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Demo'ing Class A amps, Appreciation Suggestions from those who recently been there

I recently sold my Cary S120MKll Amp in 2 days. It was 60wpc triode.
Filling in with Pass Lab, baby DIY Class A Mono blocks. Maxing at 7 wpc.
My speakers are rated 94 Sensitivity older FSMs by Tannoy.

I have sampled so far in order of preference:

-Pass Labs XA25 -Disneyland color the way I like it. $4,900 new
-Leben 300 Int. 12 wpc. EL 84s by Golden Lion-Like an Upscale call girl. Seductive. $4,000 new-Not in the running-

-Lejonklou Boazu Int.-40wpc S.S. Class a/b-Totally Pure. Almost hurts to hear a guitar slide. $4,000 new
-Sugden Masterclass IA 4 Class A to 33wpc. Very smooth but surprisingly not a great match with my Tannoys. $6,000?

What else would you think might be worth a listen?
I want to go Solid State this time. I enjoy the Class A resolution.
Yes the Leben is an outlier someone offered and I said "Sure"! Done with hum otherwise.


I listen from a low of 60 db to high of 75 db.
Room is irregular and medium sized in terms of cubic
feet. Treated as needed.

I want an amp that is satisfying enough to keep for the long run.
Someday I may add the others for a different sound or with less efficient planars, etc.

Price range $5k max.
Used preferred.
Willing to wait.

Brands I am have not heard but read positive comments about:
Ayre, Naim, Linn

Thank you all in advance for your thoughts.
Please do not feel compelled to respond if you
have not been here in the last few years.





chorus
toetapaudio
474 posts
 
@chorus, I recommend trying to get a listen to the Bakoon 13R class A SS amplifier. It works extremely well with Cube Audio Nenuphar’s. Suggest reading Srajan’s review on Six Moons. It’s extremely compact, a work of art. It has its own volume control and two sets of rca inputs. It also has a BNC input reserved for use with a Bakoon dac. If you were in the U.K. we could lend you one to try.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,967 posts
 
That speaker is very tube friendly. We have a good number of Tannoy customers using our M-60s (60 watts class A) with them.
chorus OP
976 posts
 
Some excellent thoughts here, thank you. 
Atmasphere, if tubes were an option, would work.

I rule out defunct companies  BEL, Clayton etc as risky investments.

Bakoon looks like a good company to follow in the future.
When makers or reviewers do not give the 4 and 2 ohm wpc,
the amp is likely none too stout.

Class A is compelling.
That said A/B  has advantages.
Naim and Linn are cults in some countries. 

What was wrong with Cary?  Sonically nothing.
I heard the resolution from a  $300 class A 7 wpc
kit amp and knew I wanted more. Willing to give up
the hum chasing, tube testing, blast furnace of the
tube world for now. 

I tend to agree with Mr. Savato. Once you go Pass,
you never go back. 

I had thought that there must be another S.S. amp maker
who would copy the Pass house sound but apparently 
"Nobody Does it Better".
 
Still I am overturning rocks in pursuit of the thrown bone.
decooney
2,238 posts
 
chorus, 
Reason I asked is the 120S with KT120s, stock input tubes, and stock caps is kind of a dry sounding amp (imo) in comparison to others I've owned, demo'd, heard several from Cary and Inspire.  The Pass amps, even with a good tube preamp have their own house sound.  Low-watt triode is a different chase, and the right speaker matching is the key there too. 
chorus OP
976 posts
 
Cooney,

I had Golden Lion KT88s. 
The Leben 300 I just demoed was a step up from the Cary.
I am most likely going with the Pass Int25. No tubes anywhere. 
The whole point I am making is the Pass House Sound
is better than ANYTHING I have tried to date.
And by a significant margin. 
I am open to being persuaded but please before suggesting anything, please have heard the Pass 25 Amp or Int.
and then tell me what you liked better. Thanks
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