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Looking for an upgrate from Cronus Magnum

I live with Cronus Magnum with KT120 tube 100wpc for 2 years. I feel that it has been great for jazz, accoustic and vocal music. However I also listen to rock, pop, R&B, and movie scores. I feel the Cronus lack clarity and punch in the bottom end. My speaker is Salk HT2-TL 87dB efficiency 4ohm impedance.

I am considering the following options with a budget $3500. What is your opinion? If plan B is the better route, which integrated amp you suggest? My speaker is a bit cold and analytic, i want to add some warmth to it. Thanks.

PLAN A
Change the preamp and driver tubes on the Cronus. Cost about $300. Could enhance the clarity over the stock JJ12AU7. But bottom end would still lacking. Get a subwoofer for bottomend $1500

PLAN B
Replace Cronus with one of these SS used:
Krell Vanguard
Pass INT150
ModWright KWI200
MF M6si
Parasound HINT

Current system:
Salksound HT2-TL speaker
Cronus Magnum integrated amplifier
Oppo 105
Morrow Audio MA3 Interconnect and SP2 speaker cables



ucc118
bitman's avatar
bitman
2 posts
 
I just upgraded from Cronus for the same reasons. After playing with various 12au7s,
I got more bass out and gained more staging but lost on clarity, there is always some trade off. For me it just lacked detail with music that is more busy, classical, rock and lacked the lower bass for electronic. So to compensate for detail I would play it louder and that's when it really lacked the oomph and seemed to get congested. I went with bmc cs2. Right away the sheer power and control had me sold. The amp has grip on speakers at all time. Don't see a need for a sub. 
ucc118 OP
6 posts
 
Quick update. I took home the Primaluna HP integrated. WOW what a great amp! Perfect match for my speaker! Everything is better than Cronus Magnum! lower power but more powerful bass! I dont need to buy a subwoofer now! mid is richer and fuller. high is clearer. I can enjoy rock songs and hip hops now! It also has more detail than Cronus. It costs $2000 more than Cronus Magnum but to me the level of sound improvement is worth for more! It is 20lb more heavier than the Cronus Magnum. May be that can tell about the quality. It is better than the same price level SS amps which I auditioned lately.
ucc118 OP
6 posts
 
For the sound I am getting from Primaluna HP and Salk HT2-TL, I can now forget about equipment and just enjoy music! 
soix
9,456 posts
 
I was going to recommend the Dialogue HP but you beat me to it.  Interesting comparison to the CM and awesome that you had a dealer nearby with such great choices and that you got to try it at home.  Congrats and enjoy!
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Ucc118,
What you’ve just described and experienced is the unquestionable result of a "higher" quality tube power amplifier. The additional 20 pounds and 2000.00 dollars certainly suggest bigger and better output transformers and power supply. I’m not surprised that sonic performance improved across the board. The watts rating can be deceiving, overall power supply quality is more relevant. Were you able to do comparisons to the solid state  Pass integrated and  Mod wright amplifiers?
Charles,
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