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Jmcgrogan2's Responses in Amps Preamps	Posts
Personal amp evolution Pioneer receiver Luxman receiver Citation (H/K) PS Audio 200CX (?) Aragon 4004 mk II Coda Model 10 Coda Model 20 Parasound HCA2200 mk II (downgrading, audio disease out of control. . .	644
Ok this will be a good thread. Good one Rosstaman, I can agree with that. I don't feel I can pick one part of the system out. Like a car, which is the most important part? If you say engine, and drive with cheap. . .	220
Why do no audio enthusiasts use McIntosh? Why do no audio enthusiasts use McIntosh? WAF. McIntosh has that retro-50's laboratory look. My wife is very understanding of my hobby, and I have bought some strange looking. . .	194
Have you ever deceived your wife-audio purchase I never discuss finances, she knows better than to ask too many questions, since she doesn't like the answers. She gave up quite a few years ago. She still may occasionally ask why. . .	172
Passive Pre - No Regrets? I also have tried the passive route a couple of times in the last decade. Yes, initially there is some satisfaction about clarity, blacker background, etc. However, I always wind . . .	146
Powerful Tube Amp for SF Strads? I would think a VAC Phi 300.1 or two would do the job nicely. Cheers, John	136
Opportunity to buy the best Preamp... but which? That is some list, you probably couldn't go wrong with any of them. I would check out the ARC Ref 3 and the BAT VK-52SE/Rex	126
Are passive preamps better? I prefer active preamps. I've tried a few passives, but they never seem to work for me. That being said, I've noticed that many who like passive's also have tube amps. I cannot say. . .	116
DK Design Review Sigh.........not again.......pass the Kool Aid please	113
Stereophile Article - Holt telling it like it is. That 60's generation that was going to "Change the world" ? They changed it alright. For the worse. Danlib1 Touche Danlib1, well said. It is rather ironic how the . . .	104
How do I smooth out violins? I think massed strings are the single hardest thing for digital to do right. Digital has come a loooong way in the past few decades, but I've always noticed that massed strings . . .	100
450 Pound Monobloc Amplifier Break it down like Sam Tellig used to: $$$/watt or $$$/pound. LOL! My amp weighs 85 pounds and puts out 100 wpc. I am considering buying one that weighs 105 pounds and puts out 30. . .	100
What headphone amp to buy-Sennheiser HD 600? I'm VERY happy with my WooAudio3 driving my HD-600 cans. Here are some other folks who like 'em too: Audio Review WooAudio 3 reviews Sorry, no remote, but you can use it as a. . .	98
I need help with my Equipment addiction Throw away ALL glossy audio rags, and stop visiting audio websites. Yes, this is quiting cold turkey, but the desire will subside. It's just like quitting any other nasty habit. . . .	97
ARC Ref 3: Tung-Sol 6550 in power supply? I have also 'toyed' with the idea of rolling that 6550, though I cannot say that I've done it yet. I've seen this topic come up a couple of times before, and there doesn't seem to . . .	91
Tube Preamps...I'm sold Try a ARC Ref 3 or wait for the new BAT VK-32/52 series to be revealed at the CES in another week. The Calypso is also a good recommendation, though not quite as quiet as the BAT . . .	91
Love it, or Hate it ? (wood trim) Hate it	87
Why is the market for used Levinson amps so slow? I agree with the first two posts as well. I don't know that I agree with Trelja that the used market has been brought to a halt. It may have slowed slightly as some have looked . . .	86
what is the REAL deal with DK Still wondering why the two magazines gave the dk such impressive praise? Ever heard of advertising dollars? I see that DK buys a cover page on Stereophile. I don't know what . . .	86
Subtlety ? do any American amps do it? I could never take that Brit sound. Too polite, too dry. Sure it may have PRAT, but where is the BASS? I know they all use mini-monitors in the UK, but my speakers have WOOFERS! . . .	85
If money were no object, what would be in your rig I wouldn't even know where to begin if money was no object. I guess a bigger, dedicated room in a nicer home would be a start. Equipment wise, I'd change everything. Fortunately, I. . .	82
People who are Irrationally Afraid of tube amps I'm one of those that you talk about. Although I've never tire kicked a tube amp, I have thought about trying one occasionally. I've owned tube preamps, phono stges and cd players . . .	80
Are There Any Good, High Power Solid State Amps? I would suggest that you push the limits and get a darTZeel NHB-108B. There are two currently for sale on AudiogoN, one for $10K and one for $11K. If you feel that the darTZeel . . .	79
Negative feedback Amp=more faithful reproduction? So let's see if I have this right, umm. Amp negative feedback good Audiogon negative feedback bad.......umm	75
Tube Pre-Amp Recommendation Well the ARC 5 SE and the Cary SLP 05 are two very different sounding preamps. I find your prescribed sonic qualities a bit confusing: I prefer fasting sound more to neutral. . . .	75
Anyone else receive low offers right away ? They are testing you for desperation, figuring they can turn a quick buck if someone is desperate to sell and needs money NOW	73
Does you wife touch your system? She only touches it if she's dusting	71
Is soundstage just a distortion? I don't know if soundstage is a distortion, but I have noticed that usually when a soundstage gets wider, it also gets shallower or more forward	68
Why are most High End Amps class A I've long been a fan of 'Class A' sound, specifically from solid state components. I'm a tube fan now, and no SS can compare, IMHO. However, when I look back to my SS days, my . . .	68
Tube Integrated for Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE How about a VAC Avatar Super, Grant? Give you a similar flavor, KT88 tubes, and should put a few bucks back in your pocket. Regards, John	67
Is it too much to ask.... I remember when you used to be able to post a link in an AudiogoN ad. I used to post a link to the product I was selling web page. I miss that feature	66
CLASSE - Great amps or highly flawed? Depends on your associated equipment and your tastes, just like any other hi-fi purchase. I personally love the Classe sound. I've owned a Classe CA-200, CAV-75 and currently a CDP. . .	64
a tube amplifier repair technician Thanks for the link Mrjstark. Bob is practically right in my backyard. I'll have to check him out. Cheers, John	63
Jeff Rowland 2 or Classe 25 for Avalon Eclipse The JRDG Model 2 is 75 wpc, the Classe 25 is 250 wpc. If you need the power, the Classe is your answer. Otherwise, the JRDG Model 2 sounds better within it's power constraints. The. . .	62
Rowland Model 6 monoblocks - my thoughts Hi Jeff, I'm glad that you are enjoying the JRDG Model 6 monoblocks. I can't say that I am surprised, they were about the best SS amps that I've heard in my 30 years in the hobby. . .	61
Life without a remote I somehow managed to live for 40 years w/o a remote for my 2-channel, however, after using one for the last 8 years I now feel it's a neccessary evil if you will. I also find that . . .	61
The CD you most listened to back in 2007 ? Well, I can't be positive, but my guesses would be: Patricia Barber Cafe Blue for digital. Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington Recording Together For The First Time for vinyl. . .	61
Tubes/SS Power Amps? Compared to the tube amps that I've owned, ALL SS amps run cooler, even the Class A amps	59
DK Design VS-1 versus 300b sound hehe, looks like another shill post. Wasn't the inside rear cover of Stereophile enough? 300B....hehe, good one	59
VAC 160i, any experiences 05-01-12: Electroslacker Has anyone compared the 160i to previous VAC integrated amps? I have an Avatar that I like, and the i60i would mean losing triode mode and going from . . .	57
Who makes the highest quality tube amps? McIntosh has a great reputation for reliability	57
Hall of Fame: BIGGEST BADDEST Monster Amps I'd have to say: Solid State: Pass X-1000 Tube: VTL Wotan MB-1250 Reference I'd need a much larger room to look into either of these monsters! John	57
Tube pre-amps $3500 under to add "warmth" Cary SLP-98 F1	57
how much of a difference should equipment make? I agree with most of what has been said here, learning to train your ears how to listen, et al. While this does help you hear more differences, you may eventually regret spending . . .	56
Balanced vs Unbalanced? Theoretically, balanced design is quieter, though this does not mean it sounds better. Just as a more efficient loudspeaker does not mean it will sound better than a less efficient. . .	54
Rich; organic true balanced amp w good detail $6k Interesting, it sounds like we are looking for similar amps. I've also been eyeing some Clayton M-200's and Pass XA-60's. I did just pick up a BAT VK-75SE, and it sounds very good. . .	54
Leave an amp "on" permanetly If so, would people recommend leaving a SS amp on permanently? Absolutely!! Could I damage my amp by doing this? No! Cheers, John	54
Starting from Scratch -Please Help Pick 1 out of 3 Another vote for the VAC system. I cannot judge your two speaker choices though, because I haven't heard either of them. You can't go wrong with VAC electronics though, IMHO	53
Why so many amplifiers for sale? I've moved on to the newest fad, passive amplification. It's great!! There's no amplifier like no amplifier!! All you that thought passive line stages were the end of the road are. . .	53
Took my Levinson amp in for repair They certainly would seem to have some liability in my humble opinion. Is your dealer a Mark Levinson dealer	52
Capacitors for BAT VK-60 I'd look into the V-cap . John	52
What amps do Electrical Engineers own...why? 12-21-12: Elizabeth Almarg has the best answer... As usual....thanks Al. My best friend is an EE, and he uses a 25 year old Harmon Kardon receiver. He is into music, but he . . .	51
Lie you told your wife to buy equipment? I never lie, but I do not claim full disclosure either. After 25 years of marriage we have come to the old "don't ask, don't tell" routine. She doesn't ask about my audio. . .	49
Where are you today? My last move was from SS amp to tube amp, I've long been a fan of tube preamps. I am satisfied and happy, but that doesn't mean nothing will change. I would say that yes, the . . .	49
Why monoblocks? Why run seperate amps? Most Integrated amps can handle most speakers, especially those that are rated 88 db and above in sensitivity. If a Integrated amp can do the job, why spend . . .	48
Buy tubes from Audio Research or not I would avoid Upscaleaudio..... period. Go through ARC. I tried to upgrade tubes in my VAC integrated amp, and Upscaleaudio basically told me to take a hike, Kevin said he would . . .	47
Lottery Winner would buy what kind of Stereo Gear You meant to say systems, didn't you Rleff? I would set up at least 3 systems, Horns with SET, Ribbons/Planars with Solid State, and Dynamic with Tubes. Certainly each would have . . .	46
Affordable SS amp that has tube characteristics Well you do mention what is not in your budget, but you don't mention what your budget is. There is a Classe CA-400 (400 wpc) and a Classe 25 (250 wpc) currently listed between $. . .	46
What Integrated Amps have the sonics of Separates? I want to get off the $$$ bandwagon. I'm tired of spending money, and then in a year, the equipment has dropped in used value substantially, since the fickle audiophile community. . .	45
Poll - Active vs. Passive preamp Active preamp for me, ARC Ref 3. I've tried the passive route a couple times, and admit sometimes that their transparency can be initially impressive. However, I always wind up . . .	45
solid state gear- leave on? Absolutely! They sound best when left on 24/7	44
CJ vs. BAT vs. THOR preamps, who's best? I haven't heard the Thor, but I owned the CJ Premier LS16 mk II and the BAT VK-51SE. I choose the BAT. The CJ was a little sweeter in the mid's, but the BAT was much better . . .	43
BAT Preamps, why such polarized opposite opinions? I've owned 9 pieces of BAT gear, though I only currently own one. I have also had two other BAT units in my home for extended audition. During the last several years I have heard . . .	43
