Integrated for TAD ME1: Luxman, Accuphase or Soulnote?


Battle of Japanese brands!

Which one should fit better for the marvellous TAD?

Sources: Turntable and Streamer/DAC.

Been thinking in Soulnote A-2, Luxman 590ax II or Accuphase E-480/4000.

Budget around 7-8K€.

Thanks!

superelmar

Showing 2 responses by yyzsantabarbara

I had the TAD ME-1 as my top choices for my office system. I demoed it with Luxman gear, C900u and m900u. It sounded great. I was a little annoyed when TAD dropped the price by $5k and then raised it again by $5k a few months later (it was not a sale). A great sounding speaker.

At one time I owned the new KRELL k-300i integrated amp (the XD variant). I think that the KRELL sounded a lot like the Luxman. Super smooth and never fatiguing, which would go nicely with the BE driver of the TAD.

It is 90 watts of Class A using thier iBias system. I upgraded to a KRELL Duo 175 XD amp (same design as the k-300i) and I loved that amp. That one had 175 watts of Class A, a shame I sold it. That amp was definitely in the Class of the Luxman m9000u.

I had the CODA CSiB integrated and as mentioned previously, the KRELL K-300i integrated (Dou XD variant). I would take the KRELL over the CODA. That Class A of the KRELL is great and would work really nice with the TAD ME-1. 

I sold both and now use a CODA #16. I was thinking of the KRELL Duo 300XD over the CODA #16 (or in a dream the KRELL KSA i400) but my speakers are a bit warm so went with the less warm CODA.

I also demoed the Rotel Mitchi integrated mentioned above and it is a very quiet powerful amp. Not as good as the KRELL or CODA for my needs, The Mitchi sounded a bit like my Sander Magtech amp. I think the Magtech is better for my use case.

I am also like the previous poster when it comes to tubes. I can hear hum or hiss from my seated position on quiet passages. I found Class A the solution for my needs, quiet, sweet, with power.