Zu Soul Superfly

I just brought home one of my father's extra amplifiers to experiment. Its a class D job, a Panasonic XR-25 digital receiver. I've got it's volume maxed out and am using my tube preamp into the tape input.

What I'm hearing is interesting but definitely inferior so far to my First Watt F1.

The midrange is thin and kind of lifeless. Its detailed but very flat and lacking in texture, but sound staging is great, resolution top to bottom is really nice and my speakers seem like they may be benefiting from the additional power.

Bass isn't any more impactful, in fact its probably less so, but space and air seems like it might have improved.

This was a cheapie experiment and not intended for a second to replace my First Watt, but it does have me curious/eager to try other amplification.

is there an amp i can find here in the $500-$800 range that can power my Soul's? i agree that my cambridge 540 and HK 3490 are lacking in the lower midrange/bass arena.

Ctaudio15,

I drive my Druids very nicely with an AudioSector Patek. I suspect it would do similar justice to the Souls, and would be at the high end of your budget if you could find one used. If you need an integrated (like your Cambridge and HK) AudioSector makes a passive integrated too.

David

I have been singularly unimpressed by classD amplification, whether $30 t-amp or $1000 Rotel. They both sound the same, except Rotel has more watts (it's ICE implementation).

with classD, I say, don't spend money on fancy implementation. It all sounds classD.

Ctaudio15, I would think for $5-800 you could easily find a Dyna ST 70 and upgrade it (cleaning connectors, controls, and switch, and replacing caps and weak tubes), or one already upgraded. If you check with 213Cobra he will agree with the musicality of an EL-34 amp.

Unfortunately I have very limited experience with Zu speakers but I built an original ST 70 and have owned a few more in the decades since then. They may not be the last word in detail or woofer control but they are unfailingly musical (when operating correctly) and remain affordable.