I too am one that what ever I get into I’m all in. But I’ve learned it’s as much about the chase as it is the capture. I’ve also learned I can not trust my own logic as to what I need to make the next step. I have to seek expert unbiased advice.
One thing I have learned is I am a tube amp guy. I can listen for 8 hours plus and never fatigue. With solid state or hybrid integrated amps after a couple hours I am worn out. Now that my be peculiar to me but at least I’ve eliminated a large section of the amp market.
Thats my experience and opinion which in the big scheme of life is meaningless.
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Interesting timing with your post. I just setup my system at our summer place. I had removed all of the equipment except for the dipole tower speakers I got used so I could let them stay the winter without worrying. Acquired a more powerful used amp over the winter and was planning on upgrading the speakers. I streamed a few tracks and played a CD and I couldn’t believe how much better the speakers sounded. I’m set for now. Glad I didn’t get another pair or speakers since I’m trying to consolidate what I have. We all give you the push you need to buy the amp of your dreams! Side note, I’m getting too old to lug gear back and forth. Everything stays from mow on. If the mice want to jam in the winter they can.
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Anyone else constantly curious about amps?
Yes. Consider Vinnie Rossi L2i-SE Integrated Amplifier see here.
Mike
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@ghdprentice I think you’re absolutely right. I’ve been lucky enough to be exposed to several truly high end systems in homes with amazingly built out rooms, some designed from the initial home build. I’ve been spoiled and deep down I’m just continuing the journey to try to bring some of that home.
And I think you are absolutely spot on with being patient, and being willing to travel to demo gear. I suggest that to others often, but more I’m really starting to enter the price points where I need to heed my own advice, and patience really is the key. While I would never finance that type of investment, I can save for it. And that’s what is going to be required. Patience, saving, exploring and committing.
Sometimes I just need to hear it from someone else, so thank you.
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I've long been curious about amps and wanted to try a variety of topologies. Solid state, both class a/b and class a, one of the class a powered via four wheelchair batteries. Push pull tubes with many varieties of power tubes, SET's using 845, 300B, 2a3. Now looking for a 2a3 or 45 SET to add to my 300B. Also looking at 300B's with interstage transformers.
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Nothing wrong with the way you feel. Perhaps your analytical side says a streamer will net you the better sound but your subconscious is telling you an amp will do it. Without getting into the psychology of it. Perhaps your subconscious it right. Amps really impact the sound of your system... of course all the components do... but the steamer is a bit more about detail fine nuance and the amp is about heft among other things. Your speakers are not tremendously efficient... so, it is very possible a great amp would make a huge difference.
It also sounds like you are really wondering what a real audiophile piece of equipment sounds like. When I got my first job out of college I took out my first loan to buy a true state of the art piece of audiophile equipment... a Threshold s500 amp... $5K... $20K in today’s dollars. It was one of a couple revelatory leaps of faith I took that lead me to the great / rewarding journey I have been on to assemble the system I have today.
Maybe consider, making that leap. Don’t rush. Take a trip to a city... spend the weekend, visit several places. Research the heck out of it. Then find some way to finance / pay for a really great amp. Typically I will have an amp for ten to twenty years, before I upgrade, I had a Pass x350 for 17 years and only lost 500 dollars from what I paid for it! Audiophile stuff keeps its value long term.
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All competently designed amps of low noise, low distortion and low output impedance will sound indistinguishable. Tube amps with their high output impedance are excluded. They will track a speaker's impedance curve and have a non-flat response.
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You only live once. Try some freakin amps if you want to! Have fun!
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Rolling tubes is cheaper and less radical of a change.
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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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@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 
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The only cure is no money. Have 5 integrated and 12 pairs of speakers.
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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.
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@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.
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@displayname Listen, might as well not avoid the inevitable, go ahead and ease out a little further and if need be call the wife as I am sure she will give you a little push. Enjoy the music
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What are the speakers?
I didn’t care for a Sugden and Devore combo. I found the amp on the bright side but I typically steer towards tubes.
I had the mastersound 24 watt 300B many years ago. Great amp, not familiar with the one you own.
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