If you like that Luxman enough ( think you will ) you may find that budget stretches like an elastic band !!. Enjoy demo !A lot of interesting suggestions to mull over, including amps I've never heard of. I am starting off with a demo of the Hegel 390 and Luxman 507 this Friday, though the latter is a bit out of my price range. If I am happy with both or one of them, I'll put my Audio Research on this site. I won't buy anything if I can't sell the ARC. Having a pre/power and an integrated is hardly simplifying.
Do you think the IA-4 is a big improvement over the A21 SE Signature?Sugden IA-4 and be done with it.
Sugden owners don’t spend time on the web, they just listen to music and don’t care about the rest.
Best thing would be to try your speakers with both and see if the little one is good enough for you.Do you think the IA-4 is a big improvement over the A21 SE Signature?
A lot of interesting suggestions to mull over, including amps I've never heard of. I am starting off with a demo of the Hegel 390 and Luxman 507 this Friday, though the latter is a bit out of my price range. If I am happy with both or one of them, I'll put my Audio Research on this site. I won't buy anything if I can't sell the ARC. Having a pre/power and an integrated is hardly simplifying.
I found the IPA 70 to be smoother and more authoritative in every respect. A21a Sig sounded a little ‘ragged around the edges’ to my ears.
Yes, roughness or slightly hard presentation is about right! Some folks might think norma ‘laid back’ in comparison, which ‘in comparison’ it might appear. All this stuff is relative. Definitive Audio sell Sugden and they only sell ‘Reference Level’ equipment. I think it’s only with spending an amount of time with different amps etc can we decipher what are preferences are.Useful, good to know. If one doesn't compare, he wouldn't know. Once the comparison is made, one would inevitably sound inferior.
It appears that the Sugden is not quite reference level judging from the description. Ragged around the edges would suggest a roughness or slightly hard brittle sound.
It is interesting how much of an impact a system including the room can have on sound. I had the Norma 140 for two weeks and at the price point it was unbeatable but I found it to have a bit of a bright edge. I sent it back and wonder how much better the 70Yes, roughness or slightly hard presentation is about right! Some folks might think norma ‘laid back’ in comparison, which ‘in comparison’ it might appear. All this stuff is relative. Definitive Audio sell Sugden and they only sell ‘Reference Level’ equipment. I think it’s only with spending an amount of time with different amps etc can we decipher what are preferences are.
Then of course, and into the complicated mix, there’s the whole ‘system synergy’ thing!
It is interesting how much of an impact a system including the room can have on sound. I had the Norma 140 for two weeks and at the price point it was unbeatable but I found it to have a bit of a bright edge. I sent it back and wonder how much better the 70
Would have been. Sadly they were all sold out.
I will have to audition the Sugden since a bright sound would rule it out for me.
12 volt computer fans, run at 6 volts, quiet and effective. My amp would overheat without them, but is OK with them on.Sugden make nice amps but I would never have anything that ran so hot; .
Tell that to my David Berning amplifiers.
Exactly why I couldn’t have one. I’ve heard them at a show, nice smooth sound, quite rich, not sure how they would fare with ‘rock music’?12 volt computer fans, run at 6 volts, quiet and effective. My amp would overheat without them, but is OK with them on.
Exactly why I couldn’t have one. I’ve heard them at a show, nice smooth sound, quite rich, not sure how they would fare with ‘rock music’?
As I’ve got older I am less tolerant of foibles, I just want things to work.