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

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..

Belles makes outstanding integrated amps. I have owned the Aria and it was as good as some separates that I have owned. It is a high current design with a high damping factor of 2000. Check out the many positive on line reviews!

https://powermodules.com/

What is your budget ?
Vinnie Rossi Brama Integrated Generation 1. 300B tubes that last 10000 hours. ( this is what I have )

Reach out to Mr. Vinnie Rossi if you can’t find one on the used market.

vinnie@vinnierossi.com

It should be your endgame integrated amp.

Agree the Belles Aria Signature is awesome...there are also many threads about combining tube preamps with solid state amps or using low powered tube amps...BAT makes some great integrated amps that are SS amp and tube preamp...

Congratulations on making it to the finish line.

"I’m not looking forward to replacing power tubes every couple years with my retirement bonus listening time"

I've use the same model for 8 years. Naturally, YMMV always applies, but good power tubes(USA NOS) have lasted 5 years in mine- that's with extended daily driving.

"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"

That's achieved with recording quality,room and speaker placement. 

I'd reward myself with something from Audio Research, VAC or similar pedigree to get that last bit of refinement.

Enjoy retirement  in good health.