2. amps-preamps
  3. 169457-145771

High end high quality int. amp for low level listening

Hello to all Audigon members.  I'm quite in a dilemma weather I should upgrade my amplifier. Currently I own Pathos classic one MK3 driving Sonus Faber Sonetto's speakers, and I must say I'm very happy with sound filling my 35 square meters room. However, it's known that the speakers are power hungry as they rated at 86db sensitivity and 4 ohm impedance and I think they will surely benefit from a bigger power supply. With all that being said I'm not sure if I will hear any improvement mostly because 90% of the time I listen at ~60dBs SPL. My budget is around 5k $ and these are the amplifiers I've been considering:  Hegel H390, Anthem STR, Cambridge Audio Edge A, McIntosh MA5300/MA252, Accuphase e280, Rotel Michi x3 or used Pass Labs INT 25, Mark Levinson 5805.

What do you think guys, will any of the amplifiers make ay difference at 60dB SPL ? 
celestial__sound
erik_squires
16,655 posts
 
The Luxman 507/509 will fit the bill AND they have outstanding loudness and tone controls, making low level listening much more enlightening than they would be otherwise.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,829 posts
 
Why give up the tube preamp section on the Pathos? If you are very happy with the sound that you have now I doubt going solid state will be better. Save your money instead of making a side step or backwards move! BTW, that Pathos is rated at 130 watts at 4 ohms so it is plenty powerful with the speakers that you are using!
celestial__sound OP
102 posts
 
Why give up the tube preamp section on the Pathos? If you are very happy with the sound that you have now I doubt going solid state will be better. Save your money instead of making a side step or backwards move! BTW, that Pathos is rated at 130 watts at 4 ohms so it is plenty powerful with the speakers that you are using!
@yogiboy Yes, you are right. I'm very happy with the pathos and I have plenty of headroom as I'm not listening to high SPLs. However, I was under impression that I may get better sound quality (resolution, soundstage size, imagining focus etc) If I upgrade to a more powerful amplifier event at low listening levels. 
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