2. amps-preamps
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Amplifier Experience Gryphon Pass Lamm BAT

After living with a small integrated amp for quite some time (Pathos) I am finally about to take the plunge and buy myself a large power amplifier with a matching preamp. (Speakers are WB Chimeras)

I am focussed mostly on class A amps amd prefer a neutral sound erring on the warm side. After having lived with Pathos for a while I am looking for someting more powerful than most tube amps.

The brands and models I have narrowed it down to are:
- BAT VK52SE+ 2x BAT VK600
- Pass Labs XP-20 + XA160.5 Monos
- Lamm L2 Reference + Lamm M1.2 Reference Monos
- Gryphon Mirage + Antileon Signature Stereo

All models are used or ex-demo equipment I could get a good price on hence if some manufacturers (Krell, mbl etc.) are not included this is because there is either no opportunity or I excluded them for some other reason.

The above are listed according to price I could get them at with the BAT being quite a bit cheaper and the other three being quite close.

I will not be able to compare any of the above in the same room, etc so I would be grateful for any direct experience people have in comparing the above!
hamburgcity
sdrenslow
65 posts
 
Extremely happy w/ BAT VK-52SE and VK-600SE stereo amp. Going this route would allow upgrade from VK-52SE to REX and converting VK-600SE to mono and buying a second one. Outstanding dynamics, soundstaging, and instrumental tone and texture.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Hamburgcity Do'nt dismiss buying in the US and changing the voltage. I have done it several times, Conrad Johnson and Karan, no problem, Viva valve amp, major problems. Tube amps seem more problematic.

Manufacturers are producing for a world market, so they need to be made easy to adjust voltage, usually by changing the taps on the transformer. Spectral even have a switch to change voltage, you can do it yourself. So if you pick your amp carefully, you can buy on the Gon and import
hamburgcity OP
7 posts
 
Thank you all.

Combining a tube pre-amp with solid state power amp looks like an interesting way to go. The three tube pre-amps that I find interesting from what I have read so far are:

- Audio Research Reference 5
- Einstein The Tube
- BAT Rex

And i thought i would never consider tubes...
semi
649 posts
 
in the "right" system, ARC Ref 3/5 can sound very good.

in the "wrong" system, ARC Ref 3/5 (or even Ref 2) can sound metallic, whitish, greyish on top.

Einstein will never sound that way, it's always musical, fast, dynamic (much more than ARC), extended, and transparent.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
aldavis
202 posts
 
I combine ARC Ref 5 with Gryphon Antileon signature and feel they work great together. - Jim
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