2. amps-preamps
  3. 1137495885

recommendations for starting system

Hello,

I am looking to buy a tube amp and speakers to match. Our living room is fairly compact (around 14m2) so obviously something small is fine. I tested several amps already (HK970, Cambridge 640, Opera a100 and m100plus) with Amphion Speakers, both ION and Helium2 (which are almost 600usd cheaper here than in the US). I pretty much think that tube is the way to go, as the sound difference between the more "tube like" a100 and the m100 was extremely noticable and desirable. I only have at most 2000usd but more realistilly closer to the 1000usd end.

It is quite annoying because at each of the three shops Ive been to, the owners have said completely conflicting opinions on the amps listed above. Most of the reviews Ive read from the net have been the same. It either sucks or is really great.

I live in Finland so prices tend to be higher here because of taxes, however, because I am originally american and have a stepdown convertor for my keyboards, I can buy in the US and bring back here with me.

My musical tastes are very broad, but I tend to like more avantgard music than pop and generally listen to somewhat lofi rock, highly polished rock like steely dan, late 60's expressionist jazz, avantgard ambient/classical and leftfield hiphop, so I guess I am looking for an amp that is both detailed and has a warm sound that enveloped the listener instead of overwhelming like many solid states do.

So if anyone can suggest a pair of bookshelf speakers paired with a tube amp based of the above for around 1500usd or so, that would be great.

Thanks
Nathan
someguy

Showing 2 responses by someguy

someguy OP
19 posts
 
Thanks for your input. This is what I am looking for. You are certainly giving practical advice. I have checked out the EPOS m12 and m5 as both are readily available here in Finland. As for the troublesomeness of tubes, this is true, but I have owned tube guitar amps since I was 17. Of course a guitar amp is probably less problems than a hifi amp, but fortunately my father is an electrical engineer and has a large collection of tubes and sources for tubes. I realize that tubes are probably only one of the possible problems with these things, but..

So if thats the case, can you recommend a good quality amp then? One that might match up with the EPOS or Amphion Helium2 (which I gather has a slightly deeper sound)..

Lastly, you might get stoned, but from what I have read in some of these forums, people can tend to be a bit upity when they are sporting a 5g amp and 15g speakers. I guess many have forgotten what it is like to have two children under 3, a morgage, be finishing a master's degree and work for student pay in your field.

Thanks for your help.
someguy OP
19 posts
 
we are actually subletting right now while our apartment is renovated.. the people whose apartment it is are in spain for 6months, so they left everything, including those 1200e gradients that are almost a meter tall, thin and triangle.. to me they are way too dry, i dont really like them so much, but it could be the amp- some solid state onkyo or something.. the guy whose they are is way into metal.. i guess they match his musical taste quite well...
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