2. amps-preamps
  3. 160663-151880

Integrated Amp Battle: Fatman 452 or iFi Retro 50 with Heresy I's?

I'm on a seriously limited budget and need to replace a dying HK A300 integrated tube amp. I've got a set of original Heresy's and I want to stick with tubes, so power is not an issue. 

I'm limited to <1K, so I've been looking for a used amp. So far I've come across these two:

iFi Audio Retro Stereo 50 Integrated Amplifier $845
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa59h2-ifi-audio-retro-stereo-50-system-tube-int-amp-and-speakers-tube

Fatman Audio 452 Integrated $750
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa5a27-fatman-audio-452-integrated-amp-tube

I'm guessing the Fatman will deliver superior sound overall, but the iFi has more features that I would like but might be able to live without (headphone amp, bluetooth).

Which would you guys choose? 
mmentzel
mmentzel OP
2 posts
 
Thanks...I’m leaning towards the Fatman, but I don’t see anything about a phono stage. This is a problem because I’ll be using the amp almost exclusively to drive my Technics turntable. Would you still go with the Fatman if you had to pick up a standalone phono pre-amp? Plus it would be really nice to have a headphone amp since I don't have a headphone amp right now. 

But if the Fatman sound is really that great, I'm willing to forgo those things.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
A Schiit Mani phono stage would take care of your LP playback - and is quite affordable!
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,210 posts
 
Swiss army knife vs Randall Made Knife?
More to discover