After 20 years, in the market for a power amp


Hello:

Longtime lurker/reader of this forum. Recently my long time and beloved Odyssey Khartago shed its left channel and I had been long past ready to move on from it anyway. I am a typically slow upgrader as I am much more a listener than a tweaker. It is therefore time to invest in a new power amp. My system specs:

GoldenEar Triton Ones

Rega P8 TT w/Apheta 3 

Aria phono amp

Primaluna Dialogue Premium p/a

Rotel 1570 CD spinning into a Schiit Yggdrasil

Odyssey Khartago Power amp

AntiCable interconnects

AudioQuest speaker cable

The Khartago, while wholly competent, has long since since been bypassed by the rest of my gear. Looking for something with some synergy with the Primaluna.

Budget $5-7k. Been researching feverishly but it is difficult to get an audition. Suggestions?

 

 

 

pvnasby

I would call Doug Dale with Coda.  Tell him what you have for gear.  You should also think about your long term plan.  Will you ever change speakers?

For my Von Schweikert Endeavor RE speakers, Doug recommended the No 8, V1.  That's what I bought.

I've been using tube preamps with solid state amps for years.  First were conrad-johnson.  Now it's a Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamp. 

+1 on the CODA S5.5, best SS Class A amp the near side of $6K new IMHO, but might not work well with your tube pre unless it has low-ish impedance.

Make sure whatever you are looking at matches up well in terms of impedance.

I agree with audiophile1.  Over the last 20 years I have paired tubed preamps with Bryston SS power amps. Bryston amps are neutral, powerful, effortless and dependable. Currently I use the Bryston 14b3, but the Bryston 4b3 is a real solid piece of gear and can be found used for 3500 to 4000 range. Since the Bryston is so neutral, your sound will be determined by what your tube preamp (and cable choices) sound like.  

@pvnasby 

I love my Odyssey Kismet Extreme Monoblocks and hope they last a long time. Odyssey has a sound you might miss, could be worth a call over to Klaus and discuss your issues and needs and maybe he could get you back on track. 
There’s nothing out there at his quality level for the price and he takes care of his customers…

I would give serious consideration to the just released PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid Power amp. The best of both world. Should be a great pairing with your preamp. This power amp was just released. 

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When I owned the GE Triton Ones, I drove them with an Odyssey Stratos, a Conrad Johnson  250 wpc amp, and a McIntosh MC152 amp. I moved on to the GE Triton Refernce Speakers and a McIntosh 300wpc amp. They sounded good with all the amps.   Erik Squires loves to push Parasound and does not like the GE line of speakers as he thinks they are too bright.  I do not find the GE speakers bright at all.  Sandy Gross the designer of the speakers used a tube amp in his personal system.  They sounded fantastic with tubes.  Personally, I would go with Prima Luna’s hybrid amp.  You get the best of both worlds, a solid state output with a tube input.  I would talk to Uncle Kevin at Upscale Audio as he is also the distributor of the Prima Luna line. 

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I have a Pass Labs XA25 pure class A and extremely happy with it. Very transparent with tad warm presence. Easy to match with different speakers. It is a reference amp for many audio reviewers. Likely the last component I would change. Coda may be one to explore. Tried the Moon 330, very good but timid. Also heard the Ayre vx 5 - twenty. Could be an excellent option if you can find a used one. Very refined and neutral IMHO.

I would do a home demo of the new Schitt Wotan amp at $1999. I want to sell my Sanders Magtech to get the Wotan mainly because I need a power standby switch, and the Wotan is likely sonically comparable to the Magtech.

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

You can buy a brand a new Coda S5.5 in your budget, outstanding amp and will drive the T 1's with ease.  Contact Tom at Big Ear Stereo for a good price. I had T1.r's for while so i have experience with them.

 

Pass XA30.8 used within your price range. Warmer but less dynamic than the X250.8 that’s also in your price range used. 
Coda no.8 is another option. This amp is faster, more articulate than the Pass but still retains natural tone and is clear and relaxed sounding. 
SimAudio Moon 330A is on the lower end of the scale price wise but is very competitive. Slightly less warmth than the above mentioned amps but never harsh or bright. 
 

Another choice is a matching primaluna amp but that’s tubes. 

Yes, my preference is to pair it with a SS amp for power handling. Sound-wise, I very much like the way the Primaluna sounds. It was a huge improvement. 

I listen to a lot of rock and folk, with a smattering of other genres. 

Tube or Solid State?

You can match that Primaluna preamp with a nice solid state amp. What’s your preference for sound?

My limited experience with GE speakers always makes me want to pair them with excessively warm amps like Parasound.