BAT VK200 sounds like what your asking for... |
Conrad Johnson MF series offers what you are looking for; great tube sound from solid state.
Chuck |
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The solid state Pass Aleph series has a reputation for tubelike sound. My Aleph 3 has a smooth, liquid, indulgent midrange plus feathery highs and decent lows. While the Aleph series is now out of production, there are a fair number for sale in the used market, and they are built like tanks and should last a long time. If you can get by with 30 watts per channel, the Aleph 3 stereo amp might be a good choice. There are other models with higher power, as well as monoblocks. I urge you to find one to listen to, so you can get a first hand impression of their sound. The Pass Labs web site still has info on the Aleph series, try the following link: http://passlabs.com/aleph.htm. Good luck. |
I agree with Unsound and Jameswei. I also have a Pass Aleph 3 and enjoy it very much. Your gear looks like it would match well with the amp. |
Other options include BEL and Electrocompaniet. |
The Pass amps are very good, if you want something a little older (less expensive), you could check out some Threshold's. You can get a very good price on some vintage Threshold amps. I like the sound of some of the older Threshold amps better than Krell and Levinson. |
Aloia 13.01, you can buy them used for $1200.00 or $1300.00. Best amp available!I've owned or had all the before amps mentioned in my system at one time or another. They're great amps, but not in the same league as the Aloia. Details with musicality, a very hard thing to pull off. |
I second , third and fourth the Pass Labs amps. I have a Pass X250 and love it. I had the Bat VK200 and for its price it was a nice amp and I also owned a Aloia 13.01 for about 2 months and sold it. I did think it was a really GOOD amp but to say that it is the best amp available I don't think I can say that even in the 1200.00 to 1300.00 price range. Just my opinion. As with every component its all system depended and what sound YOU are looking for. |
Had you consudered a Symphonic line RG-1.The Pass ,Plinius or Lamm 1.1s.There's also the In-Sound V-amps,47 Labs Gain-card and PS HCA amp. |
Let's not forget the Gamut. |
Can't pass up (oy!) a used Aleph! |
David 12, look and see which amp has more used listings. This will speak for itself. |
These are the ModWright modified Hybrids for Response Audio. There is a 30 wpc and 50 wpc currenty available and both are Class A and reasonably priced. |
Why no mention of Rowland? The most innovative, best built, least redundant line in the world is perpetually ignored by Audiogon subscribers. Is it because you don't like the sound or because the prices are not competitive on the watt/dollar scale?
I think there is no better value out there than a used Concentra. |
Macrojack, because the thread asked for amps that run in pure class A. |
Any particular reason for exclusively looking for Class A solid state?
While there are alot of great Class A amps, I think you can get the same level of performance from a good Class A/B amp. I've had Class A amps before, and I'm just not comfortable with something generating that much heat in my room. You can fry an egg on some of them. More importantly, I've heard of them baking the circuit board over time and lifting the traces.
Of course, there are tons of people who've never had a problem, but why deal with the extra heat, power cost, and reliability issues if you don't have to. Nevertheless, if you want Class A suggestions, I would check out the Plinius. Also, I haven't heard it, but Bedini supposedly came out with a Class A amp that runs just warm to the touch. |
Unsound,
According to Rowland's website, the Concentra is class A but putting that aside, I would second Labtec's question; Why be insistent on Class A? |
Macrojack, the thread asked for power amplifiers not integrated amplifiers. I'm not qualified to challange Jeff Rowlands assertion that the Concentra is true Class A. Let just say it's a novel approach. With regards to why limit recommendations to Class A out put, I'm just trying to respect the question as put forward. Other wise I think Rowland is a very good suggestion. |
Spectral DMA-200 is one of the BEST thumpin' pure Class A amps there is, can be had for a song. I have two( will not sell`either). Better than 99% of new amps produced today.
The DMA-200 does NOT need a Spectral preamp. I can drive
very reactive speakers to ungodly listening levels
without congealing, becoming hard, or nasty sounding. One
of the reasons for stop making them was cost. Bass control
is unbelievable, without peer except maybe Krell, the highs
are very smooth, and the mid range is to die for. Once you
have one of these you will not go back to tubes and I have
two tube amps ARC D115 and D79A!! Good Luck!!! |
