2. amps-preamps
  3. 194078-91508

Anyone else constantly curious about amps?

I'll start of by saying I have a really great sounding amp, the Mastersound Dueventi. It's a class-A tube amp running in PSET putting out 20 watts of power, which proves to be plenty in my room. I have other audio upgrades that would be more valuable. I've slowly been replacing cables, a new streamer would probably have the biggest impact in my system next, I'd like a new turntable now that I've stepped up  my cartridge and phonostage... 

But I just keep coming back to amps. For some reason I just feel a need to bring in something new. I can't afford it. It won't be the most high impact in my system. I don't really have anywhere to demo several of these options. But still, I've been on a two week long rabbit hole exploring solid state class A options like Pass and Sugden. I heard a top in system this past weekend with Jeff Rowland driving the system and I forgot how great those can sound, so I'm finding myself looking at their integrated. I know Norma amps sound amazing with my speakers, so I'm always tempted to bump that up the priority list. 

Someone talk me off the ledge and help me with this sickness! 

displayname
displayname's avatar
displayname OP
158 posts
 

@bjesien the speakers are Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo Series 1. My room is fairly small at about 12x15. 

@tooblue I wish my wife would give me the little push. I have a new rack on the way, so I think any additional gear talk is going to result in either a death stare or an eye roll, lol. 

erik_squires
16,639 posts
 

The trick is to get into inexpensive small amps you can afford to keep 3-4 of and rotate in and out over time.  Especially fun to do with smallish tube amps. 

dwest1023
263 posts
 

The only cure is no money.  Have 5 integrated and 12 pairs of speakers. 

displayname's avatar
displayname OP
158 posts
 

@erik_squires and @dwest1023

I've actually never been one to keep a lot of equipment. Always want to focus in going all in on something I love. This issue now has become affording the things that I love cheeky

inna
7,905 posts
 

If you want to leave tubes, I think you have to go higher than any Rowland, Pass or Sugden. This means top SS level - Boulder, D'Agostino, Gryphon, Vitus, Soulution, DarTzeel, maybe Accuphase etc. You can't afford them, not even close, so forget about it, enjoy what you have or go a little higher with tube amp.

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