unbeatable Class A integrated

Fact is most techs (I’m a EE) wouldn’t make any such assumptions

If you read what I said.
"Fact is any tech will tell you these amps "look" to be the same" save for the differences I mentioned.
Look!!!! to be the operative word here.
Like I said you need to see the forest for the trees.
And "if" your a decent EE if you could see that it so obvious, as they look to have the same circuit topology.

New CODA CSiB @ 6.5K has same topology and components as the newish No. 8, with I suspect (have not seen under the hood) a bit of the older CODA preamp thrown in.

150/300/600 watts into 8/4/2 ohms

3Kv transformer, 75/100 amps of current

1st 18 watts in Class A

Runs warm but not hot unless REALLY driven

Would like to see/hear the integrated that beats it under 10K for sound and build, although I am willing to concede for high efficiency speakers in smaller rooms it might be a bit of overkill, and the fact it may not be the flavor you prefer (unless you have a tube preamp to season to taste).

New CODA CSiB 1st 18 watts in Class A

Wow!! Very nice unit, even looking at this one can see what amount of heat sinking is required.
https://img.audiofanzine.com/images/u/product/normal/coda-continuum-csib-192198.png
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0241/4615/products/CODA_High_End_CSiB_Preamp_Amplifier_Best_Sound_...

And uses 40!!! bi-polar outputs, best for current delivery.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0241/4615/products/CODA_High_End_CSiB_Preamp_Amplifier_Best_Sound_Inside_1024x1024.jpg?v=1395188394

Coda CSX Precison Bias Class A/AB amplifier design, with discrete JFET differential input stage, VMOSFET voltage gain DC coupled to an ultra wideband bipolar output stage.

I just changed from Pass Inter-60 to this. And maybe even from my favorite Integrated Gryphon Diablo 300.


Cheers George

Nobody talks about the Esoteric F-03A but I’m an owner. Seems like Robert Harley is the only reviver and article as below
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/esoteric-f-03a-integrated-amplifier/

I’ve chosen this amp over Lux590 & E-650 driving a pair of TAD ME1 in a small room. Very fine and detailed musical amp thats built like a tank. I moved from an E-450 and its quite a jump since I’m hearing a lot more details and the instrument texture/decay is a lot smoother.

Give it a listen if its possible

Why specify Class A?If you live in a hot climate they are a pain.
The Bakoons are Class A/B and sound better than any Class A I have heard.

If you like tubes and have efficient speakers, then take a look at Viva Solistino  IA. This IA has 18W pure class A, it's a very fine piece.

Thank you, I’m learning a lot!

Is there any of these SS amps that sounds close to a 2a3 tube amp?
I have a small room, high sensitive speakers and I like low volume.
The tubes are banned until my daughter grows up. :___)

SS amps that sounds close to a 2a3 tube amp

Probably a used Pass Labs Cl;ass-A Aleph, but they are room heaters.

Cheers George

“Is there any of these SS amps that sounds close to a 2a3 tube amp?”

Look into Accuphase amp or Integrated, they are that good!

My advice is to stick with the well known brands that have been in business for a long while and that have big time R&D behind them: Gryphon, Luxman, Accuphase, Constellation, Levinson, McIntosh, Pass, Ayre and Esoteric. 

I own two Luxman integrateds at the moment and one Esoteric SACD player.  And they sound great and look good too.  I've never had a problem with them.  I've owned Ayre in the past and it was a quality piece.  

If you can demo any of these, that would be ideal.  Maybe there is a dealer near to you that can lend you one for the weekend or something. I've done that before with my local dealer.  That's how I got to try out a Sutherland Little Loco, before deciding to purchase.  

Read the reviews,look at the company history,then buy the Sugden A21SE & get the optional headphone out as you will most assuredly need it in the immediate future,put the $11,000.00 saved into daughters college fund as it will probably coast a BILLION $ by the time she's old enough,sit back & enjoy the music!

Class A is absurdly overrated.

Pass Labs 150 and 250 integrated's are both Class A .

Esoteric F-05. Excellent in all respects. Lots of useful features including two sets of speaker outputs. (One for speakers, one for headphones.) Replaced a McIntosh C2200 / Pass X150.8 setup. Same cost.

"Pass Labs 150 and 250 integrated's are both Class A "

Those 2 are not Class A; they are AB, albeit high bias

Replaced my mcintosh gear with a Luxman 590AXII and it was an incredible improvement. I could not be happier with the sound and the looks. The phono is both MM/MC, using a Hana MM right now and it’s a lovely combination The headphone amp is stunning also. My digital is Bluesound but with this integrated I know I’ll be able to move up and hear the difference. Regardless if you don’t want to deal sh tubes, class A will 

Oh and Class A is not over rated. Blows away every class D I’ve ever heard. Those Luxman 30 watts sound better then the 200 class D I had or previous ones I owned. Your mileage may vary but I am no push over on SQ. 

