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.
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.
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- 41 posts total
- 41 posts total