High end tube Preamp under $4k used that competes BAT preamps have always had that dark/not dark debate for some reason, I can't really understand why though. I have had the VK-31SE, VK-50SE, VK-51SE, VK-3iXSE and VK-32SE in my . . .	43
What Is Best Monoblocks For Around $10,000 Used? I second the Lamms. I don't think they can be beat in this price range. You don't mention power restrictions, though the amps you've mentioned do have more power than the Lamms, . . .	43
a solid state amp that is recessed in the treble You may want to take a listen to a pair of Clayton Audio M-300's or M-200's. Another reco would be a Coda Model 15.0 or S100. The S100 is listed under discontinued products, . . .	42
Tube integrated amps Sugarbrie, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the DAR a hybrid integrated and not a tube integrated amp? Also, aren't you a Blue Circle dealer? Nycjdc, you may want to check out a. . .	42
Whose sorry now? Sellers remorse from selling amp. Booohooo..hooo..hoo....Ahhhhhh....THE PAIN...........hooo....hoooo..... I still will never get over not purchasing a pair of VTL MB-750 Signature's.....I'll never, ever recover. . . .	42
Tube guy gets a B&K: tubes vs solid state LOL Jim...I didn't think that a cheap SS amp would satisfy you after using a tube amp. You are right about tube amps, tubes just have that *special* fuzz on the peach quality. Good. . .	41
Integrateds: Warm sounding SS vs Hybrid How about a BAT VK-300x SE integrated? Hybrid design and remote control, check one out if you can. If the BAT is too pricey, try a Marantz PM11-S1. Not a hybrid, but a good . . .	41
What sounds best integrated or separates? This is a very tricky question. It is all system dependant. What sounds better, a two box preamp and amp, or the four box ASR 'integrated' amp? Many preamps themselves are . . .	41
High power integrated suggestions please. Jeff Rowland Concerto- 250 wpc/8 ohm, 500 wpc/4 ohm. It does list for $5900, but you can get it for under $5K used. John	41
Transitioning: back to solid state.... You bought the Pass, you're dissapointed, you're going back to tubes, right? John	41
$5000.00 To Spend Looking for Tube Pre-Amp Another tube preamp thread Dragon_vibe? This is your third thread in 6 weeks looking for preamp advice. Stop asking how the water is and jump in the pool already!! Get wet, have . . .	40
Amp design logic What's the difference between a $2.4 million Bugatti Veyron and a $12,000 Chevrolet Aveo? They both get you from point A to point B. I guess it's just a good thing that you are . . .	40
The Definition of An Audiophile I know what live acoustic unamplified music is like. It bothers me that the human race will never even get close to reproducing it in a recorded format. Audia Patience . . .	40
Audio Horizon Preamp Surely, a preamp that's outperforming preamps at three times it's price should be drawing the attention of Stereophile and the like. Don't you think? Kensetsu Actually no, I. . .	39
Euphoric Realism vs. Euphonic Romanticism Try The Messenger Reference preamp, an Aria WV-5XL , or maybe Nick Doshi's ALAAP preamp. Cheers, John	39
Which Solid-State Preamp under $7,000.00 New? The Ayre K-1x is probably the most neutral of this group. I, however, would much prefer the musicality of the Klyne 7LX3.5 or even the Rowland Synergy IIi mentioned above. The Ayre. . .	39
Is there a very nice SS amp around 1K? Try to find a used Odyssey Stratos, should find one in your price range. Cheers, John	38
Tube amps have a signature sound Yes, tube amps sound different from SS amps Chris. The "Signature Sound" of tube amps to me is palpability, or the fuzz on the peach effect. Yes, SS is quieter and has . . .	38
How many us a Line Conditioner with a Big SS Amp Joe, I'm just curious, which Hydra were you using that 'crapped out' on you? Was it the Hydra 2? If so, what power cord were you using? I ask, because this is the one that has the. . .	38
The best integrated amplifier VAC Avatar	37
Faceplates Silver or Black??????? Black, no doubt about it. I don't care for silver or gold faceplates or trim. I don't want my equipment screaming out for attention aesthetically. I don't mind a component calling . . .	37
How long daes it take your gear to warm up? In general I find tube gear sounds best after 1-2 hours. SS gear I leave on 24/7 unless it is a Class A power amp. Though I do admit that when I run track 7 on the Ayre/Cardas burn. . .	37
Most Important? I would focus first on the proper amp, or integrated amp to drive my speakers. Now that doesn't mean that I'm spending more money on the amp than the source, but the amp/speaker . . .	37
Brand preference and opinions I am considering buying a amp/preamp or integrated amp based on brand only...... Shsu In that case, I would highly recommend Brand X!!! Buy it today!!! :) John	37
Which direction would you go? Mike, I think you may be onto something with the soft dome tweeters. I'm using Vienna Acoustic Beethovens and I love them, I don't think I could ever go back to a Titanium or . . .	37
First Post, Looking to buy Amp& Pre, $7,000 I'll third the Pass integrated. Buy it used and save a few $$$ for your next upgrade	36
Next step: tube pre or tube power amp? While your speaker profile will come into play, I can't quite agree with Tvad's numbers. I've been driving a pair of speakers that are 8 ohms nominal and 4 ohms minimal, 89 db . . .	36
Aesthetix Calypso VS ARC Reference 3 I have heard both, and I own the ARC Ref 3. The Calypso is a very good preamp, and a great bargain for the price. IMHO the ARC Ref 3 betters it in a couple of ways. The biggest is . . .	36
Please help me understand wire is wire, it should all sound the same. bits are bits, all cdp's should sound the same. distortion is distortion, all amps should sound the same. this is what scientists would . . .	35
First Tube Amp: Advice? Keep spare tubes on hand? I tend to agree with most here, especially Sogood51's reply. I would caution against buying spare tubes too soon. Make sure you like the amp first. I've made that mistake before, . . .	35
VAC Signature Preamplifier mkII FWIW, I will say that I also enjoy the VAC sonic signature. I've owned/heard many great preamps including BAT VK-51SE, VK-32SE, ARC Ref 3, VAC Renasiance mk II, CJ Premier LS 16 mk. . .	35
GNSC mods of ARC gear. Thank you all for the replies. I know Steve, as we have talked before, and I've owned some of his work (bought second hand, yes I'm aware of the low return on investment). He is . . .	35
More power or better quality power? If the first watt doesn't sound good, why would you want any more	35
SS amps. Why so much power? Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. It probably depends how low of frequency your speakers are capable of too. As lower notes require substantially . . .	35
Whats my weak link? +1 Winoguy17. I would start by eliminating the pre/pro. I never found one that could do music right, including Classe. Your amp has an input impedence of 75Kohm, so a nice tube . . .	34
Selling McCormack Upgraded Gear 'Anyone have insight on why it's so difficult to sell these pieces? As a follow-up, are you losing money when you sell modded equipment across the board, or do some mods "hold. . .	34
preamp vs. no-preamp I'll stick in the pro preamp camp. Although I don't think I ever went direct from CDP to amp (I've always had too many sources), I did experiment in the early 90's with passive . . .	33
ARC Reference Anniversary preamp in 2011 It looks like another example in the long line to join this thread	33
audio research sells out good or bad ? It doesn't sound like a good thing to me. I agree that when big suits are watching the bottom line, sonics and service tend to be the first cuts. Mondial selling the Aragon line . . .	33
Tube sound with no tubes I would tend to agree with Bob (Ontjesr). It would seem that if there was one out there that could replicate the sound of tubes, we all would ditch our tube preamps. I mean no one . . .	33
Tube amps with BALLS in the low end registrer ??? I'm confused. Moderate power tube amp (200-250 wpc)? That's HIGH power for tube amps IMHO. Then you like it soft and wet, yet you want BALLS in the low end register? This seems to . . .	33
the 4 ohm rating Why do they still make tube amps? They are less powerful and more prone to 'problems' than solid state amps(in general). To me, a speakers numbers rate right up there with . . .	33
price point to move to separates vs integrated One fellow said something along the lines of: as soon as you can afford low end separates you should go that route over a more expensive integrated due to the interactions in the. . .	32
Integrated Amp - Looking to replace my amp & pre I made the switch, from a ARC REF 3 preamp and highly modified BAT VK-75SE to a VAC Avatar Super (80 wpc). I won't lie and say the VAC sounds better, but it is simpilar (my wife . . .	32
Seeking a "high end" integrated amplifier Ayon Triton or VAC Avatar Super	32
Seeking advice on tube amps It appears that both your current speakers and most of your future choices would call for a push-pull tube amp. No SET or even 300B tube amp would probably drive these speakers in . . .	32
Smooth treble In my experience the older and more mature an audiophile gets, the more he/she wants a very natural sounding (overly refined) treble (not the bright, brilliant and super . . .	32
I've Fallen in Love With My Mistress No worries Mich4t, simply hand in your Approved Audiophile card at the door on your way out. ;~) Cheers, John	32
Good tube pre amp for a mostly digital system I agree with Kurt, if you don't need SACD and redbook digital is your only source, grab a AA Capitole II and skip the preamp. If looking for a balanced tube preamp, the above . . .	32
"Reference" Preamps Don't forget now that BAT is starting to ship a whole new line of preamps. The VK-32SE, VK-52SE, and VK-52SE/Rex. The new design is so radical that BAT's famous upgrade policy no . . .	32
Classic Rock Listener - Help me build my system Sell the Krell KAV-300, Sunfire Classic and Levinson 331, that should give you around $5K to play with. Look to buy a VPI Scout w/JMW9 arm, add a Dynavector 10X5 cartridge, and . . .	32
Jeff Rowland Sound You can search the archives, this topic has been covered many times before. IMHO, the Models 2/6/8/9 series of the mid to late 90's were when Jeff Rowland was at his best as a . . .	31
Seeking suggestions for Preamp The Alaap Doshi is a great start. You may also want to check out: Messenger Preamp Aria WV5 XL preamp Shindo Petrus III Dual Mono Pre-Amplifier VAC Renaissance . . .	31
Solid State Preamp recommendation for $2500? Special thanks to Musical_sounds for more shilling on the NAT brand. Quickly making NAT the new D&K of 2008/2009 with his guerilla marketing. Dawgcatching, I don't think a tube . . .	31
Confusion about "high-end" racks First of all, after reading the subject title of this thread, I am most dissapointed that we are talking about audio gear. :) I agree with Larry (Lak) that at the level you are . . .	31
Am I going crazy or? Patience pays off many times, as a buyer or a seller. If you buy or sell in a hurry, chances are you didn't get the best deal. Sometimes it's just a matter of being patient for the. . .	31
How do tube Watts compare to SS Watts? The size of the room factors into it as well as the impedence curves that Newbee mentions. Looking at the Stereophile measurements, the impedence curve of your 2.2's is relatively . . .	31
Best preamp 2k or under, new or used Unfortunately, as others have mentioned here, finding the right preamp is the hardest thing for most of us to do. That being said, a VAC Auricle preamp might be just what you are. . .	30
what are some of the best amplifiers Forte are some excellent amps for the $$$. For clarification, the Model 4(a) is MUCH better than the Model 6, gotta love the pure Class A bias. However, in overall terms the old . . .	30
More Power is always good? More power is NOT always good. If the first watt doesn't sound fabulous, why would you want more	30
Anyone else feel left out? There are plenty of reco's here for less expensive gear. All you have to do is search the archives. Audioreview.com also has much more information on receivers and more affordable. . .	30
