Class A integrated amp recommendations

I still loved my Krell K300i amps.it’s sound good and little warmer and punches bass along with Hegel H390 which I own couple years since I switched back to Krell and fall in love with new sound from Krell….

EAR 834 and 8L6 are push pull class A tube amps that a very musical sounding an new, are affordably priced around $6750.  Both are 50 watts and play well into most speakers (not those with multiple really big woofers with low impedances based on my experience with Legscy Focus but great with Legacy Signature IIIs).  Even sweeter is the EAR 899 (discontinued) with 70 watts using a kinkless tetrode K90 tube configuration (or KT88 if one prefers, which I do and own a pair of 890s).  

I previously owned the Sugden Masterclass IA-4 and Pass Labs INT-25. I now own the Pass Labs INT-60, which beats the Sugden and INT-25 hands down. The Sugden is no match to the Pass Labs. The INT-60 is a true reference, and an end-game amp for me in my setup. And using its true balanced differential circuitry has been a game changer for me.

Perla S50. It’s not Class A, but AB, however it sounds very organic, very class A. Single ended inputs only.

I’d compare it to a Pass INT60, but more visceral, present, lifelike. One of those times I walked into a little crummy hotel room at a show and couldn’t un-hear it. Played on Perla’s 2 way speakers. The only other times (years later) I’d ever heard a two way speaker sound so good were Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE’s (? model names get confusing) driven by their most expensive gear, Ocean Way Eureka’s (which I bought) driven by AGD Vivace GanFET’s, and the big QLN Signatures driven by a Gryphon Diablo 300 Integrated.

I am a Pass owner, btw.

Good luck finding one.

Firstly, that’s one of the finest thread questions I’ve read in a long time. Well done!

I’ll get to the point - Another vote for tubes. I own a pair of Martin Logan Summit’s. The price you pay for their mid range brilliance are power requirements. But the fairly new Summits aren’t nearly as difficult to drive as their early predecessors. So that’s where I chose to purchase a pair of used KT88/EL34 monoblocks. That’s some 80 watts total of glorious tube power. That’s much more power than is necessary for these speakers.

I too, if you’ve not guessed from my username by now, possess a penchant for vinyl Blue Note releases. In fact, they’re a must!

Bottom line. I purchased a fabulous used tube preamp, and used tube monoblocks, for about $1500 less than the going price of a used Pass Integrated. Would I switch if I had the opportunity? No, I wouldn’t. Fact is, I’m done acquiring audio gear after some 40 years in this hobby. And I’ve not quite reached my golden years. But they’ll be experienced with tube gear. For, sooner or later, one has to stop chasing the rabbit, and simply chill in the moment.

Enjoy!