Mastersound Amps. Anything similar you'd recommend

Thanks guys for the quick response. I'll have to take a look which exact model it was the dealer had there and will do that soon.

I do like a good bottom end as that is what I'm currently missing (though I'm not sure whether that's the speakers or the amps I have).

As I don't have any experience with tube amps at all I don't know if it would make sense to keep the Electrocompaniets and use the Mastersound as a preamp. Guess that would somehow defeat the purpose as I could just sell my pre-amp and look for a tube pre-amp that fits my current amps.

As I'd like to reduce the overall physical size of the setup I do like the idea of the integrated a lot better.

The one thing I'm not sure about is whether or not the Mastersound would match well with the PMC OB1+ speakers I've heard at the same shop and liked a lot. At the time they were driven by Rega equipment and I did like very much.

It might make sense to actually replace my speakers first as I've read all too often that the B&W's aluminum tweeters are just a bit bright in some setups and that would allow me to see hear the PMC's with without changing the amps.

What about the Cayin amps? Would those compare to the Mastersound amps?

Thanks again

Just checked back on this thread and was glad to see even more responses. As of now I have to admit that I don't even know the difference between a push/pull and SET and shall use the search function to find out more.

JohnK, any chance you could please give me some more insight into why the PMC's might not be a good choice for this amp? Also, what speaker brand would you recommend or what to look for in a good match?

Do you think that the B&W 703's would match it better.

I'll have to check with the dealer around here how much the amp actually was but it might have been around 3000.

Thanks again and I'll make sure to check back later.

Thanks again for all the help.

Bblilikoi, I think the PMC's are 6 Ohms/87db which doesn't seem too be too far away from you Sonus Faber Concertino Home monitors (88dB/6ohm)you've had. Were you ok with that setup and the amp you had. As you pointed out that you were switching to different speakers with higher sensitivity I wonder how big the difference in sound is.

For now I'll see what I can sell the easiest and that might just be my speakers and then take it from there. As there's a store over in Detroit that sells PMC and has tube amps it might pay to take a trip there and see what these guys have around I could listen to.

Well, made a mistake and just found out that the amp is the Due Venti rather then the 300 model. Still liked tyhe sound a lot and that also explains why the price is around 3000 rather then twice as much. Guess the problem with the amp not exactly matching the speakers might still apply.

The main problem is that I find the sound of my current setup to be a bit too bright for my ears. A friend of mine described it as quite detailed and liked it a lot, but he's not into tube amps and finds them too warm sounding.

The main problem might be the speakers and that's why I originally wanted to sell my speakers and by the PMC OB1+'s.

A little later I heard the Due venti and just loved the sound. Just so different to solid state equipment. But then again, I should try different speakers first to give the amps I have a better chance and that's why I'm back to deciding what to sell first.

As there are some Electrocompaniet's here on Agon that haven't sold for a while I might have a better shot at selling the B&W 703's first and get the PMC's and take it from there.

One reason why I did like the integrated is that it needs less space and sounded very good to me.

I could of course get Classe amps, which I auditioned the B&W's with as I really like them with these amps, but the tube sound is different and for my ears just nicer.

Bjesien, I feel just like you. Didn't expect any more replies to my post and if my components were sold already I'd just jump on it and buy it as it surely is an amp that is worth trying.

As I haven't even listed my amps yet I better use the time my lady's still down on Florida and pull them out and take pics and list them.

Pretty sure the new owner of that Compact 845 will be happy.