Hi Cleveland:
So, this is the 3rd version of your thread that I have seen ... might as well add my 2 cents. So, you have a mostly vintage system; your amp developed bad hum and you had to replace the capacitors ("condensers" if we are talking retro talk); and you do not like the resultant sound. My dad owned a TV repair shop in Brooklyn and I was always around hifi systems (tube and early solid state), so I think that I understand your dilemma. I just retired a Marantz 2240 mid-70's receiver once it developed hum, as I just did not want to sink more money into a 30 year old component (I had it professionally overhauled 3 years ago).
I use Acoustic Research 302 speakers in my main system. They are 11 years old and when they were introduced in 1995, they were based on the AR 5's, a mid 60's design ... 3 way; acoustic suspension; 10 inch woofers ... you get the idea. A more modern era cousin to your Dynaco A25's. Certainly the speaker efficiency (85db) and minimum recommended power (25 or so watts) are close. I live in an apartment and that necessitates playing music comparatively low.
I had used the AR's with a bunch of solid state amplifiers (ADCOM; NAD; Musical Fidelity) and really liked the sound, but the sound did not become alive and 3D like, until I went with tubes. I went with the Prima Luna Prologue Two tube integrated in one system and a Prologue Five tube power amp in another system. Prima Luna is sold by Upscale Audio . It's a bit more money than you wanted to spend, but the Prologue One is close to your budget. I also wrote a review of the Prologue Two here, if you want to read my impressions.
You may also want to update your CD player. I can't say enough good things about the Music Hall MMF CD 25 cd player and how it pairs up with the Prima Luna and this will set you back another $500.
I think that you can get the best of the vintage sound that you liked so much, with modern components.
Regards, Rich
So, this is the 3rd version of your thread that I have seen ... might as well add my 2 cents. So, you have a mostly vintage system; your amp developed bad hum and you had to replace the capacitors ("condensers" if we are talking retro talk); and you do not like the resultant sound. My dad owned a TV repair shop in Brooklyn and I was always around hifi systems (tube and early solid state), so I think that I understand your dilemma. I just retired a Marantz 2240 mid-70's receiver once it developed hum, as I just did not want to sink more money into a 30 year old component (I had it professionally overhauled 3 years ago).
I use Acoustic Research 302 speakers in my main system. They are 11 years old and when they were introduced in 1995, they were based on the AR 5's, a mid 60's design ... 3 way; acoustic suspension; 10 inch woofers ... you get the idea. A more modern era cousin to your Dynaco A25's. Certainly the speaker efficiency (85db) and minimum recommended power (25 or so watts) are close. I live in an apartment and that necessitates playing music comparatively low.
I had used the AR's with a bunch of solid state amplifiers (ADCOM; NAD; Musical Fidelity) and really liked the sound, but the sound did not become alive and 3D like, until I went with tubes. I went with the Prima Luna Prologue Two tube integrated in one system and a Prologue Five tube power amp in another system. Prima Luna is sold by Upscale Audio . It's a bit more money than you wanted to spend, but the Prologue One is close to your budget. I also wrote a review of the Prologue Two here, if you want to read my impressions.
You may also want to update your CD player. I can't say enough good things about the Music Hall MMF CD 25 cd player and how it pairs up with the Prima Luna and this will set you back another $500.
I think that you can get the best of the vintage sound that you liked so much, with modern components.
Regards, Rich