2. amps-preamps
  3. 192404-111267

Retirement integrated amp for a “fiscal conservative”

I’ve taken the plunge and am now enjoying the 2nd week of retirement after 44 years of work, including 42 years with the company I just retired from.  
 

One of the retirement goals I’m really looking forward to is spending much more time enjoying music with my main system!

I’ve pretty much gone digital (but do have a Linn Sondek LP12 to enjoy LPs purchased in the 60’s - 80’s). 

My system consists of a Rose 150B streamer/DAC and a Primaluna CD player for digital playback. I use a Roon Nucleus for Roon/Tidal new music research and listening. Speakers are original Joseph Audio Perspectives. 
 

I enjoy all types of music, but mostly listen to jazz (preferably smooth but am exploring all of the various forms of jazz). 
 

I’m currently using a Primaluna Dialogue HP Premium integrated amp which I’ve enjoyed for many years. Here’s where the “fiscal conservative” part comes in; this amp has 8 power tubes. Even with Primaluna’s great low tube stress design concept, I’m not looking forward to replacing power tubes every couple years with my retirement bonus listening time. Also, I’d like to get additional damping factor bass control than my current amp provides. I love the tube midrange and treble range sound, but would like an upright bass to sound more like a wood instrument (hard to describe in words) and hear more natural note attack and decay
 

I’d like to get ideas/advice from A’gon music enjoyment experts on a replacement integrated that still provides the acoustic sound of tubes, but doesn’t require new tubes every couple years/2,000 hours and is a great match to enjoy jazz on the rest of my system which I plan to keep. I’m open to used or new with a cap of say $8,000. 
 

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and suggestions. 
 

Eric

ezstreams
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,962 posts
 

I don't buy tube amps that need 8 tubes. Then too, my speakers are 93.5db efficient Joseph doesn't list the efficiency of theirs. But from my memory I believe they used to be about 88. IOW you may need the extra 4 tubes. Rogue makes an ST-100 that uses 4 KT 120's. which has 100 wpc. It is an A rated amp from S'phile and other good reviews. I have never heard it so take it FWIW.

Also your speakers only go to 35 hz. You may want to consider a (or 2) subwoofers. I am very fond of Rel. A sub does more than just give added bass. It effects the whole spectrum and makes your main speakers sound better as well. You may consider the sub before moving from the Primaluna

grislybutter
3,096 posts
 

that's a nice $ for an integrated. I could only tell you what's good (great) for a third of that. Simaudio, Hegel, Moonriver, Van Alstine would be on my list

corelli
994 posts
 

I owned that same Prima luna amp for a short while.  I would agree that replacing 8 power tubes could get tiring.

Before suggesting options to consider, I have a question for you.  Did you ever find the pairing of this amp with your speakers to be a bit bright or have any edge on some recordings??

dpac996's avatar
dpac996
710 posts
 

These are some of the top solid state integrateds that will possess the tonality you are interested in, that won’t break the bank, and will likely last decades.

-Luxman L-509X on used market around 6K

-Luxman L-509Z a bit more for the latest model.

-Simaudio 700i V2;

-Hegel 390 or 590 ( check out latest models too)

-Coda CsiB V1

-Pass Labs INT 60 (maybe a touch warm and might not have the last word in that woody timbre but it’s a sweet sounding amp across the board).

Congratulations on your retirement!!

 

 

 

2psyop's avatar
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2psyop
1,595 posts
 

Luxman make some great solid state amps that I would consider retirement amps. Also Hegel, but I think I like Luxman more since the reputation is very good..

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