You could try a Black Ice Fusion F35 Integrated for 3k with EL34 tubes, or 3.25k with 6550 tubes then add a Parasound Zphono XRM phono preamp for $499.00, it lets you hook up 2 turntables 1 MM, and 1 MC and is very flexible with gain settings, it also has a rumble filter,a mono stereo switch if needed, it also has MC impedance adjustments of 50 - 1050 ohms. This way you can always go to separates if you want at a later time, and both together are still in your 3.5k budget.
What to try?
Currently have Yamaha As1200 integrated with KLH Model 5. Looking to get a more refined sound with a tube integrated. 220 square foot room, 8 foot ceilings. I am getting a somewhat foreword presentation now but good solid clear sound with punch. Thinking about a Pathos Classic One MkIII or Willsenton R8 or Line Magnetic KT88. The Pathos is a hybrid but have heard good things. Play mostly vinyl with Fluance RT 85 and Ortofon Blue. Listen to mostly rock and alt country and some classical. Just thinking of dipping my toes into tubes to get a different sound. Any suggestions?
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There’s an Audio Research VSi60 on USAM for $1995. You’d need to pick an external phono stage, but you could do that and probably still come in under budget. My gear is ARC; haven’t heard that model myself, but Stereophile reviewed it and maybe someone who has owned one will chime in here. info here: https://www.arcdb.ws/model/VSI60 happy hunting!
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I just moved to a Rogue Cronus Magnum iii. I absolutely love it. It has been great with my Kef 104/2 and now with my Focal Aria 948. It has a 60 watt and 100 watt mode accessible with just the flick of a switch. It has 4ohm and 8ohm taps changed internally pretty easily. Tube biasing is a breeze too. The mc and mm switch is also internal so if you switch carts often it would be a pain. Right now The Music Room has a slightly used one for sale in black.. I ordered an aftermarket tube cage and it looks great and stops anyone from trying to touch the tubes!! |
I am going to demo the Rogie next week. I want to make sure there is a tube sound to that amp and that it is different in a good way to my ears than my AS1200. Is that ARC amp that @rfnoise showed available is the volume and such only adjustable through a remote. I can not tell. And as @rfnoise said it is happy hunting. These are not important matters in the grand scheme of things but it is just a plain fun thing to do. |
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