Might want to add the Rogue Sphinx to your list. Nice review of it in The Absolute Sound this month. Should work well with your type of music, and the tubed input stage may give you at least a taste of the tube magic you're used to. Reviewer bought the review sample fwiw. Only $1400 with remote. Best of luck.
Downsizing my system from tubes to an integrated
I've recently parted with my EL84 based SET system and in the interim have been using a very nicely reconditioned Mac C28 that sounds way better than the original examples and a Hafler 500, again a very nice sounding 34 year old amp. I'm running EPOS M12i's for speakers and I expect to keep those. I'm also running a 2x8" in wall Paradigm sub just to fill out the bottom end.
About me, I'm a guy in his 40's who loves everything from Rush, The Who, Lee Ritenour, Herbie Hancock, to Tower of Power and a heck of a lot in between. When nobody is home I like to turn it up a bit. However my system is used in the at young family friendly volumes 98% of the time.
We recently moved. Our home is not that big. My speakers are well suited for the room. Ok so what...
The Mac and the Hafler are overkill. Within the confines of my current furniture the amp could have cooling problems as time goes on time will tell, it's only been a week and half. In a perfect world I'd like 1 or 2 more line inputs on my preamp and probably think I'm going to shelve the idea of separates for some years to come. So after all that my question to you the forum is... I'm looking for opinions on integrated amps.
The contenders with my unverified opinions so far are:
1. Creek Evolution 50a
Like the features of this unit. Seems like it may not be available in the US just yet. Concerned about 50WPC output.
2. Arcam A19 or A28
Not personally familiar with Arcam but have read a lot about them. The A28 has the power I'd like but the A19 is fits my budget better at least with new stock.
3. Marantanz PM8004
Lot's of good fanfare about this unit. Seems like the ideal amp for me. Gosh, I'd love to hear one before buying it.
4. Creek Evolution 2
Again like the features. I've heard this is not a great amp for Rock???
5. Peachtree Decco 65
Probably not enough inputs but both this and the Nova are nice looking amps. Also not sure about having a Class D amp, especially having gone from SET and currently using a big iron amp.
6. Used Krell KAV-300
Not many of these out there. Are there conclusions to be drawn from this? Like people don't let them go? Seems like a great Rock amp.
If there is something I've missed please suggest! Also if anybody is looking for a super clean Mac C28, message me!
About me, I'm a guy in his 40's who loves everything from Rush, The Who, Lee Ritenour, Herbie Hancock, to Tower of Power and a heck of a lot in between. When nobody is home I like to turn it up a bit. However my system is used in the at young family friendly volumes 98% of the time.
We recently moved. Our home is not that big. My speakers are well suited for the room. Ok so what...
The Mac and the Hafler are overkill. Within the confines of my current furniture the amp could have cooling problems as time goes on time will tell, it's only been a week and half. In a perfect world I'd like 1 or 2 more line inputs on my preamp and probably think I'm going to shelve the idea of separates for some years to come. So after all that my question to you the forum is... I'm looking for opinions on integrated amps.
The contenders with my unverified opinions so far are:
1. Creek Evolution 50a
Like the features of this unit. Seems like it may not be available in the US just yet. Concerned about 50WPC output.
2. Arcam A19 or A28
Not personally familiar with Arcam but have read a lot about them. The A28 has the power I'd like but the A19 is fits my budget better at least with new stock.
3. Marantanz PM8004
Lot's of good fanfare about this unit. Seems like the ideal amp for me. Gosh, I'd love to hear one before buying it.
4. Creek Evolution 2
Again like the features. I've heard this is not a great amp for Rock???
5. Peachtree Decco 65
Probably not enough inputs but both this and the Nova are nice looking amps. Also not sure about having a Class D amp, especially having gone from SET and currently using a big iron amp.
6. Used Krell KAV-300
Not many of these out there. Are there conclusions to be drawn from this? Like people don't let them go? Seems like a great Rock amp.
If there is something I've missed please suggest! Also if anybody is looking for a super clean Mac C28, message me!
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