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Looking for integrated w/ good dynamics kick

A little background first...

A few years ago I picked up an Anthem Integrated 2 (bipolar amplification w/ tubed 6922 preamp stage) and until it gave out (transformer went bad) and had to be replaced I never realized how amazingly dynamic the unit was. Excellent punch in the bass region.

So this past year I went ahead and replaced it with a Simaudio Moon I-5 which was a nice amp. After a while though I decided that I wanted something with at least a tubed preamp stage to 'smooth' things out. The I-5 reminded me of the sterility of having an all solid state setup though the bass was decent.

The I-5 was sold and my current amp is a Valve Audio Predator which is supposedly rated at 200wpc, but it seems a little light on the bass. Admittedly the Predator bests the I-5 in detail and absolutely smokes the Anthem Integrated 2 in that regard as well. It is extremely smooth sounding but the dynamics in the low end have not been satisfying.

It would be nice to stick with an integrated but at this performance and price point (~$1800) there aren't many options, let alone hybrids. What would be a nice combination or integrated that offers the smoothness and detail of the Predator w/ the dynamics that the Anthem offered?

Speakers are Audio Physic Tempo IV's and DAC is an MHDT Paradisea+. The source is an Echo Gina24 via coax spdif out playing back FLAC from a PC.
jeenam
shazam
205 posts
 
Check out the Cronus from Rogue Audio for your price range ($1795 new). Good punch and very versatile bang for the buck (it even has a phono stage). It isn't always civil with quiet or acoustic material, but if you are looking for punch, you probably don't care.

If you can spend a few bucks more (about $2500 new I think), my favorite bang for the buck intro level tube integrated is the Manley Stingray. I even liked it over the much more expensive ($3795) Audio Research VSi55. I've had one for just over a year and so long as you feed it a signal from a quality source it will deliver all the punch and dynamics you would expect from separates at twice the price.

Good luck!
sufentanil's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
sufentanil
782 posts
 
Try the Plinius 8200, or an older Musical Fidelity integrated such as the A308cr or A3.2cr. The Portal Panache gets good press, although I haven't heard one.

Michael
jeenam OP
131 posts
 
Thanks for the comments guys (and perhaps gals). I emailed Schalk (the man behind Valve Audio) and he said a cap replacement could do the trick. The stock caps are 4700uf 100v and he recommended a replacement of 10,000uf 100v. There are 4 power supply caps.

After he mentioned it I realized the Anthem Integrated 2 has significantly larger capacitors than the Predator.

The next step is to track down a local technician who can source some good caps and install them. I'd prefer not to sell the Predator as it is an amazing amp in every way, just a tad light on bass.

Right now my room is a 9'x9' box (horrible standing waves, not enough room to experience truly great bass) but I'll be moving in less than 4 months and the system will be in a room about 18'x14'. Hopefully that will allow the speakers to open up.
jeenam OP
131 posts
 
Cft: How do you like the Predator? I think it's an amazing value and honestly have no desire to move to another unit except for the bass issue. Another member here sold it off for ~$1800 recently so it was a no brainer. That's around $400 more than the typical price of a Simaudio Moon I-5 and to my ears the extra $500 is worth every penny.

Also, admittedly Audio Physic speakers aren't known to be on the heavy side in regards to bass and the spdif output of the Echo Gina24 could be affecting the sound in a major way. The MHDT Paradisea+ is a non-oversampling DAC so source jitter has a huge effect since the signal is not re-clocked.
bjesien
1,283 posts
 
Sorry in advance:

Sim and RW had me listening least
VAC and MAC unleashed the beast.
Plinius was good bet never stood
the same ground to Mastersound.

Listen to many because you will find
most sound like
my behind.

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