I heard BAT was sold +1 Marakanetz. I've owned 9 pieces of BAT equipment over the years, great stuff	29
Help me down grade "Momma's got a squeezbox, daddy never sleeps at night." My sincerest condolences on your upcoming nuptials. Losing your stereo system is but the first step in your . . .	29
Tubed Pre question? I agree with Tpsonic, all tube is the way to go, assuming your speakers are up to the task. I've used many different combo's in the last 30 years or so, I would say that for the . . .	29
Tube amp location I have a similar problem, though slightly different. I have an open architecture rack, open on front, sides and rear. However, there is only about 3 inches of clearance from the . . .	29
ExactPower EP15A Sorry for jumping into this thread so late, but are all Electraglide power cords not grounded? I e-mailed Electraglide to ask them, but received no response. Does this pose any . . .	29
$3500 integrated amp for Zu Definition speakers? I highly recommend looking for a used VAC Avatar Super. It can be done within your budget and you'd be hard pressed to top it in value IMHO	28
Why do I like Class AB better than Class A? Interesting, I'm wondering if there may be something wrong with the amp. I've owned 3 Class A amps, but only one of them had the ability to switch between Class A and AB, and even . . .	28
Integrated with Phono Stage under $10K I haven't heard the Copland or the Gryphon, but I currently own a VAC Avatar Super, and I'm very happy with it, though I do use a SS outboard phono stage as Chazz recommends. The . . .	28
Most Quiet TUBE Preamp. Linestage. $ 12K or less I have a BAT VK-3iXSE that is dead quiet right now. I've got the volume turned all the way up and I can't hear a thing even with my ear right up to the speaker....dead silent!! Oh. . .	28
Amp upgrade recommendations Fiscally speaking you'd be best to sell the DNA 0.5's and buy another used amps. I agree with most of the reco's here, I haven't heard the Musical Fidelity. I also agree with . . .	28
Is a tube amp for me? Thanks for all the great feedback. A lot has happened in my personal life since I originated this post, which currently precludes me from following this further at this time. I did. . .	28
Looking for a very good integrated solid state amp Of those that you have listed, I would also choose the Ayre. Though if shopping for myself, I would be looking for a used Jeff Rowland Concentra II	27
Amplifier recommendation for Legacy Focus 20/20 I would agree with the others who recommend a powerful SS amp. Don't let the higher sensitivity of the Focus fool you into thinking a low powered amp will do. Those (3) 12 inch . . .	27
New preamp or other suggestions? A tube preamp may help, something along the Audible Illusions line. However, I also agree with Sogood51 & Gmood1, in that I've found Thiel speakers to be quite revealing. To some, . . .	27
Alternate Power Tubes for a Cary V12R I'm here! I can't help you, but I'm interested in your thread, because I may own a V12R one day	26
What tube pre amp match up with a solid state amp Well Pete, your ML 335 has an input impedence of 100K ohms, so you shouldn't have any impedence matching issues with any preamp that you choose. Now when you say that it must have. . .	26
Integrated amp: Can it perform equal to separates? Integrated amp: Can it perform equal to separates? Absolutely! Many will even out-perform seperates, especially when you are looking at lower price ranges, like $2K. In most . . .	26
Components that you regret parting with? VAC Avatar Super integrated amp, which I owned for a bit then sold due to upgrade bug. Then bought again a couple of years later, and finally sold again due to financial hardship. . . .	26
What is my weak est link...? Suggestions please. I second Schubert's reco	26
Preamp possibles for system... Why not look for a Threshold T2 to mate the S/500 II with	26
Krell I am surprised that a well known name like Krell would mix components within a single unit, but if you don't hear a difference and it was factory done, I guess it's no harm no foul. . .	26
Fast power cables? Fastest I've heard would be the Nordost Valhalla or Brahma. Also fast would be Stealth Dream or Ridge Street Audio Design silver cords. I have the Poeima!!! Signature, but the . . .	26
SS amp - which one ??? Forte 4A	26
SS Amps that are NOT warm and euphonic ? Bryston is a good reco	26
Non-current limiting power conditioners I'll second Jim's recommedation of the Running Spring Audio Haley. Great unit for the $$$, IMHO. Cheers, John	26
Somebody Help Convert me to tubes If you don't want to rebuild your whole system, keep what you have and try to be happy. If you get a tubed preamp it will likely just be the beginning of a whole system . . .	26
Amp for Verity Parsifal encore I also own one of the last pair of Parsifal Encore's made before the transition to the Ovations. I bought them as dealer demo's in 08/05. I have since driven them with a BAT VK-. . .	25
Could they sell a high-end amp without the fancy +1 to what Unsound said. There are manufacturers out there that spend more on the innards than the outtards per se. However, if it's not in an impressive looking case, will the . . .	25
VAC Signature MKIIa pre-amp Dev, congrats on the new preamp, I'm jealous. ;) I also agree with you on Stealth cables, they are stunning. The best I have heard in my system/room. I'm now trying to talk myself . . .	25
Go with a tube preamp or not? Well unfortunately the two preamps mentioned above are well out of your stated price range ($1500-$2000). I doubt you can get a ARC Ref 3 or a McIntosh C500 for under $5000 used. . . .	25
Advice on a nice integrated is needed I'd consider the VAC Phi Beta as mentioned by Mapman if thinking tubes, or possibly the Ayon Triton. If staying with SS, I'd recommend a Karan KA I-180. John	25
Adcom GFP 750: why spend more? I'm sure you feel your new Adcom preamp sounds better than a JVC or Pioneer receiver. Please educate me on the difference. How could a $1200 preamp sound better than a $250 . . .	25
Best Integrated Amplifier Made at the USA I would second Rhljazz's VAC PHI Beta reco, except that is now a discontinued model, not a current one. VAC has no integrated amps in their current line up. That being said, I'd . . .	25
I just wanted to play a record	25
J.Rowland Is it possible to shut off the display How difficult is the balance adjustment on the Concentra II to use? I ask because I am considering buying one, but adjusting balance from the listening chair is fairly important to. . .	25
Cary CAD-572SE MK2 You let us know. I would tend to think that this would not be a good match, as SET amps don't like to see lower impedences like the Beethovens nominal 4 ohm load. I haven't owned . . .	25
Warm sounding ss power amps I like Classe amps, I have a CA-200 and a CAV-75. The rich, full midrange is what sold me on the Classe	25
I’m looking for suggestions for a tube Pre Amp Define 'nice tube preamp'. Are you looking for an old-fashoined warm, lush, tubey sounding tube preamp, or a more modern, articulate, transparent tube sounding preamp	24
Should listings include the age of the item? What if the age of the item is unknown? Granted, many model numbers change every 2-3 years so you can somewhat figure it out, but many do not. I have bought used gear where the . . .	24
Special birthday audio gift to yourself? Congrats! That sounds like a great gift. I'm a couple of years away, but I'm already thinking of treating myself to a pair of tube monoblocks, maybe Cary 805's	24
Tube preamp recommendation ... How about a nice Joule Electra LA-100/150 series preamp?? That should fit the bill	24
Best 6DJ8 tubes? You may find some interesting reading here: Joe's Tube Lore . My personal favorite is the Amperex 7308 PQ white label, but it is all system synergy and personal taste dependent. . . .	24
Ayon Triton Integrated or Keep my BAT? Check with my friend Budburma . I know he bought one a couple of months ago and has raved about it to me. I haven't heard it, but it looks very promising. Send Art (Budburma) a PM. . .	24
Newbie building modest system ...what amp? Look for a Forte Model 4, 5 or 6	23
Audio Research, next upgrade? It looks like a nicely balanced system. Enjoy it. If you feel like spending money, I'd suggest trying a vinyl setup	23
Levinson 3XX Amplifier Repairs That is the price of playing in the high end. Similar to owning a Rolls-Royce....repair cost are very expensive. I've been there, done that. I've owned 9 BAT pieces, 2 of which . . .	23
Which Component Needs to be Upgraded First I would recommend that you upgrade the source first, the Sony 333es. Cheers, John	23
Extreme Midrange Bloom How many hours do you have on the tubes? It could be that they are still burning in. That being said, I preffered the older VK-31SE/VK-51SE series to the newer VK-32SE that I . . .	23
more reliable amp: tube or solid state class A It would depend on your definition of 'more reliable'. I would have to say the class A SS though	23
Preamp with lots of outputs? The ARC Ref 3 has 4 sets of Main outputs and 2 sets of Record outputs. Do you need more than that? In case you meant inputs, the Ref 3 has 14 sets of inputs. John	23
Better sounding after 1 hour Tube gear usually takes about an hour or so to warm up and sound it's best. Soild State can take 4-12 hours to warm up to sounding it's best, which is why many who own SS gear . . .	22
Pre-amp for Rowland Model 102 Feds, Syntax's Klyne reco is excellent, by far the best SS preamp that I have ever heard. You have noted the scarcity of them on the used market, there is a good reason for that, . . .	22
Audio Research Contact. Taters, +1. Leonard was a wonderful representative for ARC, a true audiophile	22
Conrad Johnson vs Audio Research vs BAT vs Cary First off, congrats on the Threshold T400, I've owned that, and it is one of the best SS amps I've heard. Now I've owned many preamps, including the BAT VK-31SE, VK-50SE, VK-51SE. . .	22
A great linestage/preamp "makes" a great system Jb0194, I do agree that for me at least, the line stage preamp is one of, if not the most difficult choices to make in building a quality stereo system. I can go back only about 4. . .	22
Hum in ARC Ref 3 not on 0 but 1-103 light buzz Sounds like a ground loop hum. Since it wasn't there when you first bought the Ref 3, I can only assume that you have recently made some electrical change in your home that is now . . .	22
Considering doing Chinese I know audiophiles will buy equipment made anywhere in the world as long as it is well built and well priced. Jwong Not exactly Jwong. Many will not support the Communist . . .	22
Truely Balanced Pre Amps Also Jeff Rowland, Mark Levinson, Simaudio	22
Preamp Quandary - sonics vs. ergonomics?? Yes, quite a few times. Yes, there have been regrets. I sometimes wonder why I paint myself into a corner with 'requirements' like must be fully balanced, must have remote, must . . .	22
Looking for warmth Sell the two Adcoms, that should give you around $5-600. Then buy one Classe CA-200 for around $1000. That should warm things up and you'd still have plenty of power. John	22
Mono blocks-High current/low impedance...options? Clayton Audio M-100 monoblocks. Great SS amps. Definitely high current/low impedance capable. John	22
Headphone amps Here's what I've been using with my Sennheiser HD-600/Cardas cable, for the same reason too(wife and kiddies sleeping). It can also double as a preamp in a pinch. WooAudio 3 . . .	22
Triode mode vs pento mode Triode mode offers lesser power at an alledgedly better sound quality than Pentode. Hopefully Al will stop in to explain it better. Al	21
Best integrated amp for 10K You cannot go wrong with either of the two units that you mention. If you are willing to buy used you also might consider a VAC Phi Beta 110i integrated amplifier. They don't . . .	21
Pass amp vs McCormack with Silver/Gold upgrades... Hey Jim, good luck, I hope that someone can answer your question. I looked on Ebay and I didn't see any pair of Pass amps listed, are they gone? All I see is a XA 30.5, which is a . . .	21
