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Good tube integrated for Merlin speakers?

Hi,

Other than the Ars-Sonum integrated, what is the current crop of recommendations to drive a new Merlin MXe?

The Ars-Sonum is a push-pull A/B amp, so I was wondering if a straight SET integrated would work, and/or something strictly class A?

I'm not dismissing the Ars-Sonum (far from it -- synergy is what this game is about), I'm just looking for alternatives (and the Filarmonia has a rather long lead time, so what do I do in the mean time?) ....

I was looking at Audiomat (specifically the Opera Reference or Prelude Reference 20), the Mastersound (300B or 845) amps, Art Audio Jota or Carissa (I think the PX-25 is going to be woefully underpowered but the Concerto might work), and well, I'm not sure.

If possible, I'd like to keep this under $5k (used or new). Oh, and if it has a remote, that's a really nice feature ....

Separates are fine, but a different conversation -- just looking at integrateds right now ...

Thanks for you input!
socrates7

Showing 8 responses by pubul57

pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I did forget to mention that the Ars Sonum does actually have a tube preamp linestage, not a passive. Another integrated worth trying are any interation of the VACs.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I think Bobby is not particularly keen on SET with his speakers; I had considered that route. I own the Ars Sonum and the Joule/CAT JL2 combo and in the Ars is certainly comepetitive in terms of musical pleasure. I think it will be hard to beat an integrated designed with a specific speaker load in mind - I suspect design philosophies (SET PP Class A Triode Ultra linear, etc) are not nearly so important as excetution. P.S. I have also heard the Stingray is a good match with the Merlins.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I agree that the VAC is very likely to be wonderful with the Merlins. I did not know Bobby ever used SETs or the history behind that. He gently steered me away from going that way, not that they would not work fine or that some might truly like it, but I was not encourage to go there. I would think that you would need an 845 or 211 for it to work though. Would love to try a deHavilland 845G for instance. Was very curious to try the Almarro 318B, but...
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
There is an Art Audio Carissa on sale with a built-in volume control for less than $3000. I was very tempted by the Carissa.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I think that Joe has a Gold Point Attenuator option that would likely work very well; better than a Joule? Well likely a very different presentation. I can't decide between my Joule and K&K TVC by Keven Carter - both wonderful in their own and different ways.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
What I discovered over time, though Bobby told me from day one, the BAM sounds best when there is a tube preamp buffering the output to the amp. While I believe in passive for many setups, I think Merlin users are best served with a quality tube preamp.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
The functional issues without the loop and multiple sources is a limitation, yet, as you say it does make a great pairing. The moved the MXr with the MasterBAM should make a noticeable improvement, with no loss of why you loved the MMEs, hopefully you will feel no need to use a subwoofer now! I will note that a fellow Agoner went from LA150/VZN100 to the Ars Sonum - which he actually preferred - as great as the little amp is, it is still a "little" amp that does play loud enough in most settings, but ultimately preferred an OTL, what I consider to be the best topology for an amp (SS or tubes)if it works well with your speakers, and obviously it works very well indeed with the Merlins.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
You are not alone:)
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