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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
mikem
260 posts
 
I bought two Schiit Aegir Monoblocks for less than the price I paid for a pair of speaker cables..  Class A sound using a new continuity circuit designed in house..  tube like attributes without the Tubes ! 
Why spend more ?  You should hear how good these sound..  Made in the USA too..  
I spent a lot of money over the years To learn that you don’t need to spend a lot of money To get a great sound! 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,641 posts
 
Atmo- I read your comments about a tweeter's Unbearable Harshness of SS and hope you are somehow unaware of a cure. Cables?
@chorus I suspect you have a typo here.

The brightness is caused by distortion and because its in the amp, probably not something you can get rid of with an equalizer. It might be possible to use a ZOBEL network on the speaker itself, targeting the band of brightness, but since its caused by distortion the band is a bit of a moving target depending on the music and how loud its being played.


IMO you're best off going with an amplifier that doesn't exhibit brightness to start with! In the solid state world, that's a really tall order; a really short list. Since your speakers are easy to drive if I had to go with solid state I would be looking at an amplifier that runs no feedback such as Ayre or First Watt. If not available or rejected for some reason, a zero feedback class D amp is worth looking at too.
chorus OP
976 posts
 
Atm,

Yes a typo, my bad. 

So Zero feedback-Ayre, First Watt will help dodge the dreaded
ear burn.
What about the XA25 ?


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,641 posts
 
What about the XA25
I can't tell from stuff online. A call to Pass would sort that out though.
chorus OP
976 posts
 
ATMA,
All the Pass line has some small amount of Feedback.
The First Watt line also has feedback with the exception
being the SIT series.
I would like to chat with you more on this subject.
How is that accomplished?

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