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Opinions on SS amps

Hi there,
I am really just doing research and gathering opinions of the knowledgable crowd here at the 'gon.

Some day I'll move up the line of focal speakers, probably to the alto (91dB) for a more involving sound than my current 1007be monitors. Of course with that, I would eventually want to try some of the more acclaimed "musical" class A SS amps.

Right now, pass labs XA series, dartzeel, and the Rowland 302 are on my radar as having reputations of being very musical. I am sure there are others I must be missing. Suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated. As well, if anybody has come across a great combintion (ss or tube) with any of the focal utopia line, those suggestions would also be invaluable.

Thanks for your time,
Peter
mariasplunge
raquel
841 posts
 
Singer runs them with Burmeister, but my guess is that the darTZeel would be hard to beat, especially given the efficiency of the Utopia Be line.
natewalker_2006
30 posts
 
Peter,

With 91dB speakers you should highly consider the Red Wine Audio Signature 30 or Signature 70s. They are very musical and battery powered so no power line noise. If they were in fancy enclosures and not sold factory-direct, I'm sure they'd be priced much higher.

Good luck,

Nate
bkonig
127 posts
 
I'm actually a dealer for dartzeel. I use it in my personal reference system. I never loved solid state. Most of my reference amplifiers were tubes. I owned the Tenor OTL's prior to the dart. The Tenor was an absolutely stunning performer. However, I was shocked when I heard the dartzeel. It simply sounded like music. It has the blackest quietest background, incredible resolution, transparency, and huge 3D stage with the best sense of focus, space and depth I ever heard. It also has stunningly natural tonality. It took the dart to make me a believer in transistors. And Herve (Mr dartzeel) is a real joy and truely cherishes his customers.
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