@sro thank you for this recommendation. From reading many reviews over the years , the Danish audio companies consistently make some very highly regarded audio equipment. I hope to hear Aavik at the upcoming AXPONA (the first audio show I’m looking forward to attend).
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
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If you can stretch to 10k, perhaps the BAT VK-80i. Great reviews, maybe someday for myself. |
@kennyc doing some late night reading (and likely music enjoyment) I see. Thank you for the suggestion. As you imply, $10K is definitely a stretch for me. In all honesty, so is my $8K stated budget, as I haven’t talked with my wife yet about it. She is sympathetic to my hobby though so I’m waiting for the right time and place to bring it up…. I know that “watts” don’t tell the whole story on how well an amp will drive a specific speaker design. I’m currently using a fully tubed Primaluna Dialogue HP Premium integrated with 70 w/ch driving 83.6 dB sensitivity Joseph Audio Perspective speakers. One key characteristic I’m trying to improve is tightening up the lower octaves so upright bases sound more natural/real/woody harmonic and electric bases sound less flubby. I believe amplifier damping factor plays a role in this, but also believe power headroom may as well. With the BAT VK-80i having lower power (55 w/ch than my current 70 w/ch). I’d be concerned the BAT 80 might not provide the improvement I’m looking for and its $12K 150 w/ch big brother is way too expensive. I’m not finding either on the used market, which is a sign that people buy them, love them, don’t resell them. |
- 140 posts total