Doozy of an amp question


Still looking for my eternal love.

A forever amp. At least for now. I cannot try them out in my system as they are both beasts and it would be a nightmare getting them, paying for an audition and then returning them

I am having to go on instinct.

I have narrowed it down to two very different kinds of amps at two very different price points. And I have chosen these two because of reviews in magazines and the positive comments here and on other forums.

 

My pre is an Arc Ref 10 and my speakers are Dalis.

I am look at a tube Mc 1502 which I can afford right now or a Sim 861 for which I would have to wait to save for.

I realize it’s tube vs SS but both have their positives and a SS can have tube like characteristics which I like.

 

I’ve heard Mcintosh and liked it a lot but never heard this model.

I’ve never heard Sim but the reviews and comments about the 861 have been absolutely rhapsodic. And somebody whose opinion I trust said Sim is an excellent brand. But is this a flavor of the month model?

 

Has anybody heard both these amps. Any thoughts, opinions, advice?

 

 

roxy1927

Recommend anyone still looking for that perfect amp these days give one of the newer GaN based class d amps a shot. I have the new model from Class D audio and it is a true revelation in all regards including sound quality, cost and size. Just what the doctor ordered!  Running off a Schit Freya S pre-amp. 

I have the Moon 891/861 combination plus the 810LP phono pre-amp, and the Moon 820s power supply, and the sound is excellent, detailed, musical, dynamic, and very spacious with excellent bass.  I do not know how the sound could be improved.  Like one of the other comments above, $22k for the 861 is a good value against much more expensive hi-end amps.  Finally, the 891 interface with the remote control is amazing with its superior ergonomics and dial to turn to control volume.  There is no other remote control I have seen that is even close.

@roxy1927 There are class D amps out there now that have all the smoothness and detail of the best tube amps and balanced inputs no problem.

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