A decent integrated amp under 2K ...
I'm looking for an INTEGRATED AMP. My speakers are Altec 620A (100 db efficiency) and my listening room is 14 x 21. I mainly listen to digital files from my DAC (Metrum) but sometimes I feel less lazy and put on a vinyl on my Garrard. I don't need a phono stage, I use the one from another integrated amplifier (Spendor D40). Here's my shortlist:
1) Belles Aria Integrated (slightly powerful for my needs)
2) Croft phono integrated (since I don't need a phono stage, I think it's a shame to burn tubes for nothing)
3) Rogue Sphinx V3 (too powerful for my needs)
FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS: I can live with tubes but only in the PREAMP section and I try to avoid Class A due to the heat. I'm open to Class D (proof: the Rogue) but the choice is limited and these devices come with a bunch of stuff I don't need. I rather spend my $ where it will make a difference.
regards
With 100db speakers, you could go for a pretty low powered tube that wouldn't give off much heat. Are you concerned with too much heat in the room overall(not a worry) or someone touching it and burning themselves? Plenty of designs have cages that would prevent that. IMHO, if best overall SQ with those speakers is the priority, class A is the way to go. A couple to consider: Air Tight ATM1, Mastersound Compact 300 or Compact 845, many Shindo models Cheers, Spencer |
@jimcrane How does it sound with 100db speakers? My guess is that your 85db Harbeth's are far more ideal match for that amp. Cheers, Spencer |
Have any of you folks suggesting ss amps > 50 watts listened to them extensively with 100db+ speakers and been blown away with the resulting sound quality? If so, I think many of us would like to know what combos they were. IMHE, lower powered designs optimized for very efficient speakers (aka QUIET) are almost always going to be a better match. If your enthusiasm for an 80w Widget Amp is based on listening with a for example 90db speaker, you should make that clear because it's apples & oranges vs. a 100db speaker. Yes, most of those low power amps are tube designs. Many of the better ones are single-ended-triode. Single-ended isn't limited to tubes though. Pass Labs and First Watt have many lower powered ss amps that might just be the ticket for @alaindexe. First Watt can be had within the target budget. Nelson Pass has done youtube interviews explaining the differences in sonics of the various models. Cheers, Spencer |
