Valve amp suggestions

Hi
Thinking of a change in amp.

I have a Rega Jupiter CD, with Rega Cursa pre and bi amp configuration of two Rega Maia's driving the glorious ProAc Response SC1's.

Looking for a more subtle sound tat the present set up, always liked the valve amp approach, but have no experience of what to try.

For simplicity I'd like to go with an intergrated amp, no phono stage required that'll suit my speakers.

Budget? ummm £1500, what about buying second hand?

 

Lots of good suggestions

Best piece of advice though, go for 50w + with those Proacs. They like a bit of beef. Robbo uses his 1sc's with an ARC integrated. He might read this and come and make some reccomendations.

Good luck

cheers
chris

 

I'd second that Bottleneck, Robbos' system is very musical & involving and the ARC slots in well with the Proac's Wm

 

you might also consider one of these...

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1122989139

but i think people might have guessed by now that i favour the vac sound!!!

 

I nearly bought a Prima Luna so would go with that. £800 buys the EL34 equipped version and the rest of the budget could be spent on a set of four EAT EL34's or if you want more poke KT88's. Whilst I take the scribings of Mr Kessler with a heap of salt, he may have a point with this device- very nice indeed.

 

Denis

I've always thought Unison Research valves sounded good. The styling's an acquired taste IMO but they seem pretty good value for money. I heard the hybrid pre-power at Bristol last Feb and they were great.

Have you any valve amp retailers near you ??.

Paul

 

Dennis,

This ex-dem combination from Walrus was one that I was seriously considering buying. The phono stage in the pre is really great too.

Korato KVP-10 PH 2-box phono preamp xd GBP 895.00 price lowered
Korato Renaissance monoblock tube power amps (45w/ch) xd GBP 995.00 price lowered

You're getting 4 boxes there, so its hardly a single amp - but tremendous VFM.

Check the Korato site for details

http://www.korato.com/

 

Its also a third as much again over budget

 

There's plenty of cheap chinese stuff ...that may be worth a look at ?

 

I think the 50wpc KT88 amp at £650 at edenlake would be a belter, the model below it sounds great. Spend £1-200 on Svetlana or EH valves and you'll have a wonderful sounding amp. This is what I nearly bought, until I got the offer of a lifetime on my II40's which are also KT88 equipped.

 

True! but worth a couple of hundred extra I'd say.

 

No valve amp retailers near me, therefore all the suggestions forwarded are used to compile my listening list. Walrus look an interesting site, daresay I'll have to make a day trip one day.

My budget is strictly £1500 for a one box solution.

 

in that case, check out audiogon, for products such as this one...

Cary SLI 80w integrated

http://www.audiophile.com.au/cary_specs/sli80.html

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1123635242

Thats just over £1000 - before voltage conversion and shipping. It should arrive on budget.

You are particularly helped by the weak US dollar, and strong pound. The same thing can apply to purchases from Europe.

 

Denis,
Ear integrated valve amps offer excellent build and performance,it
would have to be used though at your budget.

 

Hi Denis,

How about something like this.

http://www.audaud.com/audaud/NOV01/EQUIP/equip3NOV01.html

There is one of these at the emporium for £1050. Looks like it should fit the bill. I have heard Rogue audio stuff sounding very good at shows.

http://www.emporiumhifi.co.uk/Pages/ModernPages/ValveM.html

SCIDB

 

Lots of goods amps recommended there. The PrimaLuna looks like the safest bet IMO (good to see you here, Tons ) it should also hold its value pretty well (compared to some amps). The internals look very neat & tidy for a China-made amp too.

Re hybrids, I recently purchased a Pathos Classic One and am pretty amazed by it. If you want texture, air and a deep soundstage, this is the amp for you. Its very "laid-back" though and bass is pretty limp. Not for rockers & rappers then! If you are a classical/jazz/acoustic man, the Classic One is perfect. Superb build quality too (£1,325).

I'd also look at the Consonance M100S+ (£1,500). Looks the part and is just about the cheapest 300B integrated out there AFAIK. No remote though.

DT

 

Nice to be here- AV gets so wearing sometimes

 

I would recommend another hybrid amp, similar to the Pathos Classic, the very excellent Unison Research Unico SE at £1350.

I heard the excellent Unico 1 integrated at £900 and was very impressed but the SE is simply streets ahead. Like the Pathos (which I also auditioned) in terms of air and delicacy but has buckets of grip and bass to die for.

Read the review in the current issue of Stereophile.

I was so impressed I bought one and sold my Naim 72/apx2/140.

Makes music like nothing else at the price.

Happy listening,

ft

 

A hybrid doesnt get you the full valve sound IMO, the Consonance look good but the 6550 tubed one is more suitable for the ProAc's

 

Shame the Unico lacks the visual drama of the Pathos (which, to be fair, is an acquired taste). I Would probably have been tempted by the Unico, had I realised the pathos' bass would be so non-existent in my room .

Did read a grim Hifi World review of the non-SE version - they hated it! Kinda put me off the Unico Silly boy!

Rsand - agreed re the consonance. 15wpc might be a little weedy for the SC1's.