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Looking for... Integrated tube amp with phono

Looking for an integrated tube amp (or hybrid) in the $4-7k range. Preferably used. (Actually, there’s almost no way I’d get what I wanted new.)

Must haves:

            -PHONO built in (yes, I know I can do “better” with separates, but that’s not what I want this time).

            -At least 70WPC (my speakers are not too efficient at 88db).

            -REMOTE… doesn’t need to have 50 functions, but needs to control volume.

            -Tape Monitor or some way to connect an EQ (not needed if it has tone controls)

 

Nice to have:

            -Headphone jack. (I have no headphone amp atm.)

            -DAC (I have a Bluesound Node 2i; I never use it, but never I might.)

            -Tone Controls (I’m no purist, and at low listening levels I need to increase the bass)

            -MC cartridge capability

 

Current list:

            -Mcintiosh MA352 – tons of power (for future speakers?), but no MC option and the phono stage is transistor. Tone controls! Easy to re-sell.

            -VAC Sigma 170i – seems like a decent option and has a tube phono section.

            -Octave V80 – harder to find, and probably really tough to sell when I get tired of it. Phono is MM OR MC, not both.

            -Audio Research GSi75 – also hard to find, but this seems to have everything in one box.

            -Am I missing anything?

 

Backstory… I’m a mid-fi guy. I live in NYC (currently have neighbors below me and next to me) and will never have the luxury (or the money) to have a dedicated listening room. That means, no wall treatments, bass traps, or even a dedicated stereo rack. I rarely crank my stereo (although, I want to be able to since my main thing in life is seeing live bands… it’s pretty much the only thing I really enjoy, so I like loud music). My speakers are Ohm Walsh 3 (slightly modified) and I’ve had them much longer than anything else (10 years and 4 apartments). They aren’t perfect, but I like them (although they are a bit small for my current house). I haven’t been using my stereo much since we moved to this place but my wife has been listening to vinyl. She had a difficult time with my old TT (Music Hall MMF-7.1 with a Goldring 2400) and when the cantilever broke, I decided to get a TT that she would have an easier time with- a Denon DP-47F (from Japan). The cartridge is pretty cheap, and before I replace it, I may want to try an MC cart (probably Denon DL-301), otherwise, I’ll get a DL-110, knowing that it’s well beneath the Goldring I had.

My current amps are Conrad Johnson Classic 60SE  and PV10B (I’m using the onboard phono). I’ve had it a few years and like the sound, although I need to cheat with a Schiit Loki. I grew up with the bass and treble maxed out (‘70s and ‘80s), and I guess that’s how I like music to sound.

I’ve owned a hybrid, various tube amps, SS (Denon PMA-2500ne that I didn’t like at all) and have no issue with integrated amps. I’m also looking for convenience and simplicity.  

ron325
ghdprentice
6,965 posts
 

Luxman has a very distinct flashy sound with elevated treble and a bit elevated bass. To me it is a flashy sounding and looking amp. So, it is the opposite of Conrad Johnson, ARC and VAC, which emphasizes fidelity to real live music with great rhythm and pace and midrange bloom. Interesting last minute u-turn.

ron325 OP
58 posts
 

I actually turn the treble almost to the max setting and the bass is pretty close, too. I did the same with the CJ setup, except that I had to use an EQ, because there were no tone controls. Granted, I have hearing loss from decades of too-loud music, but I've always liked a lot of treble and bass, since I was a kid. I only listen to rock (or metal)... Black Sabbath-y stuff, if that makes a difference.

Really, the only thing the Luxman is missing is the echo-type midrange I've gotten with all my tube amps. I know a lot of people around here like "flat" music, but I don't enjoy that at all.

ron325 OP
58 posts
 

Ok, so this is turning more into a blog than what I originally intended, but today I decided to connect my CJ PV10B as a phono amp to my Luxman. Keep in mind, the phono stage on the CJ is for MM only and my LOMC Denon DL-301mkii has an output of only .4mV. So, I was surprised/happy (and disappointed)... this setup actually sounds better than the Luxman phono stage. The CJ isn't even an expensive model (I've got it for sale at $1100 and no takers). I have the CJ volume maxed-out (I tried using the tape monitor connections but it was a little too quiet). There's no noise, very little distortion, and I've got some of that magic back. I don't know if the phono stage on the CJ is extremely good for the price (I have a feeling it is), or if my cartridge really doesn't require a moving coil phono stage. 

So, I guess I'm going to buy a cheap (less than $2k) MC phono amp and see what happens. I'm bummed because I really wanted to get a single box to "do it all", and if I were using a $10k phono amp, I would understand the results. But the fact that the CJ phono stage probably costs less than what's inside my Luxman... well, that kinda bums me out.

Now I need to see what a dedicated phono amp will do (but, at under $2k used, I doubt it will be much, if any, better than the Conrad Johnson).

kennyc
1,472 posts
 

A bit rare/ tough to get a good sonic quality built-in phono stage in both integrated SS or tube that would match the rest of your system.  Likely the built-in would be a sonic bottleneck.  

ron325 OP
58 posts
 

A bit rare/ tough to get a good sonic quality built-in phono stage in both integrated SS or tube that would match the rest of your system.  Likely the built-in would be a sonic bottleneck.  

Right, I understand as I've owned integrateds and separates. BUT, the phono stage I like is not a separate phono stage... it's just a little section of the CJ linestage. And that CJ model is pretty cheap.  The Luxman does have a discreet phono amp built-in with both MC & MM, which is impressive for an integrated. Granted, it's their TOTL. Also, I could only find positive comments online regarding Luxman's phono amp on the L-509z, although I realize those are just people's opinions.

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