What amplifier do I want?

[naimbadboymatt]

Looking for an amplifier that gives me the best qualities of valves but also the best of solid state bass grip/ tightness and ultimate headroom....

 

[Purité Audio]

Hybrid,
Keith

 

[James]

Audio Research SP15 with a pair of Krell KMA-400?

 

[naimbadboymatt]

Hybrid,
Keith

Yes a hybrid but which one and why?

 

[Robert]

Good valve amplifiers don't really have qualities. They just get on with the job unobtrusively within their power rating.

Bad valve amplifiers certainly have qualities.
Perhaps one solution would be to buy a powerful super lean SS amp and shove a hobbled valve pre amp into the tape loop for flavour

 

[naimbadboymatt]

Audio Research SP15 with a pair of Krell KMA-400?

Perhaps I should mention budget....

 

[Clay B]

You would find it hard to beat an Audio Research Dsi 200 integrated. Some of the AR valve sound allied with Krell/Plinius like grip. Very reasonably priced in the US. Great value used. A sleeper.

 

[Purité Audio]

Yes a hybrid but which one and why?

Which speakers are you using?
Keith

 

[naimbadboymatt]

Good valve amplifiers don't really have qualities. They just get on with the job unobtrusively within their power rating.

Bad valve amplifiers certainly have qualities.
Perhaps one solution would be to buy a powerful super lean SS amp and shove a hobbled valve pre amp into the tape loop for flavour

Ok what 'good' amplifier do I want... and shouldn't all the 'flavour' come from the source?

 

[naimbadboymatt]

Which speakers are you using?
Keith

A very recent change to Ls50's...I likey like

 

[Bungle]

Sugden. Class A

 

[Whaleblue]

Perhaps I should mention budget....

Go on then!

Beautifully made, if the budget fits I'd look at this:

http://www.bd-audio.co.uk/modwright-instruments-LS-365.html

I had one on demo, and had I not been in such flux at the time would likely have kept it.

 

[peter bj]

Sonneteer Orton is a great amp which may fulfil your brief

 

[James]

Perhaps I should mention budget....

Well, you did ask for ...

... best qualities of valves ... best of solid state bass grip/ tightness ... ultimate headroom

 

[naimbadboymatt]

Go on then!

Beautifully made, if the budget fits I'd look at this:

http://www.bd-audio.co.uk/modwright-instruments-LS-365.html

I had one on demo, and had I not been in such flux at the time would likely have kept it.

Well over budget...I have a kitchen to buy

 

[Bluedroog]

Valve pre into SS power if you can budget for it, I use a Croft 25 in to a Quad 909, does it for me.

 

[naimbadboymatt]

Sonneteer Orton is a great amp which may fulfil your brief

Intrigued I am

 

[naimbadboymatt]

Budget is up to £2000

 

[JemHayward]

my personal philosophy is that an amplifier cannot improve anything, so the trick is to find one that does the least damage to the signal. i use an EAR 890 valve amp, not because its a valve amp but because it seems to make the least difference. The technology is irrelevant.

 

[naimbadboymatt]

my personal philosophy is that an amplifier cannot improve anything, so the trick is to find one that does the least damage to the signal. i use an EAR 890 valve amp, not because its a valve amp but because it seems to make the least difference. The technology is irrelevant.

Jem I'm using an EAR too..859