2. amps-preamps
  3. 1122582001

Integrated Amp Choice: budget tubes or ss?

Hi,

I just recently started to get into hi-fi but have been an avid music lover/listener/maker for many years. Right now my setup consists of a Rega P2 with Clearaudio cartridge, a cheap mediocre cd player, a Marantz 2100 vintage tuner, and a Marantz 1152DC vintage integrated. My speakers are StudioLab 402's (StudioLap made in France by Mosquito www.mosquito-groupe.com, not the Canadian StudioLAB).

My listening habbits are about 70% vinyl, 30% CD and styles ranging from Wire to Taj Mahal to Steve Reich.

Right now I have the option of keeping my 1152DC, but there are a couple good deals and I'm interested in upgrading/changing/experimenting. I could get a Cambridge Audio Azure 340A, or a Ming-Da MC-34A .. I know that the tube/SS divide is pretty big, but I can't decide which one would give me more bang for the buck in that price range. Both are about the same price.. the Cambridge would be new and the Ming-Da used.

Given my brief explanation of my musical taste and formats does anybody have a recommendation of one or the other?

Thanks,
Matt
emenel
mimberman
299 posts
 
Have you auditioned the cambridge already? You can get the 540 for like 270 used, which packs a little more punch, but I have to say that the audio refinement and arcam are much better IMO than the cambridge. If you can find a Prima Luna Prologue one used then that's a great little amp (you can install a mm/mc phono card for like 160...more info at upscale audio or prima luna web site).

If you can scrape together 800, then you should seriously purchase this classe cap-150:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1127494398

This is a seriously great integrated for the price, and considering it has a remote, an mm/mc phono stage, and puts out 100 pwc, you really can't beat it. Seriously, it's worth the extra money (I was thinking of getting it myself for a bedroom system, but I'm saving my moolah for a beefier integrated for the main system).

Otherwise, I prefer this Onix to the cambridge:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1127053815

It's not that the cambridge is bad, seriously, and for the money it's a bargain, but more money on the used market gets you a big step up, which would probably happen anyway because I don't see the cambridge as an amp I could live with for a long time (IMHO).

get the classe, it's worth whatever sacrifice you have to make (who needs food anyway...)
artmaltman
769 posts
 
Check out used Antique Sound Lab or Jolida tube gear, if you have the patience to deal with tube gear. I think you'll get a more lifelike sound from a tube integrated.
Art
jb0194
476 posts
 
Give Bill Baker of:

www.responseaudio.com

a call. He has a number of nice used Ming Da and possibly Jolida integrateds on his "Specials" link. He is a dealer/modder for both brands and knows them about as well as anyone. I'm partial to the Ming Da brand as I own both preamp and amps, finding them to be a screaming bargain for their prices.

Best wishes on your purchase, whatever it turns out to be.

jb
jay_douglas_2879b79
239 posts
 
keep the marantz int.....get a new front end.
robm321
932 posts
 
check out Antique Sound Lab - they have good integrated amps at budget prices.
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