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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
moemoney's avatar
moemoney
158 posts
 
I have the same problem with heat that Semi has and I do have a small room. I own the 150se and lived with them for over four years, yes i did purchase the BAT 600se for awhile, but after only four months went back to the 150s. SS just was not working for me. (lost all the texture that tubes bring to the game). But I still had an heat problem. this summer I purchase a Crown K1. Just to get through the summer, it's not the best amp out there, but it will get me to September. I also owned CI D200s but they did not have the bass power that I liked.
if you want to try SS amps do so, but DON'T sell your 150s right away.
jazdoc
365 posts
 
The new ModWright kWA 150 is a killer for the money. It can be run in stereo or bridged into mono. A solid state amp that will definitely appeal to a tube lover. Dan Wright is great to deal with.
semi OP
649 posts
 
Guidocorona, thanks for the info on class-D. I haven't followed class-D development that closely since introduction, my impression from the short ownership with class-D was just like what you described, lack of harmonic texture and delicacy. I have heard lots of good words about Rowland 3XX amps, but I wonder how they compared to Pass X350.5 which can be had for much less.

Moemoney, I know exactly what you meant. I have always owned tube amps and buy SS from time to time to see how things have improved over time. but as recent as a couple years ago, I still found BAT to outgun $20K+ SS amp in midrange and up. I might very well take the same route as you do, buy an inexpensive SS to use in hot days.
glai's avatar
glai
446 posts
 
Luxman are priced different in asia and worth a look. I used to own Rowland 312 and x350.5. Knowing your taste, I doubt you'll like the 312.

I will miss a good listening buddy.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
GLI, what sonic differences did you perceive between JRDG 312 and Pass X350.5?

Thanks, Guido
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