Solid state amp to replace my Audio Research Ref 150 amp
The last time I heard AR and Parasound the two seemed very similar in sound quality. I think it was with Wilsons at the time. I had Parasound, and ended up with Luxman for having a livelier midrange and glass smooth treble and extension. However, if you want to keep everything as-is, I would suggest Parasound would be a good brand to listen to. |
I also recommend Pass, I own a 250.8 and it's simply fantastic sounding. I don't know how everyone gets off on the heat thing mine has been on playing for over 2 hrs and is barely warm to the touch . I have a 12 x 15 room and was kind of wishing it would heat it but no way. See if you can do some listening to the suggested amp you might consider. Good luck happy listening.
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Folks suggesting Pass either haven’t owned one or are ignoring they run hot, really hot- all the time at every listening level due to their high bias and class A operation. I have a 250.8 and love it- it heats my 13 x 23 listening room up to 74 degrees in the dead of winter- and the room has no other heat source! It’ll go up to 76 in the summer. I recently bought a pair of Bel Canto REF 600 to run in the spring and summer months. Great amps, totally cool due to Class D, Great reviews in Stereophile. Sound pretty close to the 250.8 on a pair of Harbeth SHLS5 Super + |
A thought and I am sure no one has mentioned this...have you considered a Chord Ultima 6? It delivers plenty of power for your needs. It will still get hot when driven hard but the switching power supply helps keep the temp below 120 degrees most of the time. There are other amps I have seen mentioned on this list that don't function well till they get to 130 degrees. It is within your budget, fully balanced, etc... The Ultima 5 & 6 are very new but are really sweet. Chords sound tends to be very refined and a hair analytic. Perfect for pairing with a tube preamp. Paired with your other ARC Ref gear, I would think it would give you a really nice sound profile. My hunch is the Ultima 6 is going to finally replace my Rogue Hydra after 6 year. PM if you want to learn more as I am a fully authorized Chord dealer. |
@lak I noticed that you have the Plinius SA-Refrence as well as a few others in the Plinius lineup. I too am a plinius guy and love what they do. I have owned the SA-250 MK lV i currently have a SB-301 MKll there latest A-150 current production 150 wpc class A switchable to A/B. I am looking at purchasing a SA-Refrence just to see how it lines up with the rest. Love to hear your thoughts if you still own yours. Cheers |
JC-1's are good, solid amps...i didn't mention them because the ones i listed are better. of course in the very high levels of high end amplifiers, we're talking about subtle differences. however, amps can make more than a subtle difference. case in point; when i had the levinson amp in my music room over at my parent's house, it sounded as if i needed some serious room treatment. i then switched to an fm acoustics 611, and voila, what i thought were room anomalies were at least 85-90 percent gone! its all bout that damping factor, driver conrol, and signal to noise ratio... |
shaq, I can't comment on your ARC amp but will say I'm surprised no one suggested the Parasound JC-1s. Could that be because they have been around so long and thus not the "latest and greatest"? Well, there is a reason for that longevity. Different speakers but I replace VTL monos with the JC-1s and liked them better overall. |
Shaq, I agree with Johnny R from Audioconnection. I owned the Ref 150, dropped in KT-150s and noticed a big improvement and then had ARC do the SE upgrade and noticed another big jump in performance. I know many members have made some fine recommendations, but IMO, you can squeeze a lot more performance out of your Ref 150 by doing the SE upgrade, which includes a complete retube. BIF |
here’s abrief list accuphase p-7300-this golden godzilla was birthed from a secret nuclear plant in yokohama, japan. it looks awesome on paper, and the meters will have you mesmerized, 3 times the price here in the us than in japan, ridiculous! but that’s another conversation for another time. mcintosh mc452-i heard through the ol’ grapevine that mc is having some trouble on the business end of things. i hope they get that ironed out soon, because the mc452 is a killer amp and costs much less than the golden godzilla. pass labs x350.8-killer amps from the house that nelson built absolutley transparent with a full-bodied midrange. but is a bit pricey, runs hot, and will spin the electric meters like a top. bryston 14b3-this could be the sleeper of this bunch, or it could be crap. i don’t really care for the new consumer series faceplates, so you might wanna get the pro series which are the same or very similar faceplates as the old sst series. besides, you'll get a healthier discount from a pro audio dealer than a hi-fi one....if we’re going by the older sst2 series, and if this is the better amp overall, then you have a winner from the frozen tundra that is canada. love em or hate em, these canucks know how to build an amp. pricewise it sits in between the mcintosh and the pass labs..it’s more powerful than those 2, however. but as is par for the course with bryston, you either love ’em or hate ’em... now, i advise you to go out and listen. i know i need to! |
I have a Ref 75 SE and it's the best amp I've never had in my system. It has beaten a Pass X250.5 and Classe stereo amp in direct shootout. It shoots way above its 75W. Initially I was not sure that would be enough but in my room (14X18X7) it can reach ear piercing levels and the needle barely moves. Sweet highs, mids to die for and excellent bass for its size. Much better and deeper bass than many ss I've tried although to be fair, I know some mono-blocks would provide that little extra some people are looking for. I use a JL F113 sub to complement it and I'm not needing more bass. |
