Seeking warm, musical amp for committed relationship

phipiper10
phipiper10 Posts: 961
edited March 2011 in Electronics
Looking for a "musical", slightly warmer amp to go into system in my signature. I need a little more involvement, I need to thicken the stew a bit so to speak. Things are sounding great, not bright, but just slightly lean for my tastes I suppose.

Considering:
Rogue Stereo 90 amp
B&K
Possibly C-J or Sunfire?

What else am I missing? ($1500 max)

I've had a B&K amp in the past so I'm somewhat familiar with that one.
The Rogue would be my first tube amp and would also be a match to the Rogue 99 preamp so very intrigued.

Thanks
Rich
Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin U2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC:T+A DAC 200 Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Infigo Method 6 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Cardas Clear Reflection SC/IC, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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Comments

  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited March 2011
    Rogue.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited March 2011
    ditto....
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2011
    Belles
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,497
    edited March 2011
    NM......won't fit your budget.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 961
    edited March 2011
    The Hotrod was on the list but after doing some reading I became less sure of it's sonic signature. Maybe revisit that one.


    Haha, I know Pass, right Heiney?

    thanks guys
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin U2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC:T+A DAC 200 Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Infigo Method 6 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Cardas Clear Reflection SC/IC, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • outlander
    outlander Posts: 218
    edited March 2011
    You can’t go wrong with a CJ amp. It will definitely give you the warm sound you’re looking for.
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited March 2011
    I had the Rogue 90 amp with your speakers and it sounded sweet together. A match made in heaven :)

    There was also a point when I had a Bada tube CDP, the Rogue 90, Modwright tube preamp and the Linbrook speakers and it was too much warmth and I missed the detail. I think it's fun to try different combinations to see what you like and what you don't like. I went from one extreme to the other until I found a place in the middle that hit the spot.

    If your looking to warm things up some then I would recommend the Rogue 90. It is musical and very responsive to tube rolling, so you can tweak the amount of warmth. I found that the NOS tubes sounded superb and really made the amp come alive. But that's also one of the down sides to a tube amp; the cost of NOS tubes and it needing regular biasing. If you are up for the extra costs and it needing some TLC then you will be greatly rewarded. Also read the review from TAS. It won a couple awards for a reason.

    I also had the B&K 2220 and it was a powerhouse of an amp, but no where near the Rogue in terms of musicality.
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited March 2011
    Rogue Audio 90 would be my vote
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited March 2011
    Odyssey Mono Blocs would go good with your Speakers.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 961
    edited March 2011
    Ern, how frequently did you have to bias with the Stereo 90? How long did it take each time. Just wondering.
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin U2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC:T+A DAC 200 Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Infigo Method 6 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Cardas Clear Reflection SC/IC, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited March 2011
    It comes with a little biasing tool that fits neatly inside the amp. I would have to pop the hood and do the biasing every couple months. I found that it needed biasing more frequently when a tube was new and/or when one was slowly dying. And it was only the 4 power tubes that needed the biasing. The other tubes don't require biasing. It doesn't take long, maybe 2 minutes to do all 4 tubes. Easy peasy.

    I learned that it was always necessary to have extra tubes and fuses on hand because things blow out and you don't want to be caught with your pants down.

    If you can be ok with all this, then once you get that amp dialed in, it is Sonic Bliss Baby. :biggrin:
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