Preamp Noob has a question Why not upgrade to a better integrated amp? Instead of just spending $1000 on a preamp and running it through your Yamaha amp section, why not buy a Classe or Krell integrated amp . . .	21
WHAT'S THE BEST SOLID STATE PREAMP FOR $3000 ?? I'd recommend one of these (in no particular order): Klyne 7LX 3.5B Tom Evans Vibe/Pulse Threshold T2 Pass Labs X1 that are currently advertised. Obviously, there is no one &. . .	21
Power conditioning I have owned many PC's including PSA and Shunyata. I would recommend the RSA Haley. Cheers, John	21
Choice on a $3,000 to $5,000 SS amp Personally, if I were looking for some SS in this price range I'd try to find a Plinius SA-250 mk IV amp and just forget about it. If looking for a more current model, I second the. . .	21
Pass XA 160 review:life span is 6 years? There are many X-series for sale because the XA series is out. Caps are usually the only long term maintenance issues for these big solid state amps. The higher biased the amp runs. . .	21
Tube pre-amp pop It does sound as if you have a capacitor leaking dc. Leonard at ARC would be the person to contact. I don't see anyway to fix it w/o sending back to ARC. It shouldn't damage your . . .	21
best preamps in the 4K-8K range If only this were so easy...... I also am currently in the same hunt, and have been for a couple of months now. I also went through this in 2004. The preamp is the most difficult . . .	21
Tube pre-amps: turn off when not in use? I turn mine off when not in use. Have you seen the price of NOS 6H30's? At $200/pop, it'll cost you $800 to re-tube your VK-31SE with them	21
6922 Replacements for BAT VK-300x Hi Chris, My personal preference is towards Amperex 7308 PQ's. However, if you prefer a warmer sound, I'd recommend a pair of Mullard 6922's	21
2 Classe ca 100's vs 1 Classe ca 200 ? I second Marakanetz advice. I've found a more powerful amp will sound better than bridging two amps	21
So what's a good preamp? Well, I sort of agree with Zd542. It would be tough to find a preamp worthy of your amps for under $1500. That being said, I have two suggestions. I do see a Joule Electra LA-100. . .	20
Vandersteen Amp? That's the direction the entire market is headed...up, up and away. Richard is simply following the market, like every other high end company trying to stay in business. Folks . . .	20
Please tell me about the Coda Technologies 15.0 I'm afraid that I cannot comment on the 15.0, as I have never heard it. I have owned many audio products over the years, I owned CODA Model 10 and Model 20 amps in the 1990's. . . .	20
Verity Audio speakers I owned the older Parsifal Encore's for several years, they are wonderful speakers. I was not able to directly compare them to the newer Ovation's though. The Parsifal's could . . .	20
Explain Class A amp to non audiophile friends In Class A, the bias current is turned on to the transistors all of the time. Meaning that the transistors are always on and ready to reproduce the signal. In a Class AB amp, the . . .	20
Can you ever have too powerful amp for speakers? Most speaker damage occurs during an event called 'clipping'. This happens when you overdrive an underpowered amp. It's much harder to damage a speaker when using clean power. So . . .	20
New spreakers sound great But Here is a link to one of Scott's earlier threads, for those that may be interested. It appears that his new speakers are DIY, and now he just blew out a channel in his amp on the. . .	20
Amp for Verity Audio Sarastro Hello Michael, Congrats on your purchase of the Sarastro's. I own a pair of the Parsifal Encore's, and I have heard the Sarastro's on two occasions, I am jealous. However, it . . .	20
pre-amp unacceptable noise level? Sounds like you have a ground loop hum. This article should help you troubleshoot the problem. Cheers, John	20
tube pre suggestion Take a look on the Audio Horizons threads. I don't think you can beat their preamps, and you get to try them for free. They certainly seem like a great value to me, from those that. . .	20
Lamm, Cary and Parsifal Encore - what combo? The Parsifal Encore's are very nice speakers, I know I own them too. They can be a bit warm though, which unto itself is not a problem. However, the Cary SLP-98 is also very warm . . .	20
A guide for Audiophiles and Marriage Mitch, Now that's what I'm talking about! I mean I can understand divorce forcing sale, but not marriage. I STAY married because I love my system! I can't let divorce tear us (my . . .	20
How many of you guys use a HT processor ? I would say it depends on your ratio of music/HT. I was in the high end HT pre/pro (Proceed/Krell/Classe) market a couple of years ago, but then I realized that 80% of my listening. . .	20
Sonic Frontiers Line 3 SE vs. BAT VK-31SE Thanks for the feedback gentleman. Pcwizard, I've never heard of the SE+ version, could you shine a little more light on the differences between the regular SE and the SE+? Lissnr. . .	20
Amp suggestion for Legacy Focus I own a pair of Legacy Classics and I'm driving them with a Classe CA-200. I find the match a good one, the Classics are high definition with the ribbon supertweeter and can sound . . .	20
Too much power? You can never have too much 'clean' power, IMHO. As Newbee mentioned, almost all speaker damage occurs from an underpowered amp being driven past it's power ratings into 'clipping. . .	20
What are best phono preamps under $500 ? How about the Klyne Audio Arts SK-2A? There just happens to be one on Agon today for $350 used ($750 new	20
Class A solid state power amp The Pass amps are very good, if you want something a little older (less expensive), you could check out some Threshold's. You can get a very good price on some vintage Threshold . . .	20
200w/ch stereo amps: best 1 for under 2000 used? I'll say the Classe CA-200. It's smooth, like the McCormack and the BAT. Amps is what Classe does best. Give one a listen, if you can. Can be had used for about $1500 or less	20
Unbelievable Solid State Amp at 2-3k ran I have a Classe CA-200 which sounds great for the price. If I was in your range, I'd get a used Mark Levinson 332	20
wiring monoblocks to speakers This topic has been discussed many times, perhaps a search of the archives would prove helpful	19
Found Perfect Amp For My Needs, But Is It Too Old? You have good tastes Nightfall, I agree that JRDG's Model 6 monblocks were the best SS amps I have ever owned. I also owned a Model 2 as Danielk141 talks about, and I preffered . . .	19
Any VAC CPA-1 preamp owners here? 04-19-09: Rich121 There must be someone else who is using one of these? Yes, but what are the odds that someone who owns a vintage preamp such as this would also be perusing . . .	19
Recommend a Tube Pre & SS Amp Combo BAT VK-52SE/ BAT VK-600SE should meet all of your requirements	19
CJ PV-12 mods & upgrades by Bob & Gary Backert Lenkevy, I'll second Jmo's enthusiasm for the work of RHB Sound Dezign. I had Bob and Gary work on my $9000 current production tube amplifier, and I'm very happy with the results. . .	19
Best matching phono stage with Zyx Universe cartr. I've found the Walker Signature phono stage to work very well with my UNIverse. Cheers, John	19
Buzz about pure class A solid state amplifiers ? Well some will call their amps Class A, but obviously it's just a marketing tool for some. As you say, "buzz" word. All 'Class A amps are not equal, just as all Class A/B. . .	19
Looking for an integrated tube amp USA or Europe C'mon Nate, you should know the drill. What speakers? How much power needed? Price range? Throw me a freaking bone here....... You could grab a Cary SLI-80 for around $1500 used. . .	19
tubed preamp off and ss amp left on? Make sure you power down your amp before you disconnect the interconnects	19
Phase Inversion in Preamplifer? The fact that the phono stage does not invert is meaningless. The signal still passes through the line stage after leaving the phono stage, so even when using phono your output . . .	19
Dedicated Line, Surge and Safety Jack, many electricians will tell you that it is overkill. I beleive the electrical code for a 20A line only calls for 12 gauge. However, if anything, it should be safer with 10 . . .	19
ok guys get me into 200+ wpc I second the Aragon 8008BB	19
Do you leave your SS amp on all the time? I turn mine off. If I had a Class A/AB amp I may leave it on, however my amp (Threshold T400) is Class A. Too much money, too much heat. It seems to 'warm up' faster being a class . . .	19
New amp Absolutely, positively YES	18
Sound is DARK / FORWARD / TRANSPARENT? Perhaps this may be of some help	18
ARC LS26 performance for $2500-3000? One you may want to keep an eye out for is an Aesthetix Calypso. Sonically somewhat similar to the ARC LS-26, not quite as quiet as the ARC, but detailed, extended, musical and . . .	18
Moon Audio Referece Integrated vs LSA Signature I have not heard the Sim Audio integrated amp, but if you're looking for a very good hybrid integrated amp, why not look into a APL UA-S1 or BAT VK-300x . Both of these units. . .	18
Could use some help with a tough match I agree with Undertow, 75K input impedence should not be an issue at all for any preamp that I'm aware of	18
What SS Int Amp to match with Sonus Faber? I'd recommend the Jeff Rowland Concentra	18
Less fatiquing You may want to sell the Bryston gear and look for a Rowland or Classe integrated amp, or even a tube integrated. If you want to keep the Bryston, try some Cardas Cross or Golden . . .	18
Not much buzz about BAT lately? Generally speaking, audio products create the most buzz when new models come out. BAT's hasn't released new models in over a year, so the buzz may have faded a bit, but not the . . .	18
Help with amp selection Go to home page and type what you're looking for in the search box at the top center of the page	18
An Unusual Question -- Equipment Rental/Loans LOL!! Yeah, like high end audio isn't enough of a niche market already....loaners.......Hahahahahaha Now I am also in the Philly area (19001), and I happen to have a VAC Auricle . . .	17
What to upgrade on $3,000 budget Transparency does not cause harshness, transparency reveals harshness. It's like looking out a window, your old interconnects were less revealing, they covered up for the . . .	17
need good solid state amp to match my tube preamp The ARC D400 mk II is a good recommendation. If you liked the sound of the BAT VK 55 you may also consider a BAT VK-220 or 250	17
How much better will a preamp be over a processor I second Srwooten's reply. I went through the SSP phase about 9-12 years ago. High end SSP's from Krell, Proceed, Classe, etc. Once I tried a good stereo preamp (Classe CP-60) it . . .	17
Separates vs. Integrated I agree with all of the posts above. Pick your speakers first, then worry about what will drive them best. In your price range, I think you will definitely get more bang for the . . .	17
Warmish SS pre:Rowland Synergy IIi preamp/others? If you want a full bodied SS preamp, and like what you've heard from Classe, I would recommend one of the older Classe preamps. Either a Classe DR-6 or a CP-60 would fit nicely, . . .	17
Balanced outputs vs balanced design I second Wwshull's comments. If your amp is fully differential, you will not be getting the most out of it unless your whole chain is fully differential as well (source and preamp. . .	17
Audiophile Results As you can see, there is no one correct answer. Everyone will have their own opinion to share with you, but what works for them may or may not work for you. You just have to listen. . .	17
Amps and Quatros LMAO! I was wondering about that Iraqi Mountain Audio Fest. I thought they might use camels as room treatments. :-) Cheers, John	17
Any thoughts on Krell Newer is not always better. I'm not a Krell fan, but I prefer the sound of older Krell gear to that of the newer gear. Just relax and enjoy what you have	17
Do you remember? Klipsch bought the name a few years ago, as I recall, then the Aragon name quietly disappeared into the audio abyss. Many of these companies go out of business because they offer . . .	17
Tube amps and low impedances I wouldn't recommend using a tube amp for speakers that dip to 1 or 2 ohms. That is enough of a struggle for a well built SS amp. A speaker with a nominal impedence of 4 ohms, with. . .	17
