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Choosing a Solid State Class A/B integrated amp

I have been committed to Integrated amps for over 10 years and have had a few, mainly Class a tube amps. I love what tubes, SET amps in particular, have to offer. The speed , mid range clarity and neutrality, can be pretty addictive. I have 2 integrated amps I use at the moment,both excellent, an Ayon Spark 20 watt SET and 50 watt hybrid Class A Pathos Inpol2.

The rest of the system is:
Mac Mini into an Ayre QB9 DAC for digital
TW Accustic Raven one/Ortofon 309D arm/Benz Micro LP cartridge
Daedalus DA-RMA speakers

Music choice is pretty eclectic, classical,Jazz,blues, singer Songwriter, not much rock, as such.

The system is great, but I know Lou at Daedalus likes higher ouput amps, particularly Modwright, despite his speakers being high sensitivity, so I would like to swap one of my amps for a higher output SS, or tube unit. .

My only exposure to a Class A/B SS integrated, was not a success. I tried the Karan K180 integrated and found it dull, slow and lifeless in my system, despite it's good reputation. Likewise, I have'nt often enjoyed the higher output push/pull tube units I have heard.

Any suggestions then for an integrated amp under $10000 new, though I would probably buy it cheaper, second hand. My ideal would be a Dartzeel H8550, which I have loved, every time I have heard it, but it's too expensive for me, even second hand. The new Modwright K200, is an obvious candidate. The reviews say is it is on the warm side of neutral, which I would like, but I have'nt heard it.

Give me some suggestions guys, thanks
david12

Showing 5 responses by jdoris

jdoris
972 posts
 
I've got the same question as the OP: I have a Pass INT-30A, which is a lovely piece, but I'd like more speaker flexibility than its 30 watts allows. I also favor "warm" over "neutral." So please do keep your thoughts on integrateds with grunt coming!

John
jdoris
972 posts
 
Unsound, Charles1dad:

I own the Pass INT-30 (marketed as as class A, compared to the AB INT-150). It is a very smooth and natural sounding amp.

But if David12 is looking for significantly more grunt than his current 20 and 50 wpc channel specimens provide, as his post suggests, I doubt it is the amp for him.

Last night I compared the Pass to the 200 wpc BMC C-1 on the 90db (and excellent) Vapor Joule. Ryan and I (the Vapor owner/designer) both thought the BMC had considerably more punch and energy on the attack with those speakers.

Again, the INT-30A is lovely, but I continue to think a more powerful solid state specimen -- such as the Modwright stuff Daedalus tends to show with -- might make a more gratifying contrast with David's current amplification.

Best,

John
jdoris
972 posts
 
Unsound, fair enough: the INT-30A puts out a lot more than 30 in AB. But if you need that, you're not getting the yummy class A you paid over 200 bucks a watt for. Mark at Reno describes a certain "flattening" of the sound if you push it out of A.

Charles1dad: David12 already has comparatively low power tube amps, no? My point was that the INT-30A might not make for much of a change of direction. IMO, it certainly would not represent the difference (for better or worse) that moving to a higher power integrated would.

John
jdoris
972 posts
 
Class A is the best for sound, period.

I'm currently using a class A amp, but I wonder about this.

Is class A better at any given pricepoint? Or is it better only if cost is no object (and you can buy as many of those expensive watts as your speakers need)?

Is class A better for every kind of music (for thumping rock as well as small scale vocals)?

John
jdoris
972 posts
 
Dave_72:

I have the Pass INT-30A. Lovely, but seriously limiting for speakers.
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