2. amps-preamps
  3. 128147-2211

Integrated amp upgrade

I'm using a Classé Audio CAP-151 to drive my Thiel CS 3.7s at the moment.
I'm not sure if i should upgrade, anyway if i do so i'm looking for a used integrated amp in the $2K to $3K price range with balanced inputs.
I've seen a Sugden IA4 for $3K and a Musical Fidelity KW 550 for $2,4K but it's not balanced.
If i upgrade it would have to be really worth it otherwise i'd rather keep my CAP-151.
I have someone who would like to buy my CAP-151 for $1,6K.

thieliste
thieliste's avatar
thieliste OP
831 posts
 
Hey jafant what are you up to lately ?
Right now i'm investigating on Technical Brain.
Are you aware of that brand from Japan ?
Today i called the ditributor in France and we talked for an hour.
The preamp and monoblocks are unfortunately out of reach for most of us : $125K but the integrated would be worth a listen at $25K.
Therefore i will probably go see the distributor in april to audition the integrated.
He told me this integrated can easily compete with $50K worth of separates.
I don't know if it's in your price range but you might want to look at it for your CS 2.4SE.

http://www.technicalbrain.co.jp/index_e.html

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,527 posts
 
From what I have read, JV gave a full endorsement in TAS, then took it back when he found just how unreliable the Technical Brain components were.  They were never mentioned again.
thieliste's avatar
thieliste OP
831 posts
 
The problems you are reffering to concerned the earlier versions.
It has been fixed since then.
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