Integrated Amp that goes well with Triangle Celius


Hello all,
This is going to be my first hi-fi system.
I purchased Triangle Celius ES last week.
Next step is to buy an amp that goes well with the speakers. I heard that the speakers are a little too bright.
CREEK 5350SE, Primare A30.1, ARCAM A75/85 and Krell 300I are on my list.
DO you have any suggestions on these int-amps that will compensate the brightness?
One more thing to say is that my budget is pretty much tight and my first system doesn't have to be perfect.

Thank you,
Chulhee
chulheekim

Showing 2 responses by alanbrain

Hi
I have owned a pair of triangle celius for almost 2 years.
First I used a Plinius 8100 integrated solid state to drive the celius, the sound was very clean, good soundstage,very dynamic, but a little bright and without body, the sound was thin.
Then I moved to the Conrad Johnson MV50(tubes), and that was a perfect match, airy sound, not anymore bright, very good high extension, full body.
Triangle speakers sound very well with tube amps, because of their different sound signatures. Triangle have a little bright and thin sound , some tube amps have a warm sound.But all depends on what kind of music do you listen to?
Another thing to consider is the sensibility of the celius, is a very efficient speaker. So, a 50, 40 watt amp will be ok. I saw that Gunbei pointed you to Primaluna prologue and Unicon. Those are in the $1200 used.
Also you can check
Tube Audio Design TAD-60, you can use as an integrated first and then as a power amp. You can read some reviews here, there is a link to audiogon review
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/bizzyb/TAD-60.html
Hope it helps
It sells new for 1299 factory direct and used for 800.
If your budget is less than $1000.
I would say Audiolab 8000s(solid state) now there is one used $500 or the Classe(solid state) CAP-80 black $800. I think both are neutral, so wont make it brighter and will provide more body to the music. Last you can buy some power tube amp for $700(used) and a solid state pre for $600(used) and make a good combo. Also you will need some good Interconnect, entry level used $200. Tell us more about your music preferences and maybe we can help you better.
Happy Listening
Alan
As Xlr8or says Celius break in takes time and they are better with tubes on the way. Sure they will sound less hash and bright after they break in, but if not pared correctly they will retain something of their brightness.
So, lets see, If I would spend $2000, on cd, amp section(amp and pre or integrated) and Interconnect,. I would buy used equipment here on Audiogon.
You said you listen mostly to jazz, classical and you love warm sound.
I think for the cd player you can try a
Jolida JD 100a tube output cd player(around $500 used on Agon) or a Rotel 991(this was top of the line 4 years ago, also around $500) or a Classe CDP .5 cd player/transport around $700. This 3 will be a good source for the music. I would go for the jolida, or the rotel 991(I own one and it is a very good cd player, then you can use it as a transport). Then for the amp and thinking on your musical taste I will try to go for tube all way. Conrad Jonhson would be good to the warm sound you look for. Check the MV50, the MV52 and the MV55(they will be great for violins and cellos), all are around $700 used here on Agon. For the preamplifier I will go with an hybrid, check the Sonic Frontiers SFL-1, around $600 used on Agon, or the Musical fidelity XPreV3 at $600
or the Forte F44 also around $500.
Now you have spent $1800 more or less and you have $250 aprox. to find 2 pairs of Interconnects. One for the cd-pre and the other for the pre-amp. The other way is the integrated, I think here my only advice would be the TAD-60., I already told you about it in my last post.
Happy Hunting
PD all the equipment I mentioned is now selling on Audigon so you can check it an make your decission.