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Solid state amp to go with tube preamp; used ok; budget: $3k max

I may have posed a similar question like this a while back, but I'm curious to get any updated thinking from folks, older or newer.

Situation: I have a Quicksilver Line Stage preamp and 60w monoblocks. I'm happy with them. I'd like to have a solid state amp to swap in for the monoblocks from time to time (weather, variety).

Typical desiderata in the amp are, as you'd expect, great grip on bass and pacing, smooth highs, good presence in mids, as wide and deep a soundstage as possible.

I tried Atoll 120wpc integrated (bypassing the preamp), Van Alstine SET 400, and my old Adcom 535L. None did the above to my satisfaction --problem mainly with mid, treble and with soundstage depth.

I've heard that stepping up the quality could bring something to the table, and to look out for Hegel, Ayre, Pass. Open to any topology. My speakers are 87 db, 8 ohm, and are driven just fine by 60w tube or solid state.

Specific recommendations for brands and models are welcome. I'm willing to buy, try, and re-sell if there's a good chance I'll want to keep it.

I'm going to be watching for things on used sites. Again, for this I'm setting an upper limit of $3k but am hopeful I could do fine with much less.
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jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
relative to the best sounding nelson pass gear, usually his lower powered units, class a/b offerings from belles, odyssey, ava does not favorably compare -- if the objective is a full, natural, tonally/timbrally pure presentation (of course the classic tradeoff of spl capability vs sonic purity)


mrdon
108 posts
 
Hegal H190 should be on your short list. That is about as high as you can go on 3,000 but i would not settle for anything less in the Hegel line and there is no need to do so. I’m shooting for the H20 power amp myself
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
@donvito 
You expected not to pay for shipping on a return? What's that all about?
Not what I meant to say. I meant to say, "It cost a fair amount to ship the amount back because of the weight of the amp, the lack of packaging in the way it was initially packaged, and the insurance I paid. Despite all that, it was worth it to me to pay the shipping -- which of course I knew in advance I had to pay and agreed to pay -- because I just didn't want to keep the amp." 

Hope that longer version of "ate" brings you a fuller understanding of what I said too quickly. 

@tvad  and @jjss49  -- From all I've heard, Class A/B is not going to cut it; it will have to be Class A or perhaps an innovative Class D (curious). 

The notion that "anything below the 190 in the Hegel line won't be good enough" (paraphrasing) is surprising to me. I suppose there is a range of experience here.


twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
The other trade-off you're looking at here is new vs. used, and I think it should factor more into the discussion.  Otherwise you're not comparing apples with apples.  Do you want the peace of mind that comes with a new unit (and, likely, the ability to return it if you don't like it), or do you want to squeeze every last dollar of performance out of your budget while at the same time being willing to deal with a possible malfunction, which probably won't happen for years but which just could happen tomorrow?
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
@twoleftears Good point.

Some brands are like Volvos -- tanks which run forever. If I can get the audio equivalent of a Volvo at 50% off, then that risk is acceptable. I don't need and and don't want to spend $7k on a brand new Pass Labs amp, but I cannot see me losing that much sleep over paying roughly half that for a well cared for used Pass Lab.

Other car and amp brands can be subbed in above and that will make the same argument.
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