Sugden A-21a or A21SE

[F575M]

Hello Chaps,

I have been looking at a mint A21SE for sale but it needs a phono preamp making it a little bit expensive for my budget [£1.250]. It is a superb single-ended class A amp.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649627006-sugden-a21-signature-single-ended-class-a-integrated-amplifier/

Any users on this forum?

Cheers,

Horacio

PS: sorry I attache a wrong photo, my apologies.

[hifinutt]

wonderful amps , beautifully made , tremendous grunt . wonder why the seller is selling at such a loss after only a few months . seems a bit odd

[F575M]

This is what the chap said, “ I'm a bit ashamed to tell that story. I was selling a tube amp of mine, and wanting to buy a different pre. I had my eye on a Sugden Materclass pre on usaudiomart, and the day after my amp sold, I went to look up that ad, and it was gone! But, there was a new ad for the blue A21. I immediately called the seller and met him here in AZ the next day. A couple of days later I realized that even though it was great, I didn't need an integrated amp, I needed a new ore to go with a McIntosh amp that I had just refurbished. That's what happened. Sometimes I m a little too impulsive, but it is an absolutely lovely sounding amp. A couple of years ago I had a Cayin pure class A solid state integrated that was well thought of by reviewers 40 wpc, but it couldn't even come close to the sound of the Sugden”.

Bear in mind that most Americans do not like the British sound, just noise.

Cheers,

[hifinutt]

yes , i am sure we all fall prey to being impulsive

i presume its this one ?
https://www.sugdenaudio.com/a21-integrated---line-amplifier

i have had the one above , the a21se and its a very exceptional amp with tremendous clarity and grunt . very low noise floor and very engaging

[F575M]

This one

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649627006-sugden-a21-signature-single-ended-class-a-integrated-amplifier/

[graham67]

Lovely amp Horacio,
With the right speakers it can sound divine, though matching is critical. Look for an 8ohm or higher load with a benign impedance. I've been using a A21a power amp with Rogers LS 3/5a and although the Rogers are rather inefficient, the 15ohm load is well suited to the Sugden. I also had surprising ly good results with 87db Sonus Fabers many years back, again the impedance load was favourable. IMO, its amp that seems to favour more cultured sounding speakers.

[F575M]

I will use a pair of Tannoy Devons specially built for Martin Hannett original partner/director at Tony Wilson's Factory Records.

[Pigmy Pony]

I will use a pair of Tannoy Devons specially built for Martin Hannett original partner/director at Tony Wilson's Factory Records.

Little bit of history there - Hannett produced records for Joy Division/New Order, Happy Mondays, among many others :) IIRC he was played by Andy Serkis in "24hr Party People", the story of Factory Records - a super little film with a great cast list.