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
timberwoofer
2 posts
 

I'm primarily a tube guy but also really enjoy my Luxman 550AXii.  Warmth of tubes with some solid state "grunt" for the bass.   Since getting it my tube amps have been getting less use. 

garrettc
43 posts
 

There's nothing wrong with a newer McIntosh integrated.

panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
533 posts
 

If you want to simply relax and enjoy the music with a piece of gear that will put a smile on your face ever time you use it, then your shortlist should definitely include the Luxman 505 100/150 W/Ch or 507 110/200 W/ch Z series and the Mark Levinson 5805 125/250 W/ch - On offer now from Music Direct for well within your price range. While quite different in many ways, both are extraordinarily well designed, well built, and well supported, and in addition to their long pedigrees, have fabulous sound quality.

I’m not a big fan of minimalist one knob designs - 50 years in this hobby has given me an appreciation for well conceived and well executed feature sets. Nor does most esoteric European hifi gear appeal to me for the same reason I’m not a fan of esoteric European sports cars - It’s all fun until something breaks. Then, get out you big checkbook and be prepared to wait. Ask anyone who’s ever owned a Lotus. or, back in the day, a Tandberg, great sounding electronics and miserable reliability with perpetual backorders on parts.

I’d also be wary of Krell, whom I would otherwise recommend, due to the unfortunate death of their founder earlier this year. Their website redirects to a Thai online soccer betting site (!) indicates they’re still notfully running the business. This is unfortunately an all too common situation for small business - no continuity plan, When they lose the founder, they become essentially rudderless.

One last recommendation, The McIntosh MA-252 Hybrid Integrated Amp. 100/160 W/ch. Nodding to the MC-275 School of Design, visually it’s a bit of a love it / hate it proposition, but there’s no denying the heritage, the build, or the sound quality. As for me, It puts a grin on my face - and my ears. At $4500 it's an absolute steal.

oxfordamps
14 posts
 

Try a tube preamp with a solid state amplifier. Some of the ARC preamps only have a couple of 6H30 tubes.  A slice of tube heaven, but greatly reduced tube costs.

cellorover
421 posts
 

For reliability and sound, as well as ease if use:

any Luxman

any Accuphase

Pass Int 25

CJ CAV 60 S2

Belcanto E1x

Resolution Audio CA 50

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