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Demo'ing Class A amps, Appreciation Suggestions from those who recently been there

I recently sold my Cary S120MKll Amp in 2 days. It was 60wpc triode.
Filling in with Pass Lab, baby DIY Class A Mono blocks. Maxing at 7 wpc.
My speakers are rated 94 Sensitivity older FSMs by Tannoy.

I have sampled so far in order of preference:

-Pass Labs XA25 -Disneyland color the way I like it. $4,900 new
-Leben 300 Int. 12 wpc. EL 84s by Golden Lion-Like an Upscale call girl. Seductive. $4,000 new-Not in the running-

-Lejonklou Boazu Int.-40wpc S.S. Class a/b-Totally Pure. Almost hurts to hear a guitar slide. $4,000 new
-Sugden Masterclass IA 4 Class A to 33wpc. Very smooth but surprisingly not a great match with my Tannoys. $6,000?

What else would you think might be worth a listen?
I want to go Solid State this time. I enjoy the Class A resolution.
Yes the Leben is an outlier someone offered and I said "Sure"! Done with hum otherwise.


I listen from a low of 60 db to high of 75 db.
Room is irregular and medium sized in terms of cubic
feet. Treated as needed.

I want an amp that is satisfying enough to keep for the long run.
Someday I may add the others for a different sound or with less efficient planars, etc.

Price range $5k max.
Used preferred.
Willing to wait.

Brands I am have not heard but read positive comments about:
Ayre, Naim, Linn

Thank you all in advance for your thoughts.
Please do not feel compelled to respond if you
have not been here in the last few years.





chorus

Showing 2 responses by aldoallen

aldoallen
29 posts
 
If tube amplification is an option, my suggestion would be Linear Tube Audio. I am using a ZOTL 10 amp with the MZ3 preamp on Spatial Audio M4 Triode Master speakers. The speakers are rated at 93db and average 12 ohms. These are open baffle speakers and are probably getting around 8 watts from the ZOTL 10 amp. This amp can drive me out of the room if I cranked it up, so it has plenty of power for normal listening levels. I believe the amp puts out 12 watts at 4 ohms.

These amps are very different from a normal tube amp with normal transformers. They have a frequency response that goes down to 6 hz at -0.5 db which gives you the bass response of a ss amp. They have no massive transformers and the tubes run at much lower amperage than a normal tube amp. The tubes are supposed to last between 10-20 years and the heat generated is less than a normal tube amp or a Class A ss amp in my experience. LTA amps and preamps are dead quiet with no hiss at all. I went from using a Cary Rocket 88 tube amp to a CODA 10.5R ss amp (100 watt, 25 watt Class A) to my current LTA system. LTA describes their sound as tube tone with solid state detail which I think is very accurate.

They have a two week trial period and will take back the amp for any reason and will cover the return shipping. The ZOTL 10 power amp is $3,200 and they have a Z 10 Integrated amp for $4,900.  
aldoallen
29 posts
 
Decooney:

I would say the LTA amp leans more toward very good solid state and less towards lush tube sound. Compared to my CODA amp it has a little more detail and adds some air around the individual instruments and voices if that makes any sense. It is hard to describe and I think the best description is tube tone and solid state detail.as LTA describes it. I was not satisfied at all with the Rocket 88. Even though it could put out 60 watts, the bass disappeared on my open baffle speakers and I don't listen much to bass heavy music. The CODA corrected the bass problem but it was barely idling running my speakers and most of the 25 watt Class A was going to heat the room. I took a chance on the LTA amp based on what I was hearing from the MZ3 preamp and I am very pleased with it. It still amazes me that this little 10 watt tube amp can drive my speakers as well as the CODA amp and the CODA is is a very fine amplifier also.
The LTA amp came with four Russian 6P14P-EB tubes and four 7062 tube that are unmarked but I think may be RCA? I suppose the tube sound could be adjusted by using different tubes but I like it the way it is.

 I can't think of anything sound wise I would change but it is definitely not audio jewelry. Just a plain black box.  
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