Where to go now? Amplifier.

[Zoidburg]

Hoping some of you guys can help me out with ideas for a new amp.

Iv been running a cheapish Chinese valve amp for a few months now and really like what I'm hearing. However iv scrapped together some funds and can now stretch to £600 ish for a new amp. Ideally still valve based I think, but what can you guys suggest I look for? It would be great if it had a phono stage and looked nice but sound quality is of course the main aim.

So what can you all suggest and please feel free to tout your sale items here freely lol

cheers

Ben

[jandl100]

Hi Ben

Give this amp some serious consideration! See comments by me and Frank on the FS thread. :thumbsup:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18859

No phonostage, though. Get an Angle Audio for £150 or so. :)

[sq225917]

See how much that AI 500 gOes for once it has been tidied up. I'm sure it'll be up for sale soon.

[Zoidburg]

Hi Ben

Give this amp some serious consideration! See comments by me and Frank on the FS thread. :thumbsup:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18859

No phonostage, though. Get an Angle Audio for £150 or so. :)

Nice one mate, that certainly looks very good indeed, its a bit above my budget though with postage included but I'm gonna look into it.

Any other thoughts anyone?

cheers,

[DSJR]

I was going to be very boringly predictable and suggest a Rega Brio R, since it does work well and disappears from the music nicely, but for valves, used is really going to be the way to go..

For valvey integrateds, what about an Icon Audio one? I know, I don't get out much and am rather limited to the stuff my mate stocks for personal listening, but both the above seem well made and should last a goodly while.

A totally odd-ball suggestion, but for £600 you could get a new Croft Micro basic preamp and use it with a restored Quad 405-2. the two of them work well together and the Quad is fine into non silly loads. The input sensitivity can be reduced fairly easily for modern preamps too and this improves the noise and distrtion spec a little as well as possibly sounding better for it...

Sorry for the odd recommendation above and for shilling the first two brands I mentioned, but hopefully worth a casual look if nothing more?

[daytona600]

Dared MP-2A3c 9wpc SET integrated BNIB
£ 299
can demo - i use dared myself they Oem for many companies for 20years
2A3 sweet as a nut sound - Take most amps under £1k to the cleaners
drives my £10k + speakers no problem
point to point wiring no pcbs magic eye power meter
real wood end checks chromed metal top plate A real star performer
www.daredtubecom 6moons award winner

[Zoidburg]

Dared MP-2A3c 9wpc SET integrated BNIB
£ 299
can demo - i use dared myself they Oem for many companies for 20years
2A3 sweet as a nut sound - Take most amps under £1k to the cleaners
drives my £10k + speakers no problem
point to point wiring no pcbs magic eye power meter
real wood end checks chromed metal top plate A real star performer
www.daredtubecom 6moons award winner

Thanks for that, Do you have any photos you could upload? Would the low output be ok with my speakers though?

[Ali Tait]

Dared MP-2A3c 9wpc SET integrated BNIB
£ 299
can demo - i use dared myself they Oem for many companies for 20years
2A3 sweet as a nut sound - Take most amps under £1k to the cleaners
drives my £10k + speakers no problem
point to point wiring no pcbs magic eye power meter
real wood end checks chromed metal top plate A real star performer
www.daredtubecom 6moons award winner

Scott,

Sent you a PM, could you get back to me please?

Ta!

[flatpopely]

I have heard a Prima Luna valve amp and it's was very good. Should be able to get a nearly new one for £600.

[daytona600]

Thanks for that, Do you have any photos you could upload? Would the low output be ok with my speakers though?
should be okay web shows your speakers as 91db effciency unless you have a very big room or listen very loud

7049

[Nevalti]

I used an AVC 'KT88 Triode High End' valve amp for several years and was delighted with it but it does require reasonably efficient speakers if you want to play loud. I only sold it when I got my new speakers.

They used to offer them sale or return so you have nothing to lose in auditioning one except the postage. Lim is notoriously an eccentric character but his amplifiers are great value. If he stopped slagging off other people and took some decent marketing advice he could make a fortune with these amps. He is his own worse enemy.

http://www.affordablevalvecompany.com/products.htm - but don't be put off by the awful web-site.