Should I replace my 20-year-old Hovland Radia Amp?


I recently upgraded my speakers to Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V. My preamp is a relatively new Pass XP-30. Ditto my VPI Prime Signature turntable and Moon 280 D streamer. My phono preamp is an older ARC PH-7. 

About 20 years ago a friend asked me to help him buy a new system. We took three days and drove all over Southern California. He purchased Wilson Sophia speakers. The dealer recommended the Hovland Radia amp. The Radia was the only solid state amp Hovland ever made. The company cliams it took ten years to perfect it. We tested the Radia against a few other very good amps and both liked it. Several years ago my friend passed away and I inherited the Radia.

Paul Bolin describes the attributes of the amp in a 2004 review much better than I could : "[The] Radia was a delight to listen to in virtually all respects. It consistently displayed a light, limber touch with images and timbres. Dimensionality was surprisingly and delightfully tubelike in its solidity and freedom from too-sharp, unnatural-sounding ultra-definition. The point source of each instrument's body was clearly discernible, but didn't exist in highlighted isolation from the air around it or the sound of the recording venue. The Hovland's overall resolution of detail was very good, bordering on the truly exceptional, and there was never any sense of resolution for its own sake. It always maintained a holistic sense of continuity, embracing all aspects of the music and knitting together the disparate parts of the recorded experience."

I was fifty-eight when I took that three-day jaunt with my friend who purchased a fairly expensive stereo system. I am now 78 and do not have the energy to go looking all over L.A. for a new amp. I could, however, go to a few dealers. The one closest to me carries Macintosh amps. 

My question is this: could the superb Hovland Radia now be so out-of-date that I should seriously think about replacing it? Or just "love the one I'm with"?

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Simple answer, yes, I would give something new a try if you are curious. Pass or Coda would be good candidates. 

My 2 cents, if they're worth that much since I have no personal experience with any of the components involved:

The Sonus Fabers have three 12" woofers on each side and an impedance curve that dips below 3 ohms in the treble range.

The Hovland amp pushes 125wpc at 8 ohms and a modest 200wpc at 4 ohms.

On paper at least, it seems reasonable to wonder whether the Hovland can provide enough current to meet the Sonus Fabers' needs / preferences. They wouldn't be the first big speakers that sound fine in front of 75wpc tube amps, but only come alive when mated with high-current amps that maintain their composure below 2 ohms.

 

See if you can audition an Audio Research Ref 160 or VSi 75. Perfect match for your speakers and preamp. 

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses.

Devinplombier, my SF Olympica Nova V speakers have three 7" woofers. I would like a bit more power, but I would say the Hovland handles them pretty well. Hovland is not known for its bass--more for its liquid, magic mids and highs. But I wouldn't replace the amp simply for more power, although I would like something more in the 200 wpc into 8 ohms range. 

Lucky-dog777, thank you for your detailed response. I did a bit of research on Pass amps. The X250.8 sells for $10,500 and puts out puts out 250 wpc into 8 ohms. Is that what you were talking about or something more expensive? I don't think I'd go over $10k and even that would take some fancy dancing with my wife. 

After doing some research into Hovland after one of their preamps came into the used market locally i would say sell it and buy a Pass amp to match your preamp. Hovland had some strange ideas and practices not based in engineering in anyway.