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Member's recommendations for tube amplification

Your thoughts on options to consider:

- I'd prefer SET (open to DHT but not a requirement).

- I'm not looking for overtly warm, romantic or lush options.

- Minimum power in the teens to twenties, 10W being the floor.

- Open to higher power push-pull amps, but let's limit ceiling to around 60W.

- Single ended is fine though having XLR inputs would be nice (doesn't have to be true balanced)

- I'm cool with single chassis or monos.

- I have preferences for tube types, but leaving it open ended to get broad recommendations.

- I'm currently running an all solid state system, though have had tube based systems built around ARC, BAT, Ayon, Melody, Pathos, etc.

- Preamp will be a Pass XP-20 or the Metrum Adagio DAC direct to the amp.

- I'd like to stay around 3K used but can push the budget to 6K new/used.

- Speaker sensitivity is 94dB and higher.

THANKS!
david_ten
jmac7's avatar
jmac7
58 posts
 
You might look at the Line Magnetic 508IA, SET, Pure Class A, 48 watts per channel. Here is a link to a site that says a little about it. 
http://widescreenaudio.be/product/line-magnetic-lm-216ia-3-2-2-3/. 
There is a dealer called GoldPrint Audio that you can contact if you wish. I think that they still sell them.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Audiogon member Waltersalas uses the Line Magnetic 508ia with his Double Impacts and says the results are stunning.  No shortage of exceptional amplifier options for this speaker. 
Charles 
hddg's avatar
hddg
123 posts
 
Coincident Frankenstein MkII - very good sound in all parameters. The manufacturer is not the best to deal with, but sound quality here I must say is of the highest note. You can still improve by asking for caps upgrade before ordering. It drives 89dB speakers to quite nice levels, but I wouldn't use them with large drivers, 10inch max. With bigger ones, it lacks attack and dynamics. Depending on your speaker character, you can play with 300B tubes, the WE300B replica from Psvane is marvelous, and gives incredible details and mids. The Takatsuki TA300B is slightly more balanced (again, will depend on speaker and/or your taste) and gives better bass. The Psvane black bottle does very well too. A good preamp will obviously improve these SET quite dramatically. Although I usually prefer to pair transistor/tube preamp/amps, I have experienced that they match perfectly with their cousin, the Coincident Statement Line. 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi hddg, 
I've the same amplifier as you and have enjoyed it immensely the past 8 years. I've had zero issues or difficulty dealing with the company owner, he's consistently been supportive and responsive during those 8 years. 

No doubt that anyone  is perfect or always pleases everyone. Sorry to hear you had some problems with him. By the way I also have their Statement Line Stage and it is indeed superb. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
hddg, 
I viewed your system page and you have a very nice one,  it must sound fantastic.  I noticed that you have the Gryphon Mephisto amplifier.  Do you alternate between this and the SET Frankenstein MK II?  If so what a "very" stark contrast they must provide given their vastly different power and topologies.  I find this very interesting. 
Charles 
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