspire by Dennis Had SET 45 and 300B 2-8w amps, also owns Cary SLI-80 40wpc, and custom EL84 amps at 20w. Geeze, 5 others prior to this. He’s back to looking for a higher current SS integrated amp to better drive and control the drivers in his 96db 8ohm tube friendly speakers better. He listens at mid to lower listening levels. If it were me, I’d be excluding the 2-8w fleawatt tube SET amps for those speakers and 4ohm impedance. Been down this path myself, and the higher quality amps with real iron in them, both SS and Tube, made the most difference for me.

Are you into the more modern uber detail sound some like these days, or the softer and more plush laid back type of sound others crave? Live demos with your speakers is the best way if possible. Best of luck.

In fact I did but your description was a bit ambiguous. But that is not the point.

Much of the low impedance occurred with the bass drivers well below the crossover frequency. I suspect the bass drivers are very similar if not the same drivers.

In all likelihood  the measurements would in fact look similar when it comes to impedance and almost certainly it will dip below the nominal 4 ohm rating.

Didn’t mean to debate the point with you and just wanted to pass on some important considerations as you look for a new amp.

Thanks for the feedback Corelli. I appreciate your candor and passion. I mean not to offend, but at the end of the day, measurements and technical data aside, it really comes down to what it evokes in my heart and in my soul. Music for me is an emotional experience and not a clinical lab analysis. Music, both live and reproduced, speaks to my heart and my innermost feelings.

I don't disagree with that.  Measurements might help to predict certain aspects of music reproduction, but in the end the true test is your ears and the enjoyment you derive from your system.  Good luck on achieving your goals.

As an alternative integrated tube amplifier, consider one of the Audiomats.  They start with Aloha, Arpege, Aria, Adagio, Opera, Solfège.  Here’s a link to their webpage

http://www.audiomat.fr/Amplificateurs~T-1-0-1

The North American rep is located in Canada, Pasqual Ravach.

i have lived with two of their integrated amplifiers, the Arpege and the Prelude Reference MKII for almost 25 years and they are wonderful products, really solid, utterly reliable and musically outstanding.   I think they are priced below their real value.  Check out any of their reviews and you will find them very positive.  They are sadly not well known in the US.