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Amplification Recommendations Please

Happy New Year 'Goners!
I am asking for your assistance. I am looking for 2-channel amplification solutions in the $1000 to $1500 range, and would like to move to at least a tube preamplification stage, if not full tube set-up. I listen mostly to Rock and Jazz, with a sprinkling of everything else, and love the clarity of the cymbals and bells, and HF overtones best of all. (Think Pat Metheny, Miles, Beethoven Symphonies, and Stone Temple Pilots) A remote control and HT pass-thru would be nice, but transparency, clarity, and presence is tantamount!

Core components:
- Solution Must Replace: HK PM665 Integrated, 120W@8
- Speakers: Infinity Intermezzo 4.1t's (ea w/850W sub amp built-in) Recommended power: 25-500W per specs...I love these speakers, as they are incredibly flat and detailed, and I figure I need at least 50 Watts, although I rarely crank it beyond a medium volume level.
- CD: Rotel RCD 1072
- TT: HK T-60 w/various cartridges both MM and MC
(Also have tape deck & DVD, but not for critical listening)

I am torn between an integrated and seperates:
-Jolida 502B Hot Rodded by Versastarr (~$1400) No remote
-Primaluna Prologue 2 from Upscale (~$1400) No Remote
-VTL IT-85 (Used~$1500) w/Remote
OR
Seperate Preamp, Power amp & interconnects:
-Transcendent Grounded Grid (~$800) No Remote Cntl
-Audio Experience/YS Audio Symphonies Plus (~$750) No Remote Cntl
-TAD-150 (~750) Remote, HT Pass-thru
-VTL 2.5 (~$1000) Remote, HT pass-thru
Any of these would then be coupled with a reasonable priced (most likely used) power amp - most likely a solid state:
Bryston 2B or 3b, Musical Fidelity A3.2cr, PS Audio HCA-2... (wish I could afford a Krell 250A or SimAudio Moon W5)
Please, What are YOUR recommendations ?

My Sincere Thanks,
Rick.
razaroff
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I would recommend adding Conrad Johnson (MF2500A or 2250A)to your short list.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
McCormack DNA 0.5 is a great 100 wpc ss amp with a well defined upgrade path via SMcAudio
newbee
4,767 posts
 
If you don't listen at very high levels I'd put the PrimaLuna Two on your list. I bought the Prima Luna One for a second system and it drove 86dba speakers to moderately high levels with no difficulty in a midsize to smaller room. Very musical and with some tube rolling it tunes easily to what you might expect. Its only shortfall in my opinion is the bass, while full is not quite as tight as it could be. Thats why I recommended the Two - it has larger power tubes (but not that much more actual power) fast recovery diodes, and it should also be tunable to your expectations, including tightening up the bass. It also has auto bias and is fused so if a tube blows up you just replace it - no trips to the repairman to put in new bias resistors. BUT it is a barebones integrated - no remote, no HT pass thru, no tape loop, and you can't seperate the preamp stage from the amp should you ever care to do so. Pricewise though its really a great amp.
hiend2's avatar
hiend2
435 posts
 
ROGUE 120 MONO BLOCKS. 70 WATTS TRIODE 120 ULTRA. SOUNDS MUCH MORE POWERFUL. TUBE AMPS LOOK AROUND 1300.00 YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS PURCHASE IVE OWNED 4 PAIRS OF MONOBLOCKS AFTER I SOLD MINE JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER ROGUE YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK TO SOLID STATE
3728slingshot
102 posts
 
looking at the used market I would seek out a Classe CAP-100 or CAP-150
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