2. amps-preamps
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New Class A/B under $6K, your recommendation?

Okay I'm tiring of my class D amps and have upgradeitis. I want to try a latest greatest Class A/B amp - I'm thinking Benchmark AHB2, or Son of Ampzilla, or?
 I can drive it with a Manley 300B pre, or a Wyred 4 Sound pre, or directly from my Benchmark DAC into big BG Radia 600 speakers that are rated up to 400 watts. They are line array types using BG planar magnetic drivers - intended for wall mounting, but after hearing them and speaking with a BG engineer, I built beautiful boxes for them according to specs and have been grinning ever since.
 I spoke with Rory from Benchmark and he suggested that 1 amp - even though rated at 100 watts per channel would suffice. I could always order a second and use them bridged and be at the upper end of my budget.
 Any thoughts on what else I should be looking at? I'm looking for: Imaging, space, neutral sound (not cold, not lush and warm) - I can color with my pre if I should so desire. Thanks for your input!!
24phun
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nordicnorm
313 posts
 
There are a couple of tubed monoblocks that would fit into your price range:

Coincident Technology Dragon 211 Mkii - tube compliment is EM7×1, 300B×1, 211×2 per Channel

Blue Circle BC2000 - they use a single 6SN7 tube. This one is in Canada and is selling for US$5,500.

Both output 75 W, which is more than enough ’oomph’ to power your speakers.
24phun OP
56 posts
 
Magnus audio is out of my price range, but looks like a very nice amp.

Tubes- I already have a Rogue Zeus, I'm looking to have a SS amp that I can just fire up and forget about. I love tubes, but they really aren't ACCURATE (measurements- wise)and that's what I'm going for. Whether "accurate" sounds better to me or not remains to be discovered! 
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soix
9,456 posts
 
I've had two amps in my system that do exactly what you're looking for although being very different in approach.  They are the Rogue Medusa and the Liberty Audio B2B-100 (of PBN design).  The Rogue is a class-D amp with a tubed input stage while the Liberty is a more traditional class A/B design.  Both are the epitome of transparency with amazingly clear and vivid 3D soundstaging -- significantly bettering amps from the likes of Bryston and a Class A-modded McCormack in this regard.  The Rogue has the benefit of being able to fiddle with input tubes to further tailor its sound to your system and tastes.  The Liberty counters with a high bias switch that adds a dose of fluidity, palpability, and dimensionality without sacrificing anything.  Both are extremely close in overall presentation, but in stock form I'd marginally choose the Liberty in high bias given what you're looking for.  But I know Rogue has recommendations for upgraded input tubes that could change things.  Really think you couldn't go wrong either way.  Hope this helps, and best of luck. 

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