I have the Ref 250 (not se). I enjoy them a lot but the heat is too much in the summer. I tried many SS including Luxman, Pass, Ayre, MBL, Lamm. The Accuphase A70 is very similar to ARC in terms of tonal balance. Better bass extension but still not quite the same micro dynamics that tubes have (but close). |
I have already mentioned it, but the SST Ampzilla 2000 mono blocks are in the league. These are worth a listen. No, not the same, but they do portray a fine line between tubes and solid state and truly are wonderful amps. Will they shaq's cup of tea? I don't know, but these are fine amps by any standard. Tim |
I don't think the Ref 150 is easily replaced by ss. The only one in a sane price range that I have heard and believe would give it a run is the Wells Innamorata. I have heard this amp in 2 settings and was very very impressed but have not done an AB comparison. I once did an in home audition of the Dag stereo amp which bettered the Ref 150 in some respects but not others. That is how strong the Ref150 is. And that was not even the SE version. BTW--- I loved the Dag too. |
dbarger151 posts05-22-2016 8:39amYou won't find a solid state amp that is as good as your Ref 150. I have tried many times, just out of curiosity. Many of the amps mentioned here are not even close. I am pretty sure these suggestions come from people who have not had a 150 in their system. You think??? OP, great news. You can replace the ARC REF150 with any SS amp!. |
I find most Pass would do good job for you, similar to Pass .5 or .8 is Coda. I like their amps a great deal and Coda also is the basis for Sanders amps and lastly, Jim Bongiorno has passed, but his last amp is exceptional. Ampzilla 2000... Wired for sound has bought Jims company and have finished his last amp called Son of Ampzilla II. I've heard it is very good, but I doubt that it will be in the league of the Pass, Coda or Ampzilla 2000. I hope this helps, Tim |
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You won't find a solid state amp that is as good as your Ref 150.
" I have owned tube equipment. Once owned a refurbished Mac MC 275. With many solid state amps I would agree with your point. NuPrime is not really typical solid state..though it uses no tubes. I hear a finer transparency with my modified Nuforce (same parent company) that I could never achieve with tubes. Its different than tube sound. But transparent just the same. NuPrime offers an upgrade done by its authorized factory service that would surprise you. Just because the price is not stratospheric? Some will look the other way. Keep an open mind when you get a money back guarantee. |
You won't find a solid state amp that is as good as your Ref 150. I have tried many times, just out of curiosity. Many of the amps mentioned here are not even close. I am pretty sure these suggestions come from people who have not had a 150 in their system. Even the Pass, which many recommend, is an nice solid state amp that sounds like solid state. If you are willing to get a compromise but still excellent amp, the Ayre VX-5 is a very good amp. But I recommend getting the SE upgrade on your 150 and a quiet fan. Maybe the Dyson? |
This is rather tube-like in certain respects, but the bass is tighter than what tubes can offer. I have personally auditioned one. http://www.nuprimeaudio.com/index.php/products/amplifiers-and-preamps/stereo-amps/st-10.html Here is a short review I did. http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=134516.0 |
You probably can't imagine how much amplifier you can get for less money with the 250 watt/ch Gilmore Audio Raptor mono blocks or his stereo Raven with half the power. Power doubles into 4 ohm load . I had a fine tube amp and these sound so much the same without hum, noise , or distortion . Best amps I've ever heard , not counting David Berning's ZH-270 . Gilmore's are Class D and run cool to the touch . Damn fine man to deal with as well . |
Hi, now your ears are adjusted to tube sound, maybe at the beginig the ss amps come to you little bit straight without soul!! But there is only one brand that has power, swet and warm sound ! The brand is Constalletion Audio if you have budget go and buy any product from its reference sereies or performance series! Thats the end of the road, if you dont know the sound go and listen in a distrp. my best |
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Hi Shaq: Sanders Sound Systems makes the finest Audio Solid State Magtech Power amplifier I have had the pleasure to own in my 40+ years as an Audiophile. Presently using it with a Audio Research REF-5 Line Source Tube Preamp and REF Phono 2 Phono Tube Preamp. Fantastic Combination. A new one can be purchased Direct from Sander Sound Systems for $5500.00. If you are luck you may be able to find a Used owned one on Audiogon for $4000-$4500. The Magtech will deliver close to 800 WPC. Please do yourself a favor and check out Sanders Sound System White papers on the Magtech Stereo Amplifier. Yes I do own a pair of Mr Sanders Magtech Amplifiers. Almost forgot: Check out The lifetime warranty to Original Owner. Also check out The in Home preview. Also available for potential purchasers. |
Last year when I was in the market for a new set of amps, I had all these amps at the same time and did a thorough comparison. My findings as follows: Ref250, Lamm 2.2, Pass Labs XA160.5 and XA100.5, Krell 402e and Levinson No. 532 and I likes the amps in the below order. 1. REF250 with KT150 2. Lamm M2.2 3. Pass Labs XA160.5 3. Krell 402e 4. XA100.5 5. ML 532 It was a tossed up between the the XA160.5 and 402e. |
