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!
There ain't no romance without finance and there ain't no replacement for displacement. I would create a top notch system around a big tranny amp, like Bryston etc., 700w plus. You can use a tube pre but a top notch tranny pre will be double or more the cost. Tranny amps are brutally accurate that's why lot's of folks go for tubes. They are easier to get to sound good, but lack accuracy, with their sweet dreamy sound. |
@displayname I have been "in the game" for ~50 years, and have owned more than a few high-quality amps over the decades. Your post, in a sense, anticipated one that I plan to write over the coming weeks. The much longer story short, is that I have just recently acquired an LTA z40+, and consider it to be my favorite yet. Like you, I tend not to flip gear regularly, but rather prefer to find a component that I really like, and live with it for years (at least), and I expect that it is likely to be the case with the LTA. My previous integrated was a (Polish) Circle Labs A200, with which I could easily have lived happily for the rest of my audiophile days. It is a superb hybrid amp, and those interested can search for an extensive review done by @grannyring on this forum. Interestingly, as you mentioned Jeff Rowland amps several times, I was a big fan of their original Concentra, and owned one during the early/mid 2000s. But as I haven’t listened to their more contemporary offerings, I can’t offer any opinions on them. I have also owned Pass, Bryston, Gato, and Accuphase integrated amps, to name a few, and listened to many others. But there is something decidedly different, and uniquely attractive about the ZOTZ, David Berning designed amps, when paired with compatible speakers. Note that while the (small) LTA staff tend to be responsive and helpful, the current tariff uncertainties are keeping them busier than usual, so I’d advise being a bit patient in terms of communication. I wish you good luck, and will be interested to see where you end up in your quest! |
@hilde45 great info on some of your amps, especially the LTA. Been very curious about their pieces!
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@whipsaw thank you for the input! I have been curious about LTA and I got to hear a few of their pieces at SWAF. I wish they had some dealer network, but they do have a quality trial period. |
