cdc
Check out AYRE integrated amp(s). Happy Listening!
Recommend a non-polite sounding amp / integrated
Looking for a a non-polite sounding amp / integrated. By polite I mean Denon, Musical Fidelity, Arcam. I had Rotel and Adcom and they were harsh. I was thinking about Pass (maybe is just very detailed) or a chip amp. Probably not digital or tube amp.
Integrated is okay as long as it does not have digital volume.
Price under 3K and driving a variety of easy to drive single driver speakers at 70-75dB in a small room.
@cdc here's the link to Stoll's site, and the current version of the IN80 Signature. You may have to use Google Translate as the site is in French;
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@cdc Yes sir ! |
Thanks for the re-recommendation on the Atoll. I will definitely see what I can do to get one. It gets a little tricky in that some are over 20 years old. Looks like the signature is the current model of the IN200 and IN50. Not sure if I need the newest model. I agree with you about Marantz so I think we are on the same page. @mrdecibel is rawsonte Tim Rawson? I had one of his Aleph clones. We need more people like Tim. Agree on the Crown, haha. UPDATE: This is going to take some time. The Leben CS-300XS replaces the CS-300 and costs $4,795.00. No matter how enamored, I’m not paying 5K ears unheard and no returns allowed. As an aside, seems Japanese prices have gone up crazy. I got a Teac PD 301 CD Player with FM Tuner USB for $421 and currently is $709 on Amazon. Best Buy stopped selling the Technics SU-G700M2. Although maybe now it is called Panasonic-Technics SU-G700M2. |
Just as an fyi. I am enjoying a recent acquisition to my ’small’ amp collection ( small = quantity ). LOL. Not funny actually, as I have WAY too many amps ( and preamps ), all over my place. DIY FW F4, by my friend rawsonte ( keep all negative comments to your selves, ty ). It required me to use my Usher P307A, and the combination is EXTRAORDINARY. I will likely do a review / write up at some point, about my personal experiences with " where is the gain most important ", in a system. The answer is the source, of course. My best, MrD |
@cdc I took the opposite journey to your good self; I started off with the qualities you're looking for, but wanted more "polite". I re-started my HiFi life after 20+ years with Naim, which is where I ended my first hifi journey. Didn't really enjoy the presentation as I once did when younger. Switched to Atoll, the IN200 Signature another linked for you. This is a very energetic amp; definitely NOT polite 😊, although I see you don't need the 120w output. In that case, maybe look up Atoll's smaller sibling to the IN200; IN80. I've not heard this Atoll model myself, but The British Audiophile has reviewed the IN80 also and enjoyed it. As I say, I've taken the opposite journey to you. I wanted a more polite, less in your face, balls to the wall presentation of the Atoll IN200, and ended up with a Marantz Model 30. Hope this gives some context. Good luck with your search 👍 |
@fstein i googled what you threw out and i came up with nothing. what brands/models are you referring to ? |
For a non-polite amp that plays music (i.e. reproduces all the frequencies) I suggest you go for the Odyssey Khartago or Stratos recommended by @kennyc above. |
I would like to through the Topping in the mix but all I see on Amazon is 240 volt or 48 volt. Nothing at 120 volt. Topping PA3S Power Amplifier MA120702 x 2 Class D Fully Balanced Single Ended AMP 80W x 2 |
I have the Technics SU-G700mk2. It replaces and betters the vintage BAT VK-3ixSE pre with AR-V35 tube amp. It does exact what you are requesting. I do run this amp on my Forte III’s. I have not tried it on my Thiel CS2.4’s yet. The sound is powerful, live, clear (I mean CLEAR) smooth and effortless. |
@crustycoot ++++++++ there is quite frequently a NAIM preamp in front of my ancient MC240….. PRAT to wax on about…… Happy Holidays…. |
What does that mean? I am interested in your thoughts on this amp compared to other tube amps. It's the only tube amp I have heard in my system. I do not know what tubes McIntosh uses. The problem was flabby / underdamped bass. Never got beyond that to consider "polite" or not. I agree room acoustics is one of the MOST important issues for good sound. So not to get off topic, in this thread just focusing on the amplifier. |
@tomic601 good idea! Rogue or Cary integrated with tube rectifier stage. Used Cary SLI 80’s pop up all the time. |
corelli: if you don’t like or agree with the parameters someone has stated they want then quit being part of the problem and just let those who want to try and help the person out with their suggestions. Yes, there are many factors one usually considers, not the least of which is the room and treatments, but he didn’t mention them so it must not be important to them, or they are unaware of the impact they have on sound. So instead of being hostile and insulting, why don’t you try to educate. Everyone starts with limited knowledge on their hi-fi (mid-fi) journey, sites like this one should nurture and encourage instead of being, well, what you’re being like. Get off your high (fi) horse and either help out or butt out. It’s reactions like yours that may make other members apprehensive to engage, quite the opposite of what should be happening! |
Not worthless to me. I got some good information here. @nonoiseThanks for the recommendation. I like the Technics brand and also understand digital amps can have more of a "direct" sound than analog. The only one I heard was great for detail retrieval and had no bass compare to analog. But other brands may be different.
Uncledemp. you are not. Don't let a few grouchy people ruin things here. What is right and what is wrong? It all depends on your point of view.
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No need for anyone to delete their posts just because a couple of members choose to not understand what the OP is looking for. No reading between the lines needed. No need to acquiesce to some who want to make it more difficult than what it is: a request for suggestions with some parameters set forth, some absolute, others not so much. All the best, |
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You might consider a NAD C399. It uses the excellent Hypex nCore Class-D amplifier modules. I have heard amps built with them them, and they were neither polite nor harsh. I regret I have not heard the C399 itself, but it’s available from several places with a trial period. For a little more money, one can get it with the plug-in streaming card, which also offers processing power to run DIRAC. |
Thanks all for the variety and unexpected amps I never knew existed. Would a "chip amp" make any sense? I listen to rock, pop, techno which has different criteria than acoustic and symphony music. What got me thinking about amps was when I recently tried the Cyrus ONE amplifier. I never thought amplifiers could have such an impact on the sound. Atoll, looks nice. I think class A will be hot. Also a lot more power than I need Cambridge EVO also looks nice but I do not need / want all in one. Schitt looks nice and will investigate further. I have tried Naim, AVA, Parasound, and McIntosh 240.
@carlsbad2
What does that mean?
@three_easy_payments
That may be the best idea. Leben CS300xs is beautiful! How about a MiniWatt N3? I love tubes but am trying to avoid the maintenance and Russian tubes are a no go. How is the bass damping factor? The McIntosh 240 is beautiful but bass kind of flabby / under damped.
At the time I had B&W Nautilus. So yes, they were a problem. I hear Michi is super nice but more power / size etc. than I need. I am using a Philip’s VAM transport with a variety of Delta-Sigma and NOS DAC’s. Leaning more to NOS now.
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@carlsbad I'm reflecting on my time with a Leben CS300xs. The EL84's (often used in guitar amps) just gave a wonderful midrange "growl" that was anything but polite but amazingly musical. |
@cdc If you had nice Rotel or Adcom and they were "harsh", you likely have other issues going on with your source or speakers or room perhaps. You might try various amps and be right where you are right now. Start at the front. What are you using for a source/player up front? |
@three_easy_payments that is what I'm listening to now (although I use a variation of the EL84 called SV83). I think of it as accurate and full from top to bottom. Maybe that is impolite. 😎
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Maybe a Schiit Ragnarok$1499 Mike |