power amp or integrated?--tube of course

Thanks for all your support
Jim

I would strongly suggest you have a listen to the new integrated from Audio Analogue - the Maestro. I think it will retail at $4500, and even though it is solid state, it is the smoothest sound i have ever heard. And it can drive any speakers...and i mean any, flawlessly.

I would also highly recommend the BAT VK60. Sounds and looks great. I just happen to have one here for sale. Reason for selling is only to get a ss amp with lots of power for some inefficient speakers i'm planning to buy.

Hi,
My humble opinion is surely pre-amp and power-amp seperate will be better. Higher flexiblity and up-gradability. Bi-amping is also possible in the future.
I am a solid state guy several years ago, I use the Accuphase E-203 integrated amp before, and I had shop over the market didn't find something suitable, until one day I come along the "Space-Tech Lab. " products, I goto their showroom and just want to take a listen. Surprisingly those amplifiers sounds terribly great, then I bring my TANNOY speaker to their shop and listen with their system, that speaker never sound so good before , just like vanished in the air, surrounded by music. Fully transparent and liquid. I am a professional consultant for live music show, I know that's what I am looking for in my life time, so I kept buying pre-amp, two power amps, 512x DA converter and even their speakers in the pass few years. Until now, I didn't hear anything can compare with that. Their web site address is "http://www.space-tech-lab.com" . I will tell everyone in the world about that company when I know people looking for tube amplifiers, for they are so damn good sounding.

Good Luck. Frank

Jim, sorry to confuse the issue with one more consideration. Even though it's retail price is above your stated amount, Mark Levinson's Red Rose group has a new tube integrated that I hear is spectacular. I'm a solid state guy (Plinius 8150), but when the time comes to upgrade my int. amp, I know where I'm headed - tubes!

Happy listening.
Joel

the bat amp is a good choice. if you want intregated, cj and vtl build nice ones. i would rather have seperates. good luck.

I think your weak link in that set up is the amp. The preamp and phono preamp are good. I had a pair of Audio Physic Virgo's driven by a BAT VK-60 tube amp. Awesome setup. The LS7 and Bat amp are both balanced so that should help some. IMO the other posts are great choices, but your preamp isn't the weak point...

A Audio Reseach amp is a good match as well. VT100 or 50...BAT has a little different (and to me) better sound.

Jim: before reading Kelly's post my mind went to the Twin Towers! I have listened to the Tempo/Pathos combo & was favourably impressed. The amp sounded well in control, the timbres were good and the sound beautifully fluid.

The NuVista mentioned above had a drier sound -- but the particular piece I listened to had problems... so, the sound is not necessarily indicative of the model's performance.

Good luck!

jim: your audio physic speakers are quite efficient (90 db). they should, thus, be easily driven by a pathos twin tower integrated (35 w, class a, into 8 ohms). the pathos is a great sounding and looking component. i highly recommend it. -kelly

Hello Jim,

I listened Vac Avatar, briefly and was impressed. However, the nicest amp i had listened was actualy SS receiver Magnum Dynalab MD 208 with Wilson CUB speakers. Also, ARC have nice integrated so as Musical Fidelity M3 Nu-Vista. With your budget you should be able to pick and choose among the best.