2. amps-preamps
  3. 185993-1541

Need a new Class AB SS integrated...$2-3k due to hurricane

Well the same hurricane induced windstorms that took out Lahaina, blew heavy against Oahu and caused crazy power fluctuations that flipped out my lights and appliances and over-surged my surge protectors. One of them went kinda crazy and something got thru and blew out one of my integrateds, the one in my home office. While not a super high end unit, it was these days the one I used the most on a daily basis. After multiple different attempts to reset and looking at the boards, I have concluded its toast and time to get a replacement. I had embarked on that quest a few years ago looking for a decent small footprint unit but Covid, the declining stock market and some house repair needs kind of depleted the discretionary fund. So, now its crunch time as working without music could call serious household strife...I am thinking I am going to move my 2nd system unit to the office, a Marantz PM8005 and get a replacement for it. This means a new SS unit than can drive Kef R300s with a remote. This is the wife’s most used system so it needs to be "easily operated". I was thinking about units like the Belles Aria (which I have heard and liked), maybe the AVA SET 120 which I have read about and was intrigued by, possibly a mid-range Rega unit above the Brio which I heard and liked a few years back,  maybe the Hint6 before I saw current pricing of $4k. I have not heard any Class D amps that I liked so far in my life (rejected, Rogue Sphinx, mINT from W4S, some others I cant remember). So, looking for some ideas, maybe some new stuff I have not heard of? I am getting off island for a bit in late September so I may be able to hear some if I am targeted in my search. No tubes as they are too hot. I want new because the odds of reliability are higher and shipping off island for repairs is a $300-400 round trip cost on top of the acquisition cost so Ill pay more to get new and a warranty. Probably need a minimum of 50 watts with good current. I think the price range is workable for entry level high end though it seems like everything has gone up as I am also looking for a new car and shocked at how little $40k buys you.

Appreciate all input and feedback. Mahalo.

joekapahulu

Showing 1 response by tvrgeek

tvrgeek
299 posts
 

For a basic amp, hard to beat a Schiit Vidar without big bucks. Anthem and Outlaw also good. Toss on a Schiit or Topping preamp and you pretty much beat most integrated and have enough left over for killer DAC or phone stage. 

In the integrated scene, really tough competition: Atoll, Hegel, Arcam, Marantz, MusicFidelity, Cambridge, IOTA, Audiolab, Rega, Rotel. Simm,  and others. Even the traditional old mid-fi like Yamaha and Denon are tipping their toes back into sound vs features.  Most are excellent so differences may be in features. Do you want their DAC? Need a phono board? How important are headphones?  Only listening in stores while speaker shopping, I thought the Atoll on the dry side, MusicFidelity a bit fuzzy. Hegel more musical ( a bit more distortion). Audiolab had the features I was looking for, Cambridge and Rotel used to be short on dynamics, but that may have improved.  None of these perceptions were careful in my system at home, Just quick shots. 

I am trying to overcome my bias against class D as they have improved immensely. Not sold yet but I want to hear something like a Buckeye or March.  I no longer "hate" the CiFi spec chasing sound from the likes of Topping or FOSI, but it does not serve my taste yet. You might listen to a better designed class D before staying on the A/B camp.  

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