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Sugden - Electrocompaniet - Naim - Accuphase

This is my first posting! This seems a great place where a lot of audiophile knowledge is available ;-)

I’m in search for a great musical integrated amplifier and matching cd-player (same manufacturer) for my B&W Signature 805 speakers.
I mostly listen to pop, rock, 60s, blues, (no classical)
I’m looking for a musical pairing, slighty warm sound, not too analytical or cold sounding.
I want to listen for hours, so I’m looking for great mids and the highs have to be sweet (no harshness, or sharp s-sounds). Not too laid back either. With the very detailed nautilus-tweeter I don’t want an overdetailed and sharp sound, so the amp and cd shouldn’t be too analytical, and should be a little forgiven for bad (sharp) recordings.

Following models caught my attention:

1. SUGDEN A21SE and CD21SE
2 * 30 W class A amp. I’m wondering if this amp is going to drive my 805 with ease, as it is rather low powered? Is this pairing good for Rock music?

2. ELECTROCOMPANIET ECI 5 and ECC1
2 * 120 W (8 Ohm), 2 * 200 W (4 Ohm) and 2 * 350 (2 Ohm) transistor amp.
Electrocompaniet has a great reputation for building superb amps. I’m wondering if this rather new amp and cd-player is that good in their price range as their reference EMC 1/Up Cd player and NEMO class A amps, which where built to drive the B&W Nautilus.

3. NAIM SUPERNAIT and CD 5X.
Naim PraT should have enough drive for my speakers, but I’m worried that its drive will cause listening fatigue....

4. ACCUPHASE E213 and DP 400.
Smallest Accuphase integrated and cdplayer ( 2* 90W). Isn’t this pairing too analytical for the detailed Nautilus tweeter?

Can somebody give their opinions? I know that I shoud listen by myself, but there aren’t many great dealers in the neighbourhood... (closest: more than 150 miles, and he hasn’t all the stuff I want to hear...)

Thnx
John
jshasselt
jshasselt OP
5 posts
 
Thanks for your replies.

I think I'm gonna delete the Sugden from my list. The excessive heat is something I don't like.

So, after some more reading and input from a collegue, I'd like to throw in PLINIUS in my short-list.

The contenders are:

Accuphase E250 with DP 400 cd
Plinius 9100 or 9200 with cd101
Electrocompaniet ECI 3 or 5 with ECC1 or EMC1-UP cd player

Anyone listened to the Plinius in combination with the B&W 805?

Thkx
JS
soix
9,456 posts
 
Not to muddy the waters, and I don't even know what they offer in terms of integrateds, but Classe electronics are often cited as being a good synergistic match with B&W speakers. And they're certainly not billed as being bright or edgy, so they might be worth adding to the list.

Best of luck.
jshasselt OP
5 posts
 
Hi Soix,

I know B&W uses Classe-electronics, but tha t combo CAP 2100 and CDP 102 is way too expensive for me.

Nobody uses Plinius with B&w?
Kind Regards
JS
tin_ear_fool
3 posts
 
I use an ECI 4 (same specs as 5, so I don't know what's different), paired with Harbeth SHL5s. Supremely smooth and musical amp with very non-fatiguing, natural-sounding speakers. Really good on most music, a little uninvolving with some. A bit too much of a good think, me thinks. I've read the EC is a great match with B&Ws, however.
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