Although not an integrated, Valvet A2SE. Single ended solid state, beat out SET tube amps, FirstWatt and Pass Labs, plus a whole slew of high end and much higher power amps. Only way I can describe it is that it pulls you in and just lets the music flow. It simply disappears.
???What's The LEAST Expensive "End Game"Amplifier You've Ever Heard???
Pretty simple question..
While I’m sure the "No Such Thing" crowd will make sure they represent,I’m not interested in their rhetoric..
I am however,most interested to hear from those who have heard integrated amplifiers they could get off the merry go round with,ESPECIALLY if it was on the more budget end of cost..For myself it would have to be the Sugden A21SE but that was 2 years ago,before the cost climbed to $4000.00......
Thanks for participating..
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@johnread57 he's not even in the same zip code as most all the amps listed! |
@freediver i thinks it’s the budget issue that’s causing his lack of participation. |
Well, I could be part of the "no such thing" group, but, having been a part of the state-of-the-art club back in the late, late, late 20th century (it sounds very odd to type that, as though it was waaaayyyy back in ’The Dinosaur Age’!!), I’ve found components in the past 15 years that are quite good at their price level. There are some great amps that don’t cost and arm and a leg (but still are not 'cheap'). The LEAST expensive would be - as Tomic601 has noted - the Aesthetix Mimas integrated. And you could get it used from some dealers, so that’s ideal! (Circa 5k). I haven’t heard it myself, but reviewers I trust found it sublime. And it’s dual mono (ultra wide soundstage if that sort of thing matters to you), tubed linestage, and the amp side is solid state. Also, an Odyssey Khartago amp. Under 1k ($995, and Klaus hasn’t changed the price in 10 years. I owned one of these already and they are fantastic! And 130 watts, too!). |
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