Leaving HT for 2 channel-Good or Not? I dropped 5.1 channel music for 2 channel and have no regrets. I do have a Denon receiver with HT capability for when I feel like playing that occasional movie though. My tube . . .	17
Do i get the old or new Classe amps? I had a two Classe dealers tell me that the difference was purely cosmetic between the 00 and 01 series. I owned a CA-200 and listened to a CA-201, I couldn't hear the difference. . . .	17
New or used amp? I would go used, personally. You get a much better amp at a significantly lower price. In the $2K price range, I don't know how much power you need, but I'd recommend the Threshold. . .	17
Will Push-Pull Triode amp 20-25 WPC work? I would say yes, it would work. Your speakers are not very efficient, but you have a small room and you listen at quiet to moderate levels, so it should work. 1 watt will put you . . .	16
hair brained idea and a hello I was wondering if anyone has "daisy chained" for the lack of a better term a tube preamp and a solid state amp. Yes, many, many, many people have used a tube preamp. . .	16
can I get your input on a inexpensive pre-amp Quicksilver is a good reco, I'm also very happy with a VAC Auricle preamp that I picked up used for $1050, and it has a real nice phono stage built in	16
Benefits of Buying Used Equipment of Age So haven't designs changed for the better? As a fan of valves and vinyl, I'd say no. Capacitors do wear out, but they can be replaced	16
Who do you like for equipment mods? Barry, I couldn't agree with you more, Bob and Gary are great people, and do wonderful work. FWIW here is the link to RHB Sound Dezign Cheers, John	16
Any VAC Phi 30/30 Owner's? How about a VAC Standard LE preamp? Seems like it would be a synergestic match, no? Cheers, John	16
Krell Amps vs others You may want to give the Plinius SA-250 mk IV a listen. 500 watts into 4 ohm, Class A. I personally would go for a used pair of the Threshold SA12e monoblocks, they will also put . . .	16
Modern High end vs. old receiver As with everything else in this hobby, as well as other hobbies, the law of diminishing returns hits hard and early	15
market value of my gears Just in case your are serious here is a link to the Orion bluebook. It is a service that you will have to pay to use. Also, as has been previously mentioned, conditon and . . .	15
New Preamp Suggestion Is he looking for tubes? What direction is he interested in moving towards? Speed and resolution OR warmth and musicality? ARC, Aesthetix and VAC are very different sounding than . . .	15
VAC Signature mk2 vs Purity Audio Ultra? That Bybee stuff really makes the prices jump!!! I've heard VAC equipment, and I like it a lot. I haven't had an opportunity to listen to any of the Purity gear yet	15
Amp and speaker matching. The answer is definitely maybe. Yes, your Danes lower sensitivity is an issue. If 3.4 ohms is their low point, that's not too much of a concern since most tube amps have 4 ohm taps. . .	15
Pass vs McCormack? Well you probably don't see comparisons of these two brands because they are in different leagues price wise. Sonically I think they are both nice, musical solid state amps. . . .	15
Any way to "improve" a Conrad Johnson MF 2500 If it's a ground loop hum there is a pretty easy fix. To test if it's a ground loop hum, put a cheater plug on the amp's plug and see if the hum goes away	15
Defunct Company Gear Value For the most part Larryi is correct, the prices will initally drop dramatically. As J.D. points out with Dunlavy though, some will hold their value remarkably well. Threshold is . . .	15
McCormack DNA 0.5 Deluxe thumps turning on/off Sounds like it needs to have some worn capacitors changed	15
What determines good distortion? What I've always heard is that SS produces odd order harmonic distortions (3rd,5th, etc) while tubes produce even order distortions (2nd, 4th, etc). I've also heard that musical . . .	15
Amp upgrade suggestions for a $2K budget Second the VAC Avatar integrated amp	15
bat vk-51se vs. audio research ref2mkii still going backwards. You forgot the all important IMHO Jaybo. IMHO, either would be a step forward, yes, I've heard the X-1, very nice.....for a solid state preamp. I . . .	15
Up grading power amp... Mono blocks or stereo amp? Advantages/disadvantages of monos vs. stereo amps are: Advantage Mono: Better seperation and isolation per channel. Advantage Stereo: Cost. Now this may seem simple, but I . . .	15
Tube amps vs solid state for large speakers Shouldn't be any problem at all driving those speakers with tube amps. My speakers are 89 db and 8 ohm nominal rating, and my 75 wpc tube amp drives them easily. As for tube amps. . .	15
No More upgrades to ARC LS25 Mk.1? I don't know. I'd recommend that you call ARC at 763-577-9700 and ask Leonard. Might as well get it straight from the horses mouth. Leonard is a wealth of ARC knowledge. If in . . .	15
"popping" when moving to balanced cables on Amp The question is what is normally the cause of this type of "popping" when you turn off an amplifier. I always recall that my audio system had some type of minor ". . .	15
Tubes for Vac Super Avatar ?? I'm just jumping in out of interest, because the VAC Avatar Super is one of the integrated amps that I'm considering. Zodiak5, did you just happen to buy a used VAC Avatar Super . . .	15
Best power amp for under 1K Forte Model 4a, sweet little 50 wpc Class A biased amp that sounds more powerful than 50 wpc. Should be able to grab one for under $600	15
Balanced preamp recommendations Balanced Audio Technology VK-30SE or VK-31SE	15
Need help with preamp purchase BAT VK-51SE....sorry, but you can't really do any better if you love music.....IMHO	15
DK Design VS.1 Ref. mk II ,& a good matching CD. Bignerd100, I wouldn't expect an onslaught on this thread, since Bob's just asking about component matching. It's obviously not a schilling post (an adverisement disguised as a . . .	15
Replacing Sonic Frontiers Line 3 SE I see you have a BAT VK-75SE, have you considered a BAT VK-51SE? It's the most dynamic line stage I've heard. John	15
what made you get up & dance during the Olympics The closing ceremonies. Thank God they're over. I guess, if there was a highlight, it was the USA men's hockey team beating the Russians for a shot at the Gold. The rest was a . . .	15
best tube preamp under a 1000 for B&K 200 sonatas? A nice used Quicksilver Line Stage would probably fill the bill nicely	14
Amp suggestions for $1000 +1 on Mofimadness' Forte and McCormack recos. However, if it were me, I'd be tempted to play with some tube sound, those DeCapo's are a pretty easy load. Look for a used pair of . . .	14
Manley Stingray question Other mitigating factors are that Audiogon fees have gone up while the value of the dollar has gone down	14
Which ARC reference component to upgrade? After many years of this hobby, I'm always ready for improvements which get me closer to the music. I'd say that is the fuel which Audiogon runs on. Indeed, that is the fuel . . .	14
On High Current Amps and Regenerators The only power protection equipment that I ever heard that didn't restrict a power amp in some way was a Running Springs Audio Jaco. Most power amps are better off going straight. . .	14
Best Tube preamplifier under $600 Audible Illusions Modulus 1 or 2A/B/C/or D	14
Which amps with B&W 800D's... Pass Labs or Classe? Dave, I would think the Classe CA-M400's may be your best bet. Yes, the Pass amps are excellent, but you are using B&W speakers. B&W bought Classe, and from what I understand they. . .	14
Stereo preamp upgrade Look for an older Audible Illusions, like a 2B or 2D or something. You should be able to get one in your price range, and musically, I don't think you can do much better	14
Looking for best $1000 tube power amp 06-23-12: Phaelon The best $1000 tube power amp will be the one your speakers love. Well said	14
Your best 2-channel system for 6000$ total It will be interesting to see how you make out. I recently finished re-making my system, which now falls somewhat in your ballpark. Speakers, amp and preamp cost $2900 used. . . .	14
Stairway to heaven Led Zepplin	14
Help with a BAT pre - amp I hate to say it, but I had a similar problem with a VK-51SE. The problem was the six-pack caps were shot and needed replaced. Cost about $700 as I recall....that was about 4 years. . .	14
Clayton Audio M200's. Hi Borst, Thanks for your reply. So it seems as if Wilson has not resolved the hum problem yet. FWIW, I thought it was easy to ignore in the beginning too, but after time wore on. . .	14
ARC LS26 vs BAT VK-31se preamps I have owned the BAT VK-31SE, 50SE, and 51SE. I have also had in home auditions of the VK-3iXSE and VK-32SE. Also, I have owned the ARC Ref 3. I would say that the choice would . . .	14
tube pre amp with tube / SS /hybrid power amp ? 05-30-08: Chadnliz My father has on order a Aesthetix Atlas hybrid amp that we demoed with a Audio Research ref 3 (same pre as he owns) and the match is sonic heaven.atleast ith . . .	14
ARC Reference 3 preamp: tube character? I agree fully with Guidocorona's assertations of the ARC Ref 3, and yes I am an owner. If you are looking for tube-like sweetness, this is not the preamp for you. It definitely has. . .	14
Amp for VA Beethoven It sounds like a Bryston 4B-SST might be what you are looking for. Cheers, John	14
Upgrading Sonic Frontiers Line 3SE to ??? This may sound too simple, but if you really like your BAT VK-75SE, and you've heard and enjoy the 6H30 tubes, why don't you just try/buy a BAT VK-51SE and be done? FWIW, yes, I . . .	14
BAT VK 75SE vs 150SE's or maybe a VK600SE? Have you checked out the Feb 06 TAS? It has a review on the VK-600M SE's by RH. It also has an interview with VK in it and a response from BAT. In BAT's response to the glowing . . .	14
I'm FINALLY finished: new 2-channel system I dropped high end HT about 3-4 years ago and I couldn't be happier. I still have a very modest HT setup (though nice by Best Buy standards), but to be honest, I don't use it much. . .	14
Tube Intergrated,Which One?Must be very Liquid I'll secon the VAC Avatar	14
Jeff Rowland Concentra VS Krell KAV300i??????? I will second the Concentra. I liked it much better than the Krell. As Onhwy61 stated though, this may be a matter of taste. Some find the Krell harsh and the Rowland musical. . . .	14
Balanced Audio VK-200.... Tireguy, what led your decision to switch from tubed amp (BAT VK-60) to the SS BAT VK-500? I'm just curious, because I'm considering switching from SS to tubes. Regards, John	14
Best integrated for under $7000 BAT VK-300x with the 6H30 tube	14
Should I Upgrade My Krells I would say yes, replace the Krells. I've never been a Krell fan. I am a fan of Vienna Acoustics however. I've recently sold my Beethovens and my Strauss are due in anyday now. I . . .	14
do you have a sperate audio and HT system? I'm integrated just like yours. My stereo preamp has a SSP loop which I have my Denon receiver running through. I'm fine with it for the last year or so. Much better than when I . . .	14
hum in system, ground loon? 60hz? You don't have anything hooked up to it that touches a cable line do you. No video souce whatever. I found out that anytime I connect any video device, even a DVD player to a tubed. . .	14
Help me diagnose the problem It could be a tube issue, why don't you change out that KT90 for a new one. If the problem goes away, you know it was a bad tube, if the problem persists, then you have another . . .	13
integrated amp w/phono & headphone I was about to suggest the Cary SLI-80, but I see that you've already pulled the trigger. Enjoy	13
Conrad Johnson PV10A Mods/upgrades I haven't had any work done by Bill Thalmann, so I cannot speak for his work. I have had Bob Backert work on a BAT VK-75SE amp and the results were stunning to say the least. I . . .	13
Why aren't new vacuum tubes as good as old ones? Quite simply because life and death no longer depend on the quality of a vacuum tube, the way it did back in the hay days, during WW II, when tube technology drove design and . . .	13
Classe' Preamp comparisons Best bang for the buck would be the older units, say a DR-5 or DR-6. If you want a remote, try a CP-50 or CP-60. Cheers, John	13