Well done, deadhead.

I've said it earlier and will say it again. The Luxman L-590AXII (yes it's Class A) is gold. It's very good at its price range. I haven't listened to the costlier options but the Luxman can qualify as an endgame amp, the last amp that you'll ever need.

@deadhead1000 What speakers is it driving?

I have efficient speakers so I'd buy a Pass INT-25 in a heartbeat if one was needed.

Try to find a Krell FBI. Apart from the silly name this was still a true Dan D design. It's basically an FPB 300 with a balanced line stage tucked inside.

+1
https://www.stereophile.com/content/krell-fbi-integrated-amplifier-specifications

Does anyone know how warm the Sugden A21SE gets? I'm tempted, but I'd prefer a built in phono stage

Thank you all! I'm learning a lot and I ask myself new questions ... Maybe with that budget I could give up the integrated one, and bet on AMP + PRE.
A First Watt amplifier (or some SIT1 if I find them used), some Valvet A4 MKII monoblocks (5K in Europe) and a good preamp.
What do you think?

"Does anyone know how warm the Sugden A21SE gets? I'm tempted, but I'd prefer a built in phono stage"


I spent the last 2 weeks demoing an A21 Signature(20wpc.entry version)..The amp overall does not get too hot to touch EXCEPT for 2 areas,the airflow hole areas close to the source selector & power button on the case top get REAL hot,probably hot enough to actually cause a mild burn if your so bombed you left your hand there over a minute...
That said I am BLOWN AWAY by how good the amp sounded & have BEEN CONVERTED can I get an AMEN!
Yep,ordered the A21 SE just yesterday..No more tubes,well except for a small headphone amp...NEVER believed SS could image,stage OR have the tonal saturation of tubes,I was WRONG!!!

I can’t debate the merits and demerits of the various classes of amps out there, as I’ve not heard that many, and I’ve certainly never heard them AB’d. 
What I can assuredly say is that the Luxman L590 AX Mk2 made by far the most positive change in my system. The ‘even my wife noticed it’ applies here. There was no straining to hear a difference, and being 60 years old I’ve been on the audio merry-go-round a long time.
My guess is that it’s the class A bias at work- I would imagine most or all of these amps have a certain sonic signature that I would enjoy. I’ll leave the max power debate to you guys. I really like the Luxman, I’ve had it for four years, with zero hiccups.
So if you think you’d like the class A sound, it probably comes down to the feature set that various manufacturers offer. I do occasionally use the tone controls, love the headphone amp, and the phono stage sounds good too. No DAC, digital readout, user preferences to set here; it is strictly an analogue piece.
Enjoy your search.

Another vote for the Luxman 590 AXII. I’ve had a lot of gear, this awesome integrated is staying. One of the finest examples of an amp that does it all.

If you can live with a minimalistic design aesthetic, the PureAudio One Integrated form New Zealand is superb.

@deadhead1000 Have you heard  Jeff Rowland class D amps ?

@kairosman is on to something with Coda. They make amazing stuff from what I've read. Specs are crazy too. Man who uses a 3KVA  toroid? Even gryphon mephisto and XS300 doesn't have toroids that big!

Hello everyone,

I apologize to resurrect this old thread but I'd like to provide my two cents...

I think that Grandinote makes some of the best integrated pure Class A amplifiers I've ever listened to.

Even the entry-level Shinai with its 37wpc can really shine with most of the speakers available and they make several better version, even in dual chassis version! 

The new Solo, that I've had the pleasure of listening to Axpona 2024 it's a true GEM!

It's beautiful (to my eyes 😉 ), customizable, extremely compact for the wattage/performance (60 wpc) and it can includes or the phono stage or the streamer DAC in one single unit... 

I think that IT will deserve a try if you are looking for a very uncompromised integrated.

To conclude...all the Grandinote electronics use a patented technology, are completely designed and hand-made in Italy!

On the website there a LOT of extremely positive reviews...

 

and the entry-level Shinai it's used in Stereophile Robert Schryer reference system!

Have a good listening!

Coda CSib is supposed to be very nice. 

 

A no brainer the Vitus 25 watt Class A 

i have heard this several times it is by any standard exceptional.

Vitus builds to a far higher standard then pass, Luxman,Coda , Accuphase is in their class about $25k if you can afford it well worth looking into.