2. amps-preamps
  3. 1353097068

Choosing a Solid State Class A/B integrated amp

I have been committed to Integrated amps for over 10 years and have had a few, mainly Class a tube amps. I love what tubes, SET amps in particular, have to offer. The speed , mid range clarity and neutrality, can be pretty addictive. I have 2 integrated amps I use at the moment,both excellent, an Ayon Spark 20 watt SET and 50 watt hybrid Class A Pathos Inpol2.

The rest of the system is:
Mac Mini into an Ayre QB9 DAC for digital
TW Accustic Raven one/Ortofon 309D arm/Benz Micro LP cartridge
Daedalus DA-RMA speakers

Music choice is pretty eclectic, classical,Jazz,blues, singer Songwriter, not much rock, as such.

The system is great, but I know Lou at Daedalus likes higher ouput amps, particularly Modwright, despite his speakers being high sensitivity, so I would like to swap one of my amps for a higher output SS, or tube unit. .

My only exposure to a Class A/B SS integrated, was not a success. I tried the Karan K180 integrated and found it dull, slow and lifeless in my system, despite it's good reputation. Likewise, I have'nt often enjoyed the higher output push/pull tube units I have heard.

Any suggestions then for an integrated amp under $10000 new, though I would probably buy it cheaper, second hand. My ideal would be a Dartzeel H8550, which I have loved, every time I have heard it, but it's too expensive for me, even second hand. The new Modwright K200, is an obvious candidate. The reviews say is it is on the warm side of neutral, which I would like, but I have'nt heard it.

Give me some suggestions guys, thanks
david12
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
David 12,
The Pass 150 falls into your range.Those qualities of your current amplifierS are rare in other amplifier types.Lou`s taste may not be the same as yours by the way.You could likely have the best combo now and it might be very difficult to improve(trade off considerations) what you have. You can get different sound yes,better? time will tell.I heard the Modwright K 200 with the Daedalus at RMAF last year. The sound was just ok but I thought these speaker`s sound was much better when I heard them with good tube amps(Doshi) at the same show.There`s no harm in trying SS amps, obviously your opinion could differ from mine.
Regards,
david12 OP
1,454 posts
 
Thanks for that Charles. I had a Pass Aleph 3 many years ago and it's one of the items I regretted selling.

I should have made something else clear. I have an itch to get a pair of quality 2 way standmounts , like the SF Cremona. For that, I would need more grunt than my current amps have.
donjr
1,335 posts
 
You might want to hold off until December and hear what the new Ayre AX5 sounds like. 125 watts and coming in slightly below 10k. I've read in Absolte Sound that several people at RMAF liked the Ayre room the best and they were showcasing the AX5. Not sure if that's enough power for you.
More to discover