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Need some Tube and Class A SS Suggestions

I recently purchased a pair of Spendor D7s and am just loving these speakers. I have them paired with a musical fidelity KW 500 integrated. The combo is super fast, tight, and dynamic. However, the Spendors can be a bit too revealing in the high frequencies given a harsh or bright recording. This has me headed down the rabbit hole of tube amplification and possibly Class A SS. If the lowest bass is not as tightly defined I'm ok with. It actually may be too tight and defined at the moment. Added warmth in the upper bass would be fine as well. And if I'm going to upgrade then maybe it's time for separates too!

Here are the power amps I'm considering:
  • Primaluna EVO 400
  • Pass Labs XA25
  • Line Magnetic 805IA
  • Schiit Aegir Monoblocks - the price is just too good.
And on to the preamps:
  • Rogue Audio RP-5 and RP-7
  • PS Audio BHK Preamp
Ideally I would find at least one of the two Pre/Power used. I can probably get about $2200 for the musical fidelity so budget would be about $6k or so assuming I can somehow get both items used.

I'm curious to hear if any thoughts on what I've picked out already and if there are other units worth looking.

Thanks!
shahram
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@shahram   

Balanced outputs are not a major consideration. More of a nice to have.

When considering a new component, it's nice when the design elements help give you the most flexibility in the future and get the most from your other existing gear - it just reduces the risk of wishing you had considered your criteria more thoroughly before buying.

For instance when I bought my Pass XA30.8 (fully balanced circuit) I did so with full consideration that my existing preamp used a transformer- coupled Class A1 balanced triode design.  It's just one of those things where if the price isn't any higher and you like the sound at least as much as your other choices it help cinch the deal because you're getting more design synergy for your buck.  At least that's the way I look at it.
cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 
Class A ?  Pass Labs without a doubt.  Nothing will come close unless you go to ridiculously sized (and priced) amps like Boulder or Dagostino.
branches
3 posts
 
@shahram 

I ended up with an Exposure 3010s2d for my Spendor D7's. 

Despite the modest price it is a substantial upgrade over a Hegel H80. I hear a powerful bass for the first time from these speakers, can pinpoint instruments in space more clearly and tone is improved. Really the improvements are across the board. When listening to Whale & Wasp, I hear a resonance from the violin that I've never experienced from reproduced music. Of course there is better gear out there, but hearing this was quite beautiful, and fuel to pursue this hobby. 

Upstream I'm using a MHDT Orchid which uses a tube buffer. I do like having a tube somewhere in the chain for these speakers. I recommend the 6922/ECC83 adapter mentioned in other threads for this DAC.

Swapping speaker cables DNM -> Raven, adding Gaia III's and changing rooms have all been beneficial. I've had these Spendors for three years now, and continue to appreciate them with every tube, component, or cable change. 


gryphongryph
372 posts
 
Just got my Supratek Cabernet today, is playing now with the Belles SA30 class A power amp.
Sounds delicious.
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