2. amps-preamps
  3. 172680-34747

A decent integrated amp under 2K ...

I'm looking for an INTEGRATED AMP. My speakers are Altec 620A (100 db efficiency) and my listening room is 14 x 21. I mainly listen to digital files from my DAC (Metrum) but sometimes I feel less lazy and put on a vinyl on my Garrard. I don't need a phono stage, I use the one from another integrated amplifier (Spendor D40). Here's my shortlist:

1) Belles Aria Integrated (slightly powerful for my needs)

2) Croft phono integrated (since I don't need a phono stage, I think it's a shame to burn tubes for nothing)

3) Rogue Sphinx V3 (too powerful for my needs)

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I can live with tubes but only in the PREAMP section and I try to avoid Class A due to the heat. I'm open to Class D (proof: the Rogue) but the choice is limited and these devices come with a bunch of stuff I don't need. I rather spend my $ where it will make a difference.

regards

128x128alaindexe
waltroman's avatar
waltroman
21 posts
 

I may be late to the table here but I believe one thing that does not get talked about when choosing an amp for a highly efficient set of speakers is damping factor. Choosing a normal solid state amp on efficient speakers will strangle them.

Judd Barber of Joulle Electra fame talked about damping factor that anything above around 8 and the amp will start to swallow up the bass notes - this is compounded with high efficiency.  

Hence Croft makes it a great choice for your Altec speakers - it measures like a tube amp.

 

 

 

 

alaindexe's avatar
alaindexe OP
75 posts
 

@waltroman : very interresting comment... I end up buying a Belles Aria Integrated about a month ago and I've been listening to it ever since... its damping factor is 2000 and I lost quite a bit of bass..I would like to compare with the Croft, but I don't know its damping factor and this info seems hard to get on the web...

paulcreed
565 posts
 

Sugden A21se 25 watt class A. Even though your not up for tubes which I think will sound better with your speakers look at Rogers 65v-2. It only uses 2 power tubes el34 to kt-88 so heat will be minimum and tube cost is low. I owned Altec 604 long ago I would never consider solid state.

paulcreed
565 posts
 

Sugden and Rogers can be found used in $2000 range

alaindexe's avatar
alaindexe OP
75 posts
 

to those who are interested...

I bought a Belle Aria Integrated about a month and a half ago... At first listen, I was a little disappointed because it’s quite neutral compared to my Sugden A25B. Like many British amps, the Sugden has a pleasant coloration. After a few days of listening, my ears ended up "detoxifying" and the Belles gradually seemed to be superior to the Sugden on several criteria: more nuanced, better image and above all NO harshness at all, which is quite rare for a SS amp... the Belles is so neutral you forget it’s there... the only thing that seemed weaker is the bass... Its high damping (2000) produces a much thinner bass but, on the other hand, it is very nuanced. I haven’t listened to enough vinyl records yet to comment on its phono stage but when I did, it sounded good. It’s by far the best transistor amp I’ve heard, but I must admit I didn’t listen to many high end SS amps.

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