Affordable SS that sound like Tubes

Look for a used Sumo Andromeda power amp.  Affordable and exceptional.

 

Van Alstine solid state. SET 120 I think is $1200…it’s a steal

@helomech   Sooooo, If you have tinnitus, you are not qualified to judge any piece of equipment...and...you can't be an audiophile. HOGWASH

I had many tube and SS amps and I have narrowed down my choice to the Marantz 1182dc Integrated amp. These amps have the tube sound and have better quality parts verses the typical Marantz 2275 receivers which I have owned as well. These amps not only have that rare silver classic look, but they're can also be easily repaired at any local audio repair shop. The 1182dc have plenty of power to run any speaker and you can tailor the sound to your room. These amps are very well built and can be pass-down or sold with returned investment. The any of the 11XX integrated models are a winner. Low wattage Marantz amps are fine, but I have 50 watts per a channel threshold.

Some Marantz, some Sansui, some Luxman, and some others with the right synergy coupling may not be too far from tubes fluidity and holographic details... + many more other advantages over tubes amplification...

if what i wrote is false , except for my own personal ezxperience, why are they became mythical loved vintage ?

Because they sound as S.S. not well designed ?

Or the opposite ?

😊

To beat them it takes contemporary top design as the atma sphere class D amplification for example... I dont doubt thay they will better my Sansui alpha...But the last top acclaimed tube amplification for headphone i just bought and returned after one hour did not... 😁

I say that for people with no big budget who dream about audiophile experience... The others will probably mock my claim pretending that the Alpha is obsolete... But for some wallet there exist a ratio S.Q./price ... I am not envious of any system and mine all pieces together  cost me 700 bucks...It did not lack on any acoustic factor either... Synergy and optimization of the components are mandatory for sure...

I picked up a used Jolida 1000brc tube amp for $1200 and it sounds like a tube amp- just replaced the EL34’s the other day.

I think I have zeroed in on the Pass Lab 1st Watt. Now to decipher the differences in models, although I have read the actual tube sound of the SET may not actually be a tube sound, maybe just a similarity. I think I will decide on one of these models and compare it to my QS's and then decide.

There are just too many options out there, I need to plant my feet.

Ive started a new thread specifically on the 1st Watt series.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

T

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650001546-musical-fidelity-m5si-integrated-amplifier-black-faceplate-nib/

Many years ago I A/B’d a highly regarded pair of Paoli M70 mono blocks against a B&K EX442 Sonata and was completely blown away with how identical in sound these two amps were and how utterly tubelike the B&K actually was.

The Paoli’s were a highly modified pair of Dyna MkIII’s using 8417 output tubes and the B&K a 200 wpc dual mono SS amp. B&K’s always had a solid reputation of sounding very tubelike and the EX442 didn’t disappoint. One could be had in the under $500 range.  I think you’d be hard pressed to find something as reasonably priced and as tubelike.

@katman 

You replaced the e34's in what?

I replaced the EL34’s in my Jolida 1000brc ( purchased used for $1200) with new

russian made Mullard EL34’s.

A very smart man by the name of Bob Carver addressed this problem several years ago. I found it with one of his Carver M.10t amps I refurbished. Read "The Carver Challenge"

A hear hear for the Wells brand. I have the Innamorata amplifier connected directly to the outputs of my Matrix X-Sabre pro in preamp mode pushing my Moabs and the sound is incredibly detailed, smooth, organic and powerful. I’ve tried a few different preamps with it but I keep returning to the DAC direct route. More clarity without any downsides. 

@oldtexasdog

Thanks for the article. Fun read. An old producer I know used to have Carver Amps and they did sound nice.

My Parasound 200 is a killer integrated.  Its available in a preamp only flavor.  Significantly more pleasing than my Primaluna Pre.  More warmth and body.  Begs to be turned up.  Primaluna begs you to turn it down even with Mullard tubes.  I have learned the hard way, Tubes do not guarantee romance and warmth. 

Accuphase Class A integrateds perhaps ?.. Quite expensive even used but they sound good. But affordable I don't think so.

Belles Aria, a" tube like sound". Not exactly, but it sounds sublime, a little warm, a little smooth, yet plenty of detail. Moving up the chain just gets better.

OP- FYI- some forum member said that Van Alstine Transcendence RB 10 tube preamp + First Watt F8 was an ideal combo

The following is a very recent extract from a member of another forum.

I have met this individual and been introduced / demo'd their work undertaken on Valve and SS Amp's, on some occasions, their Amp's have been compared to much more expensive Branded designs. 

I have also been demo'd the individuals Active OB Speakers along Amp's designed for the role of driving  the Speakers, and can categorically say, that these OB's are the best I have experienced to date. 

This very experienced individual with a vast knowledge of Audio Equipment and who has very strong ties with the UK HiFi Industry, has made this statement about Neurochrome Amp's very recently.

" I've been using a Modulus 86 for a while now, having acquired the "Cadbury" amp built by Alan with dual mono LPS some time ago. I've been very happy with it, it brought to an end many years of playing with various amps both valve and SS. It's the closest thing I've heard at home to a straight wire with gain and have not had any urge for change. Given my speakers are approx' 91-92dB and an easy load, it goes as loud as I could wish.

Saying that, it was always the intention to go for a 686, just in case I'm missing something with the lower powered version. :-)

So what I have so far is- Monoblocks, 500va toroids , active bridges, 4 x 47,000uF per mono.

Anyone have any suggestions for anything else? "