2. amps-preamps
  3. 187667-181

Recommend a non-polite sounding amp / integrated

Looking for a a non-polite sounding amp / integrated. By polite I mean Denon, Musical Fidelity, Arcam. I had Rotel and Adcom and they were harsh. I was thinking about Pass (maybe is just very detailed) or a chip amp. Probably not digital or tube amp.

Integrated is okay as long as it does not have digital volume.

Price under 3K and driving a variety of easy to drive single driver speakers at 70-75dB in a small room.

cdc
carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,374 posts
 

Nix the digital volume.

 

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,854 posts
 

Cambridge evo 150 comes in around that price and seems like it might fit the bill.  

three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 

Try a tube integrated that uses EL84's.

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,374 posts
 

@three_easy_payments that is what I'm listening to now (although I use a variation of the EL84 called SV83).  I think of it as accurate and full from top to bottom.  Maybe that is impolite.  😎

 

decooney
1,905 posts
 

@cdc If you had nice Rotel or Adcom and they were "harsh", you likely have other issues going on with your source or speakers or room perhaps. You might try various amps and be right where you are right now.  Start at the front.  

What are you using for a source/player up front?

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