Ohm Walsh Micro Talls: who's actually heard 'em?

Zkzpb8,

Thanks a lot for the suggestions! I'd be looking to keep this under $1500 for an integrated amp... I figure I can still get around $800 for the Unico here on A'gon, which would take the sting out of the purchase price.

I was thinking of the C375BEE -- Sam Tellig just gave it a glowing review in Stereophile -- seems like a lot of bang for the buck. And I stopped into a local dealer who said he'd let me take it home overnight to see how it sounds in my system.

Never looked at Audio by VanAlstine but I will.

I spoke to Wally at Underwood. I don't know if he's still selling mods to the Unico. He's stopped selling Unison retail -- told me that the MSRP's had risen so much recently that they just weren't a good value anymore.

Bondmanp,

Sadly, no pre-outs on the Unico.

Rebbi,

I think that you can buy a new Bel Canto integrated amp in your price range. I've used this combo (Bel Canto s300 w/Ohm 100 S3)and it works very well. The S-300 offers a pre-out (if you ever want to add a sub), but not a power in (if you want to actively roll off your mains when you add that sub). Kind of a "glass half full".

The good news is that you might even be able to go with Bel Canto separates at/near your price point if you buy used. Check the A'gon listings. This set-up offers full (bi-amping or switching to a different power amp if you so choose in the future) flexibility going forward, and a stacked pair of small, matching Bel Canto chassis echos the uncluttered look of an integrated.

Good Luck,

Marty

Rebbi,

For greatest potential improvement, I'd look towards the separates if viable for you. I doubt you could go wrong with Bel Canto for compactness or even Musical Fidelity or Classe (those would be leading contenders were it me). A nice inexpensive used tube pre-amp ( with SS amp is also something to consider. An ARC might be too expensive, but a VTL or JUicy, BAT, or several others I've researched and/or had recommended could be interesting.

Audiogoner DarkMobius has offered me up some very reliable advice on multiple occasions and recommended these tube pre-amps in the $1K-$2K range to me a while back:

ARC, CAT, BAT, Modwright 9.0, VTL, Cary, Air Tight, Melody

Rebbi, if you can wait for one to come up as they seem to, the VTL 2.5 is a preamp that's inexpensive used. I recently purchased one and mine is very quiet and has that tube sound with a dimensional quality.