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Integrated Tube Around $1000

Hello,

I'm deciding to dip into the tube world and I'm looking for a few suggestions. I love the warm tube sound but I don't want to break the bank or take up huge amounts of space with mono blocks and a pre-on the floor.

I plan to spend around $1000 US. I currently have a pair of Dynaudio A72 Floor standers and a pair of Totem Model One's. They are both in the 87-88db efficiency ball park. So I think I'll need a little juice to get them going but I suspect that 30-50watts should do the trick. My music room is in the small to medium area. I listen to everything and I do mean everything. From punk to Indian Classical and from lap top music to Jazz. Eventually I will probably go with a more efficient floorstander but I am hoping to use the integrated with the Totems or the Dynaudio's.

I'm thinking about the Jolida 202 with Mods by parts Connexion or maybe the Prima Luna One. I've heard the Jolida and been suitably impressed and I'd love to hear the Prima Luna.

Any suggestions? Should I think about used instead of new?

thanks

matthew
mcrosier
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Whooha, 30 watts is a bit shy for those Totems, even for a small room. I'd stick to something with a bit more than that as a minimum as you suggested. Jolida's 502B would be where I might go given an 87-88db efficiency. The PrimaLuna Rich mentions above has garnered some great press and is pretty much the same output tubes (4 KT88's) but it puts out 40watts instead of 60 watts which tells me they must have a different circuit design. I'd make sure that 40 watts is enough to push your Totems to levels you are happy with, but other than that, looks like that'd be a good choice too. It is auto-biasing too, while the Jolida is a manually biased amp. No big whoop to do, but to some that is a hassle. I've only heard the Jolida, and it is a damn fine integrated amp.

Marco
aball
2,016 posts
 
I agree with Jax2 - you may well need way more than 30W. I would try the Antique Sound Labs AQ1001 at 50W and see what you think. I auditioned the 202 a few times but thought the image was unclear and fairly flat. The ASL and 502B will do better.

Keep in mind you can damage your tweeters if you don't give them enough power. If you want to go with lower-powered amps, I would get more efficient speakers. Good luck! Arthur
eldarado
381 posts
 
I have been thinking about the Prima Luna Prologue 2 but, I don't think it comes with a remote. That is a deal breaker for me. You can get a Rogue Tempest (60 wpc)used for just above your budget. Good luck.
c123666
871 posts
 
not an integrated but the ASL 805 monoblocks are single ended and put out 50 watts...they might be perfect for you...any cheap passive components in the ASL can be upgraded easily for not a lot of money

for a preamp consider a used Audible Illusions linestage Modulus...they go cheap (compared to the phono model) and are very good.....used Quicksilver preamp at 675 looks interesting, too
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,769 posts
 
A few notes ...

1. The Prima Luna does not come with a remote.

2. I have been running Acoustic Research 302 (85db) and NHT SB2 (85db) speakers with the Prologue Two in a 15 X 10 X 8.5 room. The volume control starts at the 7PM position ... at the 10PM position, it is playing noticeably loud. These days I listen to a lot of opera; large scale classical; Sinatra; 60's rock; & Americana. The Prologue 2 plays much louder at lower volume levels than a NAD C320BEE (50 wpc) and a Harman Kardon 3370 (70 wpc) that I had used in the same room with same speakers.

Regards, Rich
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