2. amps-preamps
  3. 192404-111267

Retirement integrated amp for a “fiscal conservative”

I’ve taken the plunge and am now enjoying the 2nd week of retirement after 44 years of work, including 42 years with the company I just retired from.  
 

One of the retirement goals I’m really looking forward to is spending much more time enjoying music with my main system!

I’ve pretty much gone digital (but do have a Linn Sondek LP12 to enjoy LPs purchased in the 60’s - 80’s). 

My system consists of a Rose 150B streamer/DAC and a Primaluna CD player for digital playback. I use a Roon Nucleus for Roon/Tidal new music research and listening. Speakers are original Joseph Audio Perspectives. 
 

I enjoy all types of music, but mostly listen to jazz (preferably smooth but am exploring all of the various forms of jazz). 
 

I’m currently using a Primaluna Dialogue HP Premium integrated amp which I’ve enjoyed for many years. Here’s where the “fiscal conservative” part comes in; this amp has 8 power tubes. Even with Primaluna’s great low tube stress design concept, I’m not looking forward to replacing power tubes every couple years with my retirement bonus listening time. Also, I’d like to get additional damping factor bass control than my current amp provides. I love the tube midrange and treble range sound, but would like an upright bass to sound more like a wood instrument (hard to describe in words) and hear more natural note attack and decay
 

I’d like to get ideas/advice from A’gon music enjoyment experts on a replacement integrated that still provides the acoustic sound of tubes, but doesn’t require new tubes every couple years/2,000 hours and is a great match to enjoy jazz on the rest of my system which I plan to keep. I’m open to used or new with a cap of say $8,000. 
 

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and suggestions. 
 

Eric

ezstreams
brianportugal's avatar
brianportugal
140 posts
 

Ez streams: congratulations on your retirement!
You have a wonderful system. I have David Belles separates and really like them.

In the system now is a Cronus Magnum 2 by Rogue and I had a JJ preamp tube and wanted to test out what people were saying about the change. I put in aTelefunken nos from Andy Boman at Vintage Audio Tube and I was amazed at the change. For $200 it was a great investment . 
 

Good luck with your search you have some wonderful recommendations. I heard the Luxman with Magico at AXPONA 2024 and was in love. But the price tag was way  beyond my reach. Luxman  makes some wonderful equipment .

helomech
1,694 posts
 

The Denon PMA A110 is an excellent integrated that punches way above its price class, and in my system sounds nearly indistinguishable from the $9K Luxman 507Z.

It even has a lower noise floor than the Luxman and very similar in tactile build quality. 

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
480 posts
 

as others have pointed out, your speakers, measured by Atkinson at under 84 db efficiency, do limit your choices.  And given that you’re going from all-tube and still want warmth, even more limited.  Agree with the Pass Labs and Accuphase recommendations therefore.  The Class A Accuphase behemoths are wonderful, but pricey.  But one of their Class ABs would also be really nice.  

celtic66
1,668 posts
 

Sugden, Luxman or Accuphase.  Many come around to that conclusion.  I've owned, appreciated and enjoyed immensely several high end tubed components over decades.  All American handmade;  Manley, VTL, De Havilland.  In the end I tired of the tube chase.

8K brings really nice stuff.  Best of luck in your search.

johnto
1,026 posts
 

Congratulations on joining the rank of us retired. I purchased a Pass amp as my retirement gift and I'm glad I did as it's given me hours of musical enjoyment. Another company I haven't seen mentioned is Parasound, both of these companies have a somewhat tube like sound and put out plenty of power to the speakers. 

Good luck, enjoy the music.

More to discover