I am not a tube amp expert. I am being inundated with Upscale Audio ads. I just saw a Western Electric integrated. Has to be special ordered, so that could be a problem. 20W, 49 lbs.300B made in USA at their plant. Sorry if I'm not on target, but this is a nice looking amp.
40+ watts SET, cost is not a problem
Friends,
Hope everyone is well here. I am visiting after a long time. I have a query on behalf of a close buddy of mine. He is using a pair of TAD CR1x loudspeakers. Gorgeous speakers for sure. The source is an EMT 927 TT & JPA66 preamp. For the amplification things are getting tricky. He has tried the TAD M700s reference power amp and while it sounds very controlled, it doesn't have the openness and dimensionality of tone that a good tube/SET amp provides. We are considering trying a good SET for this system. Given that TAD needs some power blossom well and expand on effortlessly, at least 40 watts of SET power would be needed. The quick choices are Kondo Kagura & Wavac HE833 Mk2. But I need more suggestions on these and other comparative products.
1. Has anyone heard the Kondo and Wavac gears to suggest a comparison? I am just a bit worried on the amount of Silver used in Kondo. I have normally found that silver takes away something from the flow and harmonics. Tell me more about it.
2. What other options can be considered in this realm? No SS please. Looking for SET options primarily.
Room size is moderate 17 x 13 feet. Music preferred are classic rock, jazz, pop and some classical
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I have not heard the new WE amp myself. But, an old-school Western Electric fan who knows a lot about amps did hear it and thought it sounded quite bad. You must hear it for yourself. As for non-SET alternatives, I mentioned the Italian brand Synthesis. I have no idea about the specific topology, but, I do think that they sound good. At a local dealership, a shockingly expensive array of amps have been traded in favor of much cheaper Synthesis amps, including Jadis and Audio Note amps that cost more than twice the price. There are custom builders that probably can make something that would fit your requirements, such as Aric Audio and Don Sachs. Although some Atmasphere output transformerless (OTL) amps are voice a little bit leaner than my personal preference, they make wonderful sounding amps--extremely lively and immediate sounding without being harsh or analytical. I liked the MA-2 model I heard. But, because they don't have output transformers, they tend to have a high source impedance that may not work well with low impedance speakers so you should consult with them. Every serious listener should at least experience the sound of a good OTL amp even if they don't ultimately fit one's bill. |
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- 103 posts total