A great valve(ish) integrated under 800 GBP 2nd-hand suited to the AN AZ-3?

[trane]

Hi mates,
I wonder if anyone can suggest an integrated w/ a min. of 4 inputs that would 'perfectly' match the AN AZ-3 speakers (and a seriously modded Rega Apollo)? Issue is not sensitivity (due to the speakers' easy load and efficiency), rather sonics. I prefer the Audio Innovations way, that is warmish w/ decent transparency and naturalness, however, if not a 'must', would not go to vale territory (again, for the umpteenth time LOL). I have quite a limited access to trying out equipment at home due to our comparatively small hi-fi market, though I have some long-term experience w/ decent (mainly) British gear of the genre such as AI S300s, S400s, S500s, AN Oto PP, Croft GCI, Sugden A21a, YBA Integré, Meracus Intrare, to name 'the best'. Note, please, none of these amps were used w/ the AZ-3s (they're a recent buy), just loved them sooo MJUUUZIKAL machinces :) Now you have the picture of the sound I am after, advise me, please. Many thanks :)

P.S.: Your thoughts about the WAD EL34...?

[lurcher]

WAD KEL84 would be my suggestion.

[AndrewR]

If you are good with a soldering iron, how about something from Audio Note Kits. BTW I'm also an AZ-3 owner (using my own amp design and an AN kit DAC).

Andrew

[Gromit]

WAD KEL84 would be my suggestion.

+1

I had a pair of AN AX-2's a few years ago and they worked beautifully on the end of a KEL84. You'd get a good used 84 for less than 400 quid...a lot less. :)

[John]

Andrew amp is pretty special no idea what it cost to build but very nice Supper clean and works extremly well with these speakers and IMHO will be at very different level to the WAD which is a great amp for the money

[AndrewR]

Thanks John :) The dual mono amps you heard do use a lot of iron and the components are boutiquey - taking the base cost to about £2,000.

However it should be possible to spend £800 on components to build a "Simple 2A3" amp. See here: http://angela.com/simplese452a3ampforfirsttimediyers.aspx

Making sure that polypropylene film caps are used in the PSU (bypassed with 0.1uf paper-in-oils) and a quality paper-in-oil between the stages will put that ampm on the road to greatness.

Andrew

[trane]

many thanks for your precious inputs to all having posted to help me. the choice, however, was made and I am now a happy owner of (again) an Audio Innovations Series 500 amp of the first models with the precious Hinchley transformers on board :)

[kt66]

ever heard a Prima Luna?