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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
jdoris
972 posts
 
Unsound, fair enough: the INT-30A puts out a lot more than 30 in AB. But if you need that, you're not getting the yummy class A you paid over 200 bucks a watt for. Mark at Reno describes a certain "flattening" of the sound if you push it out of A.

Charles1dad: David12 already has comparatively low power tube amps, no? My point was that the INT-30A might not make for much of a change of direction. IMO, it certainly would not represent the difference (for better or worse) that moving to a higher power integrated would.

John
dave_72
1,399 posts
 
Try the Accuphase Class A amps. With Class A/B, you're wasting your time, especially if you like tube sound.
donjr
1,335 posts
 
"Try the Accuphase Class A amps. With Class A/B, you're wasting your time, especially if you like tube sound."

Read the absolute sound review of the Hegel H200. It's described as being as close to class a as you can get with a/b. I haven't heard one so who knows but I will demoing one in my home hopefully next month.
david12 OP
1,454 posts
 
I was'nt giving the figures of 88db and 2ohm sensitivity, to represent an actual speaker, just one which a tube amp is going to throw up it's hands at.

Dav72, I am disappointed that the Accuphase Class A/B amps don't approach the Class A ones. That company or Luxman were a possibilty I was considering too.. The Hegel idea is an interesting one, not that I really trust Absolute Sound reviews, I can't remember a negative review, even a hint of one.
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
Can tube amps be fast?

Try a Conrad Johnson ART power amp.

It was more dynamic and more detailed than a lot of solid state amps I have heard. But the tubes add a certain lushness and improvement to the soundstage.
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