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Thinking of buying a solid state amp

I will be moving soon, my BAT 150SE might not work in the new environment due to hotter weather and smaller listening room. My speakers (Aerial 20T) requires lots of power so I can't go BAT 75SE route, I have not found other tube amps physically smaller to sound anywhere as good as BAT either.

So I have two options. Buy a good solid state and sell my BAT. Usual suspects are Pass 350.5, Bryston 14B-SST, McIntosh 501, etc. Question is will I be happy with anyone of them coming from BAT?

My second option is to buy some class D like Bel Canto or Nuforce and keep my BAT to use during cooler days.

I will rather have 1 (or 1 pair) amp than 2, but will any of the above (other suggestions welcome) make a tube guy happy? In my 20+ years of audio journey, I have owned 10+ solid state amps but they never lasted over a couple months.

Pre amp is an Einstein.
semi
travis's avatar
travis
239 posts
 
I have the Innersound ESL-300 (600 WPC @ 4 ohms). After about an hour warm up it is very tube like, no edges exposed. This amp does not come up on the 'gon very often, usually for <2K. Roger Sanders founded his own company (again) http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/ and sells the updated version of the Innersound. 30 day in home trial, money back. But, here's the deal, whatever SS amp you may decide on, please make sure it's broken in before you make a decision. I feel many of the newer amps that come up on the 'gon are not even close to being broken in when the owner gives up on them. HTH.
semi OP
649 posts
 
Larry, you have a good point. The new location will be smaller but not significantly smaller to warrant a lower power amp. Heat is the major issue, ambient temperature there is in the 90+ degree 6 months out of a year with high humidity and the thought of turning on two big tube amps is daunting.

I like BAT tube sound, but from what I read Pass X.5 or XA.5 has an edge over BAT SS and that's why I am leaning toward Pass if I was to go SS only.

I have limited exposure to Rowland 501. Like what Guidocorona pointed out, my negative impression of Rowland 501 was probably due to break in time. I will give BC or NuForce a chance and this time around I will make sure they are fully broken in.
rtn1
535 posts
 
Karan's having a sliding class A circuit, so they are barely warm to the touch.

Pass Labs put out significant heat while they idle. They sound good when fully powered-on for at least several hours. My A/C could not keep up during the summer when I had the x600.5. The 350.5 is 1/2 the heat of the 600.5, but it still alot of heat (think 6 - 100 watt light bulbs).

Class D - try before you buy. This is a very polarizing topic, as you are well aware.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Semi, the Rowland 501 is a slightly older design. By itself it may be a little 'cool' sounding compared to BC Ref 1Kmk.2 monos. To perform at their best the 501 monos require a pair of the new Rowland PC-1 rectifiers. . . the sonic difference should be significant, but a pair of PC-1s also adds a non indifferent $3K to the cost of the 501 monos. BTW, never connect PC-1s to Bel canto or NuForce amps. . . you will blow the amps. PC-1 is to be used only with amps set to 240V operations, or amps that have universal autosense and autoranging switch mode power supplies. G.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Very nice sounding Class D amps:

http://www.iceh2oaudio.com/index_htm.html

I have heard these driving Apogee Scintillas (1 ohm load) and they sounded very musical (detailed but not at all hard or bright).
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