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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
 
Csontos,
David12 is right,SET and other tube amps can be quite fast with excellent pace,timing and transients.Good design,power supplies and parts will enable those qualities. There are veiled,fuzzy,slow and muddy tubes amps of lesser quality also. The same spectrum exists for solid state, some are much better than others.

My SET is as david12 describes,fast,open,very transparent and clear.The better built ones will deliver that with no problems(with the proper speaker)yet remain very organic and realistic.David12 just has a well designed and built SET amplifier.
Regards,
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Agree with Unsound, the Pass 30 watt(class A) amplifier has more juice and drive ability than some people recognize. It has considerable reserve.
Regards,
david12 OP
1,454 posts
 
As Charles1dad says, the idea of warm syrupy, sluggish tube amps is a bit behind the times. I find it is more likely to be true for Push/pull amps than SETs and there lies my problem. SETs punch above their weight in speaker grip, but still a 20 watt SET is unlikely to really control an 88db standmount, with impedence dropping to 2 or 3 ohms.

There are, I am sure, fast higher output tube amps that don't cost the earth, I have'nt found one.
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
Have a listen to Plinius SA-103/Reference. Very very cool.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
David12 wrote "with impedance dropping to 2 or 3 ohms"
It seems this particular speaker was designed and meant to be driven by solid state amplifiers.It would`nt surprise me if the phase angles are a bit high(not ideal for tube amps either).
Regards,
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