Can tube rolling change bass? To answer your question, tube rolling can affect bass to a minor degree. FME, bass is mostly affected by the room and speaker location. Smaller bass adjustments can be had by . . .	13
VAC Standard limited edition preamp The VAC Standard LE is a very nice preamp and fits in well with this group. Overall though, IMHO, the Aesthetix Calypso is the winner of this group, I would place the VAC second. . . .	13
Want to upgrade my Adcom GFP 565 preamplifier Forte F-44 Preamplifier . Cheers, John	13
Jeff Rowland I second Raquel's comments. IMHO the 2, 6, 8 and 9 were Rowland's best work	13
Best tubed pre-amp w/phono stage for ss amps? VAC Renaissance Signature mk II , Messenger w/ phono , Alaap Audio Doshi mk II , or Shindo Petrvs would probably be the best places to start looking. Cheers, John	13
arragon 4004 amp?good pre amp-used-400-1000 range. Classe CP-50/60, Forte F-44 or Threshold FET 10, in no particular order	13
Audio Research Ref 3 : heat and top space needed? I have my Ref 3 running in a 10" open architechture rack, and it runs cool, no heat issues at all. ARC recommends 3" of clearance, you could probably get by with the 2&. . .	13
Suggestions on Balanced Pre-Amp for Claytons I don't believe the Shindo is balanced, if that matters to you. I would recommend an audition of the ARC Ref 3 if you get a chance. Which Claytons are you driving? M-200's? Cheers. . .	13
tube question for ARC Ref 3 users Mkilpi, what do you think of the Tung-Sol 6550? Is it a Tung-Sol original (50-60's version) or a recent version? I've heard some say that a original Tung-Sol 6550 from the 60's is . . .	13
help me decide: VTL 7.5 or ARC Ref 3 Abbingdon Music Research CD-77	13
Aesthetix Calypso compatible with Pass amps? Hi Darrin, That impedance match should not be any issue whatsoever. I know BAT says 10/1 is fine, and more conservative companies like ARC/Aesthetix recommend 20 or even 30/1. . . .	13
Is this upgrade worth it? I'll second Tvad's advice, he made you an offer that you CAN refuse	13
Is there any benefit to a tubed phono stage? I like tubes, but they don't like me	13
tube amps or amps between $1000 and $2000 I'll second Jond's recommendation on the BAT VK-60, You'd be hard pressed to do better at their used prices. John	13
Best used SS 100 - 150wpc for a grand or less? Aragon 8008ST, Classe CA-150, and McCormack DNA-1(or DNA-1 deluxe), come quickly to mind, as well as the above mentioned Bryston's. I've heard several systems sound good with the . . .	13
Audiophile pre-amps with home theater pass through I'm currently using a Classe CP-60 which has this function. The CP-60 model is discontinued now, but you should be able to get one for less than $1500 used	13
I would like to know the approx. value of my equip Take some photos and place them on a no reserve auction starting for $1, and in about a week you will have a pretty good idea of their value	12
Amplifier's age I think most folks are just leery of buying older equipment because they don't know how well it has been maintained. It's just like buying an older car. Yes, there are great . . .	12
Dear Moderator I thought it was funny. I loved the movie, and I don't like many movies	12
Is there a fined Solid state Pre Amp for under 8k? I would just buy a Klyne 7LX 5.0 P if I had that kind of scratch to play with	12
what is a good tube pre amp out there........... You will never know if they are the best if you don't try anything else. However, if they sound fantastic, relax and enjoy the music	12
Tube preamp for techno and other bass-heavy music? I would look for a used BAT preamp. I've heard many different tube preamps and IMHO BAT offers not just the best bass performance in a tube preamp, but one of the best bass . . .	12
Wanting separates but help needed ....... Before you spend a bundle on seperates, which may or may not be an improvement, I'd recommend that you try another integrated amp, like the Pass Labs INT-150 or the McIntosh MA2275. . .	12
BAT VK-32SE- any information? Well I guess BAT is due. The 31/51SE's came out in 2002, that's almost 5 years ago! Some manufacturers will change their line 3 times in 5 years	12
I'm a Consumer Reports sort of guy. Is there a pla No. Though you may find a back issue of Consumer Reports that would answer some questions for you. Contact them and ask them. I do agree with Thsalmon though, if you are searching . . .	12
Running a fan to cool amplifier any ill effects? First of all, nice system Wavetrader! Now, I currently am using a VAC Avatar Super integrated amp. It only has 2 inches of clearance on the top. Even though my rack is an open air. . .	12
RCA to XLR adaptor for Ayre, is it worth it? From my experiences, adapters hurt the sound as much or possibly more than they can help the sound. I've used power cord and interconnect adapters from many manufacturers, and they. . .	12
Preamp Eats tubes.. Do you have a tube tester? Are you sure about how new your supply of 'NOS' tubes are? If you don't own a tube tester, maybe your NOS tubes are not as new as you think they are. I . . .	12
Postive or Negative Results -Big Amp & Conditioner Well, I could be wrong, but what I think Joe is asking is not if the power conditioner will improve the sound, but if the power conditioner will protect the amp w/o harming the . . .	12
which preamp sounds most transparent? No preamp. Just run direct from cd player to amp. John	12
CJ ACT2 with Premier 140 or 350 or LP70S? I for one would recommend the 350. As always YMMV. John	12
Preamp with most dynamic contrast? Assuming that you are talking used prices, I would highly recommend a BAT VK-51SE. You should be able to get one for less than $5000 fairly easily. Very dynamic, with more slam . . .	12
tube character with pre-amp You may find this helpful. However, remember, that personal tastes may vary. Joe's Tube Lore Cheers, John	12
Upgrade in five channel amplifier I doubt you'll find musical satisfaction chasing the multi-channel path. Sell the pre/pro and the multi-channel amp, and don't look back. Buy a good stereo preamp with HT . . .	12
Picking the right amp... For that kind of money, you can do better than Krell, which in my opinion is overated. Check out the above mentioned EAD amps or a Aragon 8008X5, Classe CAV-180, McCormack DNA-HT5. . .	12
Integrated amp with 2 pair binding posts I believe how that works if the posts are simply for biwiring is they are wired in parallel. This would mean the amp would see half of your speakers impedences . For example if you. . .	12
Audio Research Ref 5 SE Well considering that the average ARC preamp lifespan is 4-5 years, I can understand your thinking that a new model will be coming soon, perhaps at the 2014 CES. However, whether a. . .	11
Need help in deciding Choosing a preamp can be a very personal journey. I have found that finding the right preamp can be more difficult than finding the right ________. That said, what kind of sound . . .	11
Can I use integrated as standalone pre and/or amp? Rischa, your Marantz PM6004 does not appear to have any pre out/amp in jacks like most integrated amplifiers have, so this probably won't work. You CANNOT use the recorder out . . .	11
Help me decide, please Well I've owned a BAT VK-600SE and a pair of Clayton Audio M100 monoblock amps. If I were choosing, I'd go with the M-300's. Wilson Shen has that *magic* touch, similar to Stan . . .	11
Class D vs Class A +1 Jult52 sums it up pretty well. Call me an old-fashioned Catholic. ;) Sorry George99sa, only you can determine if you will miss the power or not. We don't know how large your . . .	11
Counterpoint SA3000 Any Good ? I second all of the above replies. The SA3000 was a pretty decent unit, but a SA5000 or a SA-5.1 would beat it pretty easily, IMHO. Mostly due to the tube rectification in the . . .	11
Phono preamp suggestions Peter, I certainly don't mind manufacturer's posting in the forum section, you bring a wealth of information to us hobbyists. However, this is the 24th thread in which you have . . .	11
Krell versus Pass Labs Rob, I've always preffered Nelson Pass' work over Krell designs, even during Pass' Threshold years	11
Configuring my system.. component opinions. Hey Peter, there is a thread in the Audio Asylum Amp/preamp forum looking for someone who can handle Counterpoint repairs. I recommended you, but I don't know how they would get in. . .	11
Another what preamp to get thread If you are looking for a warm tube preamp you should steer clear of ARC. Look at Conrad Johnson or Cary	11
Levinson Amp Experts, I need your help please I wouldn't consider any of those Levinson amps if I were you. Your Pass X-250 probably sounds much more natural. Levinson can sound thin or clinical without the proper surrounding . . .	11
Thoughts on Coda gear? Any Coda owners out there? Jeff, not all the Threshold people went to CODA. One very important one went to Pass Labs. I owned a Model 02b preamp, Model 10 and a Model 20 amps in the early 90's. I really . . .	11
From anthem/pse to rowland seperates? If he is a true friend Evan, he would let you listen to the Rowland gear in your room and let you decide if it's worth it or not	11
PC for Running Springs conditioner I've been using an Elrod EPS-3 Signature and have been very happy with it on my Danielle. I'd like to try the Statement, but I don't have the $$$. Cheers, John	11
How to determine Preamp "Power"? VTL 5.5 vs BAT SE Musical_sounds, with all due respect, these forums are NOT for shilling. If you want advertising space, please pay for it like other dealers. 1graber2, I have owned several BAT . . .	11
ARC LS26 vs Ref 2 Mk 2 Hi Mick, I cannot really point you in one way or the other on these two choices. I would recommend that you listen if you can, obviously the LS-26 is your best opportunity there. . . .	11
Solid State Phono Preamp. Walker Audio Reference phono stage would be at the top of my list. Cheers, John	11
MC Phono Stage w/ Attenuator?? Well, since no price was ever mentioned, I'll go ahead and mention the Manley Steelhead. :) John	11
Is it to much power? No, it's not too much power	11
Powering on/off amps with preamp trigger Oh yeah, before any one says it, I am an indeed too lazy to take the extra step of turning on and off my monoblocks. Yes, this is purely a matter of convenience for me. Why did. . .	11
Threshold T200? I owned a T400 several years ago. It was a fantastic sounding amp. My only concern would be the output transistors. In the T series amps Threshold used IGBT output transistors, . . .	11
What is the Best Amp to match with CJ ART?? Congratulations! I would think a pair of CJ Premier 8's or 12's would fit the bill nicely. John	11
Preamp for Clayton Audio S40? Drdjchase, I am currently using a BAT VK-31SE preamp with my M100's and Vienna Acoustics Strauss speakers, and I'm very happy. I could live with this combination for a long time (. . .	11
Any Problems with Conrad Johnson Premier 140? Why don't you e-mail some of the sellers after they have sold their stuff. I've done this as research if I have a similar concern. Folks are a little more forthcoming after they . . .	11
SS preamp to give wormth & bloom to Krell KSA amp Second the Rowland Synergy IIi, or a Classe CP-60 if the JRDG is priced too high. You didn't mention a price range	11
Question about connecting both HT and Stereo Why don't you just get a stereo preamp with a SSP throughput? There are many great preamps out there that have them, Classe, Sonic Frontiers, BAT, Ayre, just to name a few. . . .	11
$3000 MF a3.2 seperates or Arye Integrated or ? I'd see if I could get a decent deal on a BAT VK-300x integrated. I've heard it and it's very impressive. Regards, John	11
2 Channel pre-amp...where to start... I'm currently using a Classe CP-60 that has a surround passthrough. I recently sold my Proceed processor and went back to mainly 2 channel. I bought the Classe preamp, which also . . .	11
Amp opinions- ATI-B&K-Pass Labs Go with the Pass. It's a great amp, and the Beethovens are great speakers, I know, I own 'em. Take your time upgrading. Buy the Pass, even if it makes you wait a year or so until . . .	11
Vac Phi 200 vs. Audio Research Reference 75 I have owned gear from both companies, they will both work well with the right equipment. The ARC will be more revealing, it is the most resolving tube gear I have ever heard. That. . .	10
