2. amps-preamps
  3. 175868-157309

Amp Upgrade Path?

Or maybe the question should be: What am I missing? I'm relatively new to the tube world. About a year and a half ago I bought a used Rogue CM1 (KT120 power tubes) and have steadily upgraded sources and cables....and enjoying it very much.
I'm at what I guess I would call full circle again...meaning my sources are here to stay for the immediate near future and I'm back to thinking speakers and amps.
As I gather, different power tubes have different sonic signatures and I just don't have a reference to what that means.
Is a Prima Luna better then a CM1?
maybe an Air Tight?
And then there is configuration: Power amp with a preamp? Mono Blocks and a preamp?....or stay with an integrated.....
The major short fall of the CM1 (imho) was the phono stage. This was corrected by a EAR 834P mm/mc phono stage. Analog source is a Nottingham 294 Space deck w/ a Lyra cart....w/ Acoustic Zen Matrix interconnects - thank you Audiogon  for getting me there.
Thanks for all recommendations
Budget: let's say 5K new or used
 

smaarch1

Showing 1 response by deadtrader

deadtrader
7 posts
 

For under 5K it's going to be tough. There are power amps with dual mono geometry, which is the same as a pair of blocks (not as sexy though). I just purchased PrimaLuna, did a bunch of searching and found a Dialogue HP with < 100hrs for $2400 and at UpScale they have some new old stock that still sell for their org retail. I got a PL Prologue Premier Pre-amp with full warranty for $2200. They are both dual mono build. So it can be done.

By the way the amps sound great about a 30% SQ improvement with my old Revel's over the old Rotel amps. 

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