This fine integrated is finally getting some long overdue credit. The recent April review on 6 moons will confirm this. Although this integrated (and Cayin products in general) have been considered very-much ''high-end'' in Europe for the past 10 years or so, it has not gathered much attention - up to now at least.
I currently own this integrated, and, so far so good, way above my expectations in fact. But, like all tube amps, these always sound better after a warm-in period, something I rarely have time to wait for.
My question is this: Given the A 88-T's amazing price versus performance ratio, is there a solid state integrated amplifier out there that could equal or better the Cayin in a significant manner for around the same money?
For convenience reasons, (and ONLY convenience reasons) I need to go to a solid state amplifier, as I only listen to my system once or twice a week and I wish to have an already-warmed-up amplifier for my 1 to 3 tracks short listening sessions.
I have listened to most popular SS integrateds in this price range - including Moon I-5, Naim Nait, Unico and even the mighty DK Design, but apart from a tighter bottom end, they all sound one-dimensional to me, and downright dry in the case of at least one of them.
I guess what I am after is a warm-sounding or ''tube-like'' integrated, one that will provide a good ,'front-to-back' or depth perspective. The only one that comes to mind is the Electrocompaniet EC-4, that has this type of sound, but I would welcome other suggestions.
I would appreciate not getting remarks like '' You cannot duplicate a tube amp's sound with a solid state amp'' I am very much aware of this and I do have some experience with this hobby,( more than I care to admit!) and have been spoiled with many mega-dollar speakers and electronics in the past, and can recognize good sound when I hear it, subjectively of course.
If you have any suggestions of comments, please be my guest, it would be much appreciated.
I will probably end up keeping the Cayin, unless I find some undiscovered solid state gem out there, that has as much value and sound in a solid state design than the Cayin A 88-T offers in a tubed design. Thanks all. |