Krell KRC3 low volume / low output voltage ? Hello James Zep, welcome to Audiogon (I like both bands.:)) Well how loud you have to turn the volume knob depends on several factors. How large your room is, how efficient your . . .	10
Is a Sonic Frontier Power 2 a "differential amp" I believe it is a differential amp. However, you should try contacting Chris Johnson of Parts Connexion . Here is the president of Parts Connexion and he also ran Sonic Frontiers. . .	10
For money Quality which is better arcam or NAD? Which is more reliable? You might want to try Consumer Reports for that answer	10
BAT VK-52SE VS Audio Research Ref 3 I've compared a ARC Ref 3 to a BAT VK-51SE and a BAT VK-32SE, though not the VK-52SE. In my system, I'd rank them in this order: ARC Ref 3 BAT VK-51SE BAT VK-32SE ARC and BAT are. . .	10
which non ARC poweramp do you use with ARC REF 3 I had great success pairing my ARC Ref 3 with a BAT VK-75SE, especially once I had the BAT modified by Bob Backert. Cheers, John	10
Damsel in Distress with Jadis DPL Is the sound back to normal Deb? If so then it would seem like you simply had a tube go bad...these things happen, and you should have no more worries. If the left speaker is still. . .	10
Anyone rolled tubes in an ARC Reference 3 preamp? Hi Mitch, I haven't rolled any yet personally, and it does seem that very few owners do roll tubes with this preamp. Here are a couple of threads regarding rolling the 6550C in . . .	10
humming in my system As Tvad has said, this has been discussed many times before, so perform a search of the archives. From what I can recall, usually the main culprit is cable tv. If you have cable . . .	10
The best of Biggest, Baddest monster amps ... Hasn't this thread already been done? John	10
VK-31 or other BAT preamp upgrade Kip, the 31SE does not use 6922's, it uses 6H30 tubes. Therefore it is not really relevant to this specific question. John	10
BEST BALANCED XLR TUBE PREAMP FOR JC-1 MONOS? Hi Angela, I'd recommend the BAT VK-51SE, does everything on your list except the headphone jack. If the headphone jack is that important, than the Sonic Frontiers Line 3SE. Not . . .	10
which balanced preamp to recomend? Aer, in your price range I would recommend either the BAT VK-31SE or the Sonic Frontiers Line 3 (SE). The SF being slightly more neutral, the BAT being slightly more dynamic. John	10
Preamp to use with Rowland mono amps Rowland Synergy IIi	10
Ads with "Checkup" I usually take it the same way as robert8409. I'm sure there are cases like Kinsekd, but I beleive they are in the minority. Maybe I'm just a glass half empty kind of guy, but I . . .	10
Classe Reliability : Your Opinions? I've owned a Classe CDP1, CP-60, CA-200 and CAV-75 and have never had a day of trouble with any of them. I don't know why the lifetime warranty was withdrawn, but I would guess for. . .	10
Will tube amp give more of an analog sound to CD's Ceb222, you are correct, even the best sounding cd's lack the sound acheived by LP. It's inherent in the format. I would suggest playing more LP's. It seems to have worked for me. . . .	10
BAT VK500 upgrade struggles I agree with Bemopti123. The bright problem started with the BAT amp, you could try band-aids like MIT cables and/or Shunyata power cords. However, I would recommend switching to a. . .	10
Best 5 ch. amp used - 2500-3500.00 price I'd go with either the Aragon 8008X5 or the Classe CAV-180. The Aragon slightly more dynamic, while the Classe is warmer. Both are excellent bang for the buck, IMHO	10
Can anyone tell me about the Proceed PAV good /bad Are you sure you meant the Proceed PAV? There is a big difference between the Proceed PAV and the Audible Illusions L1. The PAV is an older, outdated, solid state surround sound . . .	10
What makes more sense? I agree with KF, especially because 87 db is a good reason to go with a SS amp and tubed pre. The combo you mentioned sounds intriguing. Haven't heard the MF, but the SF Line 1 is . . .	10
Does Threshold equal newer amp designs? Some lean toward the 'musical' camp, and some towards the 'detail' camp. Threshold, Classe, Rowland, tend to be 'musical' ss amps. While Krell, Mark Levinson represent the 'detail. . .	10
Musical Fidelity A 3.2 current market value??? Look through the sold ads on Ebay. If you really want to find out it's current market value, post a no reserve auction starting at $1. In about a week, you will no what it's worth	9
Van Alstine Synergy amps: Are they quality sound? They do not get more reviews and evaluation because they do not spend the required amount for advertising. The bigger your marketing and advertising budget, the more reviews and . . .	9
Amp Recommedation On top of Mechans excellent questions, are you planning on keeping the Adcom preamp too? Would you consider having an integrated amp replace both your Adcom amp and preamp? If so, . . .	9
Jeff Rowland Preamps IMHO, Jeff Rowland hit the sweet spot between musicality and transparency in the mid to late 90's with the Model 2/6/8/9 amplifiers. Earlier designs tended to be warmer, while . . .	9
Recommendation for Tube Preamp around $1000 I picked up a used VAC Auricle preamp, with a built in phono stage, for $1100 with upgraded tubes. It sounds much better than it has any right to at that price. Needless to say, I'. . .	9
SS preamp with Pass XA 60.5 amps I'm curious, why would a long time tube guy want to go to SS? Personally, I don't think you will be satisfied, but you're welcome to play	9
I have bought a VAc CLA-1 preamp Perhaps this manual may help, it is for CPA-1/CLA-1. If not, try to contact VAC . Kevin Hayes is always very helpful. Cheers, John	9
Lean sound. What's the cause? My take would be that the McCormack MAP-1 is the culprit. It is a multi-channel preamp, I gave up on multi-channel preamps years ago. I owned some of 'the best', Levinson, Krell, . . .	9
Classe DR-6 or Adcom GFP-750 I've heard them, and they are two VERY different animals. The DR-6 is a great SS preamp, IMHO. Warm, sweet, as close to tubelike as SS gets. The Adcom is more detailed and extended. . .	9
Suggestions for a pre amp with HT passthrough? I will agree that the Pass Labs X0.2 would be a good choice for SS. I will also agree that SS is more dependable and good designs last forever. However, after listening to tube . . .	9
Krell KSA150 vs KSA100S & KSA100 for Inf Kappa 9 I wouldn't limit myself to Krell. Do some homework and look around. Krell has been having some financial problems lately. Levinson owners went through hell for a couple years when . . .	9
Amp upgrade ? I agree with you, the Krell and ML may be the best of your 5 choices. However, at their age, and as hot as they run, they will probably need their caps changed soon, if they haven'. . .	9
bi-amp with a tube amp and SS The amps power matching is not a must, but you should try to match the amps input sensitivity and overall gain if possible. If not possible, you could buy a pair of in-line . . .	9
Need an amp, either SS or tube, around $1000 How about an Aragon 8008BB or a Classe CA-200? Good, clean powerful 200 wpc amps that you should be able to get for between $1000-$1200 used. Either one would be a nice upgrade . . .	9
BAT line stage and amp users: What power cords? Hi Cte, I have a VK-51SE and VK-600SE driving my Parsifal Encore's. I second Tom's Nordost Valhalla recommendation. The added speed really does work well with the Parsifal's. That. . .	9
Help finding used SS with unity gain, $1K - $1.5K If you're talking about used prices, look for a Classe CP-50 or CP-60. I owned a CP-60 w/ phono a couple years ago, it was very nice. Powerful, rich, full and dynamic. The CP-60 . . .	9
Dynaudio S5.4 and ML No.436? I agree with Gregm. I also don't think ML is the way to go for warmer sound. I'd recommend trying Classe, Rowland, BAT, or McCormack. All will be warmer than ML	9
Opinions on a Threshold T-200 I haven't heard the T200, but I own a T400, I'll assume their sonic signature is similar. The T400 is my current amp, I'm very happy with it. I've owned Classe, Coda, Aragon and . . .	9
Integrateds - Revisited Yet Again Check out a BAT VK-300xSE or a Jeff Rowland Concentra II. I haven't heard the Moon I-5, but I have heard the integrateds from Krell, Classe and Levinson and the Rowland and BAT . . .	9
Tube preamp with cinema bypass?? Audio Research LS-25	9
Upgrade suggestions needed I'll second Judit's recommendation. The speakers appear to be the weakest link. Also, get a phono preamp and get that turntable going again. LP's will sound 'warmer' than digital. . . .	9
What s your favorite amp 2500 used/ 4k If you listen to 80% music I would suggest a seperate stereo amp and ht amp. I think many multi channel amps don't sound as good as a good stereo amp. I also listen to 80% music. I. . .	9
Classe preamps I have a Classe CA-200 and a CAV-75 amp for surround. I think they sound awesome. The 'Classe Sound' is rich smooth midrange with clean smooth highs. The bass is full and deep, . . .	9
Need help selecting a preamp under $1500 You just missed out. I just sold a VAC Auricle preamp w/ MM phono stage for $1000. I don't think that could be beaten by anything under $2000 (maybe even under $3000). Keep a look. . .	8
modifications you have done to ARC REF 3 Stealth Dream power cord (Preamp version) with a Hi-Fi Tuning Fuse	8
Power amp /pre amp matching I agree with Tom6897. Some will say a ratio as low as 10:1 will suffice, but the higher the better, and I recommend a minimum of 20:1. You are at 79:1, which should be no issue at . . .	8
Rumors about a new Ayre integrated amplifier? I'll start one. I heard that Ayre is coming out with a new $10K integrated amp....and it's a tube unit	8
NAD 2600 and thumping noise Check with NAD, on an amp that old it may be that some caps have gone bad and need replacing	8
how to value Fisher preamp If you are looking for more than $10 at a garage sale, then these units should definitely be serviced before being put up for sale. The service person should have a good idea of . . .	8
Which Integrated Amp I haven't heard the new Pass integrated amp, so I cannot say anything in that regard. I currently own one of the last pairs of Verity Parsifal Encore speakers manufactured, just . . .	8
BAT-VK31se or VK-50SE or LS17? I've owned the BAT VK-31SE, VK-50SE and VK-51SE as well as the Audio Research Reference 3. I'm not so sure that I agree the VK-31SE was better than the 50SE. The 31SE was more . . .	8
First tube roll: Which to change? I'd recommend the preamp tubes first (12AX7, 6922). The 12AU7's may also be used in the preamp section, though they could be used as drivers too. I've found that changing the . . .	8
Classe ca 301 is the low end weak. I've owned a Classe CA-200 and never thought it to sound weak in the bass. I've also owned a BAT VK-600SE amp and a Threshold T-400. The BAT VK-600SE was excellent, but well out of. . .	8
Pre for VAC Auricle Musicbloc 70/70 Cruz123, have you tried the VAC Musicbloc 70/70's yet? You may want to do this first using the preamp outputs of your integrated amp. If you like the direction the sound is taking. . .	8
Tube Rolling on BAT Preamplifiers Yes, Victor has a special stash, which alledgedly are the best of the best, but will set you back $300/tube, if you act quickly. That price has gone up three fold in the last 5 . . .	8
Amp Basics: Tube Preamp w/Solid State Power Amp. The wattage of the power amp is more of a matching issue between amp and speakers. The key matching preamp to amp is the output impedence of the preamp and the input impedence of . . .	8
Pairing Aesthetix Calypso w/ Pass Labs or Plinius? Here is a link that asks a similar question. There is a reply on 6-02-07 from Jim White, the designer of Aesthetix gear. Cheers, John	8
No bass on BAT VK-3ix SE preamp? That seems odd to me. I currently have a BAT VK-3iXSE in my system on loan, and at first the bass was too much. It was new, so I ran it for 240 straight hours (10 days). The . . .	8
Need to know proper ampere valu for fuse. Have you tried to contact Parasound? I'm sure they would know more about the fuse's value and substitutabity than we would	8
