Mike Lavigne, the Dartzeel gear is in a different league than what is mentioned here. If he is talking about Bryston or NAD he's not going to spring for Dartzeel. Even if it is used. |
You may find that finding a transistor amplifier that has the warmth associated with real music (and tubes) to be harder than replacing the occasional tube.
IOW, if you seek the musicality of tubes, why not just get a tube amp and be done? |
You might want to check into a Vincent Audio integrated amp. |
Please tell us more about the rest of your system.I like Conrad Johnson Solid state ,have not heard the latest from CJ ,but they seem very interesting.I enjoyed my MF-2500A and am sorry that I sold it. |
I was in the same quest as a Canadian looking for some warmth in solid state amps. I found a great option in the Parasound Halo line. Gorgeous midrange with amazing vocals and not hot on the top end as so many are. The Halo A21 single handedly turned my Paradigm Signature S6 into a different league.
After I got it I experimented with something for a good preamp. Long story short, I tried the NAD C372 after having purchased the C326BEE for the bedroom. Both are integrateds, but have a pre out for a separate amp. I actually preferred the newer 326, but in the end stayed away from the NAD C165BEE preamp.
I ended up with the Halo P7 and I've never looked back. Parasound is not marketed in Canada though you can find it on canuckaudiomart from time to time. |
Right now in my main system I have a Wadia 861SE going directly to 2 Ayre V-5's vertically bi-amped driving a pair of Vandersteen Model 2's. AQ IC's and Speaker cables. ESP Essence power cords. And a Furutech e-TP 80. I have other components I sometimes put in the system, but what I just listed is what I use most of the time. |
I second the recommendation for Conrad Johnson solid state amps leaning towards a warmer sound, not to mention they sound superb especially when paired with a good tube preamp. One reviewer questioned as to why buy a Conrad Johnson tube amp when their solid state sounds every bit as good but with more power. |
Just a thought here. If you covet Pass Labs but find even the used ones to be out of your price range, see if you can snag a good used Forte model 4 or 1a for cheap. I owned a model 1a for a short time before I went all in on a new Pass and I was very impressed by the Forte amp. It was a sweet sounding little amp. But since they would be quite old you need to get it for a good price to allow for recapping if it needs it. |
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ZD , What do you like about your Ayre amps ? What speakers are you driving ? What preamp do you use ? What Ayre model do you have ? |
With no mention of price range I'm at a loss.
We can't really compare NAD with Bryston, imho. NAD is wonderful gear, but not in the same league as Bryston.
Then someone suggested Rowland. Rowland is magical gear, but the price of entry may be, again, prohibitive.
A used McIntosh SS would have a smooth sweet midrange.
Where to start, price wise.
Larry |
Hi, also from Canada.
Well, although my recommendation may not be a solid state amp, it is one...almost!
Pathos Logos. It has 100 watts / channel solid state power section with a pair of 6922 tubes in the preamp section.
Call it the beauty and the beast! Wonderfull, sweet sound with no maintenance needed.
I may unfortunately have to sell it soon due to system change and lack of use. |
Conrad Johnson makes warm sounding solid state amplifiers. |
I always liked B&K,McCormack DNA series and Belles for sounding tube like to me.
If you get a chance give them a listen if you can; what speakers are you driving? |
you have not really listed a price range. so this might not be a choice for you. but I would suggest trying to listen to a used darTZeel NHB-108.....which can be purchased in the $10k-$13k price range. they are $25k new. 10 years ago I switched from tubed Tenor to darTZeel (I now have the dart 458 monoblocks) since it had the breath-of-life of tubes, that always listenable smooth extended treble, and the low noise and amplifier grip of solid state. read about the darTZeel and you will find legendary swiss build quality, but mostly about it's lack of global feedback and low parts count in the signal path. and it's full bodied sweet midrange and great micro dynamics and lively sound. no grain, or etch, or brightness. just music.
best wishes in finding the right amp and I hope you get a chance to listen to the dart. |
Did you list your system? I didn't see in any of your posts? |
Thanks everyone. I will likely stick with NAD then but I plan to look into the other brands mentioned to gain a bit of knowledge.
A friend of mine owns a NAD M3. He loves it but he's had to send it out for repairs 2 or 3 times and was not terribly impressed with their service department. Can anyone comment on that? |
I am going to disagree with NAD Master series. I have owned the M2 Direct Digital Amplifier and I would not classify it as a warm sounding amp but more technical. I had it with my PSB Synchrony Ones speakers (it was a nice match) and then with Tetra 606's speakers (absolutely amazing). I think the M2 is a great integrated and I wish I had not sold it. But to answer your question, as others have suggested Class A may get you closer to what you are looking for. For Class A/B what about Naim? |
The NAD C356DAC with the Cardas jumpers is what you looking
for. It sounds better then then Bryston B60. At least with
the Focal Speakers. |
The NAD is the great sounding Amplifier. Just replace stock jumpers with the Cardas jumpers. It will sound a way better
then any Simaudio Int.Amplifier from NEO Series. |
Pontiflex-
the best solid-state right now is, Pass labs. Otherwise,
look into Parasound, Threshold, Theta and Classe' for openers. Keep me posted & Happy Listening! |
I have found that, in general but not always, solid state amps with MOSFET outputs sound somewhat warmer althought slightly less transparent than bipolar output transistors. One relatively inexpensive power amp with bipolar output transistors that I think leans just a bit to the warmer side is the Cambridge 851w stereo power amp. And it mainains that transparancy and detail that I like. Naturally your system's MMV. Crutchfield and other retailers that sell this amp offer 30 or 60 day in-home trials. Don't wait for one to come up for sale used. I have looked since December and have not seen a single one for sale on any of the US preowned equipment sites. |
My friend has access to several companies and really likes the NAD Masters series |
NAD is a good choice and also Plinius |
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I've compared the JR M525 to an Ayre VX-5 and purchased the JR 525. To my ears, in my system the JR M525 has a better soundstage and separation of instruments. I had many amps and the JR M525 is the best that I've ever had in my system. As a matter of fact I was thinking about going up to the JR 625. |
"04-19-15: Brauser
Jeff Rowland products have the attributes of tubes without the liabilities. Rowland components are also manufactured from bar stock aluminum and use very high grade internal circuitry. I know of no other high end company that produces products that are truly 'set it and forget it' for decades of hassle free SOTA performance."
Have you ever heard any of their products? The imaging on my Rowland amp falls way short of what's currently available. Also, the build quality is good, but not the best. My Ayre amps are definitely better made. I'm not sure what you mean by set and forget, either. Its a power amp. You plug it in and turn it on. |
Price range? Other constraints?
The usual suspects. Most Class A, plus Ayre, Hegel, etc. Since you're in Canada, you should definitely check out Sugden.
I hear M series NADs sound good, but bear in mind that the digital technology is going to have a different sound signature as compared to what you've been listening to.
I'm starting to hear good things about Sony's latest Class A amp, the TA-A1ES. |
Jeff Rowland products have the attributes of tubes without the liabilities. Rowland components are also manufactured from bar stock aluminum and use very high grade internal circuitry. I know of no other high end company that produces products that are truly 'set it and forget it' for decades of hassle free SOTA performance. |
Yes, just go with the better NAD series if you like the NAD sound. And I very much like the NAD sound, too!
-RW- |
