Integrated Tube Amp Suggestions
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janmike
Posts: 6,146
I am still and probably will be for years to come toying with the 2CH thing. Right now I am contemplating looking at a nice integrated tube amp. The Audio Research thing is a little far out at the moment. Anyway, I wanted to tap the knowledge bank of you tube "gurus" for suggestions on a nice integrated unit that I may consider.
Here is what I think would like:
Minimum of 100 wpc - 8 ohms (I am thinking Class A)
Balanced Inputs (I already own good balanced cables)
Comparable to lines in Audio Research like (LS26 & VS110)
I know NOTHING about tube gear, but want it for matching purposes. As for price, not really a huge issue as the ARC gear will run me $8K to $10K for used gear.
Thanks for the help.
Here is what I think would like:
Minimum of 100 wpc - 8 ohms (I am thinking Class A)
Balanced Inputs (I already own good balanced cables)
Comparable to lines in Audio Research like (LS26 & VS110)
I know NOTHING about tube gear, but want it for matching purposes. As for price, not really a huge issue as the ARC gear will run me $8K to $10K for used gear.
Thanks for the help.
Michael 
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60°
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60°
Post edited by janmike on
Comments
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I was gonna' say,,Manley Stingray or Rogue Cronus,,until I read the part about 100 watts/channel. I think that the Rogue puts out about 50-60IIRC,,good luck.:)JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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Thanks George. I reason I indicated 100 wpc was trying to compare it to the ARC gear I was looking at. Perhaps a little lower may do the trick. That Manley I remember from Polkfest last year. NICE!Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
I owned th Cronus for a while and was extremely pleased with its performance. I ran a pair of Totem Mode One (non signature) with it. The sound was excellent. I'm actually looking to find a smaller rig like that as well.
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Well, he is from Canada. It would probably cut his heating bills in half during the winter.Jan,
Get set of the new McIntosh 301 mono's and top it off with the MC2300 pre and call it a day.
100 watts of tube power? Is this just for giggles? Why on earth do you need this - did your heater in the house die? Unless you're running extremely difficult speakers in a HUGE space - this is massive overkill and will be a waste of resources.
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
I've never had a tube int. so I'm biased
I would recommend a carver ss amp for about $500 or less and then a good tube pre for about $500.
Don't worry about keeping the balanced cables. Good cables can be had for about $100.
carver m1.5t $399: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1215354468
cj pv-7 $799: http://cgi.ebay.com/Conrad-Johnson-PV-7-Preamplifier-just-back-fr-factory_W0QQitemZ180241900586QQihZ008QQcategoryZ12050QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem -
Jan,
Get set of the new McIntosh 301 mono's and top it off with the MC2300 pre and call it a day.
100 watts of tube power? Is this just for giggles? Why on earth do you need this - did your heater in the house die? Unless you're running extremely difficult speakers in a HUGE space - this is massive overkill and will be a waste of resources.
No, actually it is based on MANY people's recommendations that paired up the speakers I will be using (Proacs, which are easy to drive) and the Audio Research gear. Proac voiced with ARC for years. The amps that folks have used all have 100 wpc - Class A tube.
BTW - I love the look of McIntosh.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
http://mcintoshlabs.com/products/1007.asp
It's rated at 75wpc, but as with the rest their gear, it's under-rated. I heard it's actually closer to 90wpc."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Janmike - I've alwayed like Acoustic Research. I wonder how their hybrids sound... hmmm..
Not sure about Acoustic Research but Audio Research is highly regarded.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
acoustic research is sold is best buy?
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Acoustic Research is sold in BB, not Audio Research.
Zero - You should be ashamed of yourself.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. -
Don't worry about it we all knew what you were saying.
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SolidSqual wrote: »Don't worry about it we all knew what you were saying.
Exactly. I did a 360 when I first read it and then said, I know what he meant. Perhaps I should just do without until the ARC gear becomes a reality.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
hmm I thought true class A single ended usually exceeds no more than about 25W per channel. I run 8 watts single ended triode and its plenty loud. It's all in the efficient speakers I say (~94db/watt).
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hmm I thought true class A single ended usually exceeds no more than about 25W per channel. I run 8 watts single ended triode and its plenty loud. It's all in the efficient speakers I say (~94db/watt).
Audio Research tube amps are "enhanced a/b". Whatever that means.
It sounds good, that's all I care about!
Integrated tube amps are normally 50 watts or less. AR vsx55, 50wpc,
PrimaLuna Prologue two, 40wpc, ETC.
I do see a Jolida Jd100rc thats 100 wpc. That one looks like a beast."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
Thanks folks for all the help. You people are great. I believe a decision has been made.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
Thanks folks for all the help. You people are great. I believe a decision has been made.
Well Jesus pal, tell us the good news. -
take a look at this ayon 100 watt amp or the 50 watt spirit integrated.
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1216329556
http://www.usatubeaudio.com/ayon-spirit.phpAmplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
take a look at this ayon 100 watt amp or the 50 watt spirit integrated.
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1216329556
http://www.usatubeaudio.com/ayon-spirit.php
Those do look nice for sure.SolidSqual wrote: »Well Jesus pal, tell us the good news.
I pulled the trigger on an Audio Research LS26 Pre. Enough of this waiting stuff.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
Excellent! Audio Research pre and CDP . . . any amps we don't know about?
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The ARC VS115 Amp is the next to come. I need save some more pennies as the jar is just about empty.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
The ARC VS115 Amp is the next to come. I need save some more pennies as the jar is just about empty.
That is one VERY nice amp."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
sucks2beme wrote: »That is one VERY nice amp.
It is a very nice look piece for sure. I need to be patient. I have heard that it smokes the VS110.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
No, it doesn't.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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No, it doesn't.
I would love to have either sitting in the bottom of my audio rack."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
If I may, what made you make the decision to go that route? Congrat's on the 2-channel!Thanks folks for all the help. You people are great. I believe a decision has been made. ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
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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If I may, what made you make the decision to go that route? Congrat's on the 2-channel!
I wanted to mate my Proac speakers with gear that was proven to have great synergy. Proac and ARC used to voice together and of the probably 50+ people that I have talked to over the years, more and more people liked the team of Proac & ARC. The tubes are definitely required for Proac speakers (although there will be some that say SS works) and the vote went to ARC due to the response that I received when asking questions. I heard the Proac 2.5 speakers with Cary 805C's and that was real nice.
A well known dealer in Milwaukee (Ultra Fidelis) talks very highly of the VS115.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
Mark, I would be interested in hearing your assessment of the ARC VS110 versus the VS115. What Pre was being used and what speakers.Michael
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
NORTH of 60° -
Ah, the AR sound....Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
