2. amps-preamps
  3. 1102010763

Amp Help for an amature

Hi,
I am in a bit of a bind about what amplifier to buy. I have a budget of about $1000 and have a few choices lined up. The problem is that because of location I have to rely entirely on suggestions and opinions’ seeing as there is nowhere that sells these products near me. I have narrowed it down to these:

Antique Sound Labs WAVE AV-25 25wpc mono block amps with a few cap upgrades

Dynaco ST-70 full blown upgrade

McCormack DNA-125 possibly with a Rev C or B if I can afford it

The Ella DIYcable.com kit

I don’t know where to go from here really, if anybody has any comments good or bad about any of these or any other ideas please let me know. I will be Using this with the Tube output Njoe Tjoeb CDP. It has an internal volume control and is my only source so I am less worried about a pre-amp but am thinking about the Bottlehead Foreplay pre or the pass labs entry pre.

Thanks so much
Eric Baer
iamcrazy111

Showing 1 response by bemopti123

bemopti123
303 posts
 
The DNA 125 paired with some sort of tubed preamp down the road would serve you well for a long time to come. If you do not have funds for the preamp, and just want to have one source, get a pair of Ultimate Attenuators to attach to the DNA 125 and you will have a pairing made in heaven. DNA 125s will cost you easily over 1K, and a pair of Ultimate Attenuators, you need to buy new, $350....very difficult to get used. This combo will be good for a long time to come even when you change speakers.

The ASL amps are not up to standards in build and power, as are many of the seemingly good buys in tubes power amplification that come from China.

I suspect that the Ella set is also made in China.
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