2. amps-preamps
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Where's the trade off?

Hi. I run a Rogue Cronus Magnum with Harbeth C7ES3's and a Audiolab 8200cdq as a source. I love my system with the exception of wishing I had some tighter bass. I find that I don't listen to music as much as I did when I had a solid state amp because I can't leave my amp on all the time. My previous set up was a NAD C317 (loved) with B&W DM 602's (also loved). With that old NAD integrated, I listened to tunes all the time. Now I turn on the TV when I would normally want to listen to music on week nights because of warm up time and tube usage. I find my current system to sound similar to my old system. My question is, does anyone think I can find a solid state amp that sounds similar to my Rogue? Can I go back to solid state and still be happy? I must be able too because I had it before. That NAD amp didn't sound that much different to me than what I have now. The NAD was not bright at all and it was very musical from what I remember. I'm wondering if I should be looking at a Luxman, LFD etc? I've tube rolled and that's helped me out a lot but it doesn't help with the fact that I have to wait for my amp to warm up. I'm not a patient person when it comes to music. My speaker cables are Audioquest Rockefellers and I can't remember who makes my interconnect, although I really don;t think I can hear differences between similar cables.
donjr
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,770 posts
 
For my suggestions you would need to go used ... Musical Fidelity A308 or A32 or A3 integrated amps. When I moved up from a NAD C320BEE to a MF A3, it was like wow and I played cds all the time. Now I have Prima Luna tube amps in 2 of my systems and even with the 30 second warm-up feature, I warm-up for longer as the tubes sound less scratchy, if I wait.

Rich
digepix's avatar
digepix
121 posts
 
If you have the coin I would put the LFD at the top of my list. The LE IV is a match made in heaven with your Compact 7's. I have YBA Classic amp/preamp with my 7's. Both of these amps will make you forget tubes forever.
donjr OP
1,335 posts
 
I really appreciate the information on the MF and LFD. I'm going to look into taht. I read a bit about the MF A32 as well as the LFD gear and have heard only good things about them. I'd be curious if anyone has experience with Luxman. I was interested in Accuphase until I saw the price. I'm thinking $4k tops in hopes that this would be an amp I live with for the next 20 years which would get me to retirement.
I feel like a complainer but sometimes when I get home from work, I really want to listen to an album and enjoy a glass of wine without waiting 20-25 minutes for my amp to warm up. I don't want to get rid the Rogue because I do love it. I think I would prefer the Rogure to be my Friday and Saturday night amp which is when I usually spin music for 5 - 6 hours at a time.
meiwan
399 posts
 
I'll take the opposite point of view. I use C7's with a Mastersound compact 845 tube integrated. while it takes the tubes a few minutes to warm up, so do solid state amps.

I brought an LFD mkIV home to try and didn't like it. Sounds pretty much like Naim stuff to me. Sorry, no tube magic.

A few hundred bucks every few years is minimal for the enjoyment of tubes. As too the soft bass response - clean power will fix that up - dedicated line, outlet, power cable - and some lean front end tubes - try Mazda/Cifte, Telefunken etc. You mentioned tube rolling - I'm assuming good NOS.
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