2. amps-preamps
  3. 1249434482

Thinking of buying a solid state amp

I will be moving soon, my BAT 150SE might not work in the new environment due to hotter weather and smaller listening room. My speakers (Aerial 20T) requires lots of power so I can't go BAT 75SE route, I have not found other tube amps physically smaller to sound anywhere as good as BAT either.

So I have two options. Buy a good solid state and sell my BAT. Usual suspects are Pass 350.5, Bryston 14B-SST, McIntosh 501, etc. Question is will I be happy with anyone of them coming from BAT?

My second option is to buy some class D like Bel Canto or Nuforce and keep my BAT to use during cooler days.

I will rather have 1 (or 1 pair) amp than 2, but will any of the above (other suggestions welcome) make a tube guy happy? In my 20+ years of audio journey, I have owned 10+ solid state amps but they never lasted over a couple months.

Pre amp is an Einstein.
semi

Showing 1 response by moemoney

moemoney's avatar
moemoney
158 posts
 
I have the same problem with heat that Semi has and I do have a small room. I own the 150se and lived with them for over four years, yes i did purchase the BAT 600se for awhile, but after only four months went back to the 150s. SS just was not working for me. (lost all the texture that tubes bring to the game). But I still had an heat problem. this summer I purchase a Crown K1. Just to get through the summer, it's not the best amp out there, but it will get me to September. I also owned CI D200s but they did not have the bass power that I liked.
if you want to try SS amps do so, but DON'T sell your 150s right away.
More to discover