Same manufacturer for pre & amp? I don't believe that you will find any consensus that will say staying with one manufacturer for amp and preamp will yield optimum results. It may, it could, it is possible, but . . .	8
Where can I find a value of old amps Orion blue book	8
Many questions tube/solid state amps I have a pair of Vienna Acoustics Strauss and a BAT VK-50SE preamp, as well as a VK-D5SE and VK-P5. I'd recommend a SS amp, FWIW. In my experiences, the bass on the VA's drops . . .	8
Upgrade or sell ARC LS-15 ? You should be able to get a LS-25 for $2000-$2500. I would go this route, personally. I've gone the mod route before, and although it does make an improvement, you won't recover as. . .	8
Best of both worlds?? Dreaming perhaps?? Steve, I never found a SSP that played music that well (Proceed, Classe, Krell, etc). I wound up getting a nice stereo preamp (BAT) that has a unity gain throughput. I then just . . .	8
Best Amp/Preamp Combo for around $6K? Of the 3 you list, I like the Rowland the best. I don't know why you prefer the same brand though. There are some strong contenders that specialize in one aspect. Amps for instance. . .	8
2 Channel SS Preamp Suggestions Classe CP-60 is a classic. I'm very happy with mine. It has a rich warm midband, without sounding a little dark, like some of the Classe amps can. It has balanced in's and out's . . .	8
Floating the Ground Do you have a cable tv line? If so there is a chance this is creating the ground loop hum. You could try floating the ground, from my experiences, this helped, but didn't eliminate. . .	8
need opinions on getting out of HT into 2 channel If you still have a use for HT, I would keep the receiver. I downgraded my HT and upgraded my stereo about 10 months ago. I'm happy, and I haven't looked back. I sold my Proceed . . .	8
Does your BAT? You don't have any ties to a cable line, do you? Meaning, you don't have a vcr/tv/Tivo or any component that may touch an incoming cable line connected to the BAT, do you? If so, . . .	8
Threshold T-50 vs Forte 4 ? http://www.rsvlonline.net/vintageamp/default.htm I own a T 400 and have never had any troubles. I think the price of $700 is very good, especially from a dealer. I'd go in that . . .	8
Opinions on Classe Amps? Classe makes great stuff. I had a CA-200 driving a pair of Legacy Classics, was very happy with the combo. Warm and musical, especially for solid state. Since the upgrade bug hit, . . .	8
Replacing my preamp??? What don't you like about the BAT, if you don't mind my asking? I always thought it a pretty nice piece, in about the same price range	8
Pre-amps with seperate power supplies ..... I am not an electrical engineer and I do not pretend to be one nor do I play one on TV..... But....did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night? Because apparently, that may . . .	7
Is built in phono preamp usually best way to go? There is no 'best way to go' when it comes to just about anything in audio. Many choose to go built in, whether just with a phono stage in a preamp, or an integrated amp that has a. . .	7
Easy biasing Tube amps The VAC amps I've owned were very easy to bias, no tools needed. No meter, no screwdriver. Of course I also owned BAT tube amps which were auto-bias....even easier	7
Gold Point Passive pre-amp Passive preamps can work if everything else in your system is just right. I have tried a couple different passive preamps, without much success. Though I do think they work best . . .	7
Shindo & GamuT - Comments? According to the specs I've seen, the Shindo has an output impedence of 600 ohms and the GamuT has an input impedence of 20K ohms, which means there should be no impedence matching. . .	7
Tube Options with Verity Tamino I'm running a VAC Avatar Super with my Verity Parsifal's, and it sounds very good, IMHO. The VAC also has a built in MM phono stage. Cheers, John	7
Plinius or YBA YBA makes very good equipment, enjoy	7
Can anyone help? Well, it sounds like it could be one of several issues. First, make sure that you have the Auto turn on/off system defeated by moving the 'Select' switch to the center position '. . .	7
Roland Model 6 Monoblocks I owned a pair of the Rowland Model 6 monoblocks a few years back, and thought they were among the best SS amps I've ever heard or owned. IMHO JRDG was at it's peak in the mid to . . .	7
Harsh on tubes? I think the word used here should be hard on tubes, not harsh on tubes. Yes, some preamps put a tough load on their tubes, which means that these tubes will have a shorter lifespan. . .	7
Cary SLP-05 Vs High End SS or Tube Preamp's I have heard many, many, many preamps in my 30 years of audio 'nutzville'. FWIW, I have never heard any SS preamp that could contend musically with a tube preamp. I've heard many . . .	7
Hybrid integrated, best of both worlds? If I was in your situation, I'd look for a VAC Avatar or the Phi Beta integrated amp. They rarely pop up for sale on the used market, and for good reason. Cheers, John	7
$3K used balanced I/O preamp suggestions Well with an amp with a 10K input impedence, I would rule out a tube preamp. If it were me, I'd change amps and go for the tube preamp, probably the VK-31SE. That's just me though. . .	7
Experience with Coda Model 10 I owned a Model 10 about 15 years ago, very nice amp as I recall. Slightly rolled off up top, stong, punchy bass and warm midrange. $850 seems like a good price, though to be . . .	7
Best Tube Integrated Try a Cary SLI-80 Signature, it should fit the bill. Cheers, John	7
The New BAT REX preamp	7
Preamp Advice plz?? Using Nak PA-7 & Legacy Focus Hi Rob, If I were in you situation I would sell the nakamichi amp and look for a good integrated amp in the $1-1.5K range. Some good choices here, like Plinius 8200 mk II, Classe . . .	7
levinson 336 It's an older unit, it will have and/or need service/update requirements	7
Klyne with Clayton or Berning? I went through a BAT VK-31SE, Threshold T2, Mark Levinson 38S, Krell KRC-HR, VAC Renaissance Mk II, Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS mk II and a BAT VK-50SE while I owned my pair of . . .	7
What PC with Clayton M100 ? I think the stock power cords are pretty damn good. Better than most stock power cords. IMHO, power cords make less of a difference on the amps than on preamps and front end . . .	7
Pass Labs X0.2 vs. X1 I would think your first move would be to upgrade the front end digital source. I believe getting a better cd player (or two) would provide a bigger upgrade than going from a X1 to. . .	7
CJ 16LS mk II vs. CJ 17LS mk II Hey Bill, you not just saying that because you happen to have one up for sale now, are you? These are now on the 'GoN. 17 mk II 17 mk II Machine's 16 mk II As you can . . .	7
BAT Solid State Amps? What does that tell you? I have a BAT tube cd player, phono preamp and preamp, and I like a solid state amplifier. I don't own a BAT amp though. I feel their tube products . . .	7
Amp for Vienna Acoustic Mozart speakers Budget approx 5k? I would buy a pair of Beethovens first, and then start out with around a 3K integrated. You can get a BAT or Rowland integrated for around $3K-$4K. You could get . . .	7
Which preamp to buy in the 2000.00 range used I had a Threshold T400 and I preffered the sound of the Classe CP-60 with it over the Threshold T2. It was a magical combination. Time doesn't stand still, and now they are both . . .	7
To preamp or not to preamp??? If the only source you use is a CDP, I'd say go ahead and try one without a preamp	7
Mysterious hum in system... I had this same problem. I traced it to a ground loop hum coming from my cable line. I eliminated it by using a MIT ISO-Linq ground isolation filter. Mondial's Magic Box would . . .	7
Amp choice for VA Mahlers Quigly, there are many good recommedations here. I currently have the Strauss being driven by a Threshold T400 with great success. I do not beleive, however, that you will get the . . .	7
Used 3 channel Amp recommendation for 500-600 I agree with Kgb540 here. At this price range the Acurus is very hard to beat	7
Thoughts on using two Classe CA 300's I've heard a pair of Classe Ca-200 bridged, and was not impressed. I thought they lost a lot of the music in the bridged mode. If you're talking vertically biamping, disregard the . . .	7
ARC VSI 60 vs Cary SLI 80 or BAT 300xse ARC VSI 60 may do it, but I highly recommend looking for a VAC Avatar Super integrated amp. I thought it sounded wonderful with my Parsifal Encores	6
advice? Value of Gold Aero 7308s?? I don't believe that they have a lot of value on the used market. Gold Aero and RAM sold a lot of tubes at premium prices in the 80's and 90's, but they were all just hand selected. . .	6
Prima Luna Dialogue 3 or Cary SLP 98L? I would go for the Cary, but then I'm biased, owning a SLP-98P F1. You may get more synergy with the Prima Luna and your Prima Luna amp	6
Best tube amp for $2000 or less Well your title is a little misleading, you are looking for the best tube amp that fits your system requirements and budget. Your speakers will limit a lot of the "best" . . .	6
Upgrade BAT VK-55 to VK-55SE? Worth it? +1 to what Stereo5 says. I would think it would be less than $2000 extra to sell your VK-55 and buy a used VK-55SE, if that is the route you want to go	6
I need an all Tube Amp. Maybe a pair of Rogue M-150 monoblocks, I see there's a pair for sale now (no relation	6
Integrated Tube Amp Under $3k Used VAC Avatar	6
Sound staging; Sepertaes Vs. Integrated I don't know the technical reason, maybe something to do with the larger power supplies that seperate chassis' can give you. I have noticed this effect going even further, . . .	6
Help needed impedance matching. You should be fine. The minimum recommended ratio is amp:preamp of 10:1. That would be a 10K amp input impedence for a 1K preamp output impedence. Most will recommend a higher . . .	6
Thor websight Thor has been out of business for several years now as far as I know	6
BAT VK-60 I just put Sunoco Premium $3.649/gal in my 2008 Toyota Avalon	6
Preamp recommendations requested There is currently a nice VAC Phi Alpha preamp for sale on Audiogon, or possibly one of the Doshi's. That Doshi Custom model looks awesome, I bet it sounds great. I am not . . .	6
Manufacturers' warning not to change tubes It is possible that the tube gear in question could be tough on tubes. I've seen companies, like Audible Illusions, recommend NOT to use NOS tubes because their design is tough for. . .	6
Good 6922 tube for my CJ ET-3 SE pre-amp? The Amperex 7308's that Mofimadness mentions were always my favorite 6DJ8 variant. I just stumbled upon an old box load of tubes that I used to use in a BAT VK-51SE & BAT VK-. . .	6
Does a tube phono stage get through... Yes, to some extent. In general, the closer tubes get to the speaker, the more 'tube sound' you can expect. A tube amp will give you the most 'tube sound'. A tube preamp w/ SS amp . . .	6
Built-in phono or seperate for budget system For a budget system I've always felt that a inboard phono stage offers better value for the $$$. The AI is a good choice, and should sound great with that Forte 4a. As a second . . .	6
Vac Renaissance Signature Mark II vs. Cary SLP-05 I agree with the above responses. The VAC is better than the Cary, IMHO. The Cary will sound a little beefier, if your speakers are lightweight, but BAT preamps would surpass the . . .	6
Aragon 4004MKII Vs. Bryston 4 B Pro I'll second Paulficarella's reply. I would take an Aragon over the Bryston. One more note though, when looking to buy a 15-20 year old amp, be prepared to change out the main caps. . .	6
Audio Research Ref 3 vs Atma-Sphere MP-1 mkIII Grant, if you wouldn't mind, could you expand on your comment that the Atma-Sphere presented a "much larger image"? The reason I ask is that I have heard this phrase . . .	6
How long does Plinius SA 102 take to warm-up... I would recommend leaving the amp on 24/7 for best results. You could save on energy by using the A- A/B selector switch. Listen in Class A, and switch to Class A/B when not . . .	6
Need quick answer- BAT VK3iX vs. BAT VK3ixSE Sorry, I can't really say, but I did have the VK-3iXSE on loan for 6 weeks, and I really grew to admire it. It was, IMHO a real bargain at it's price point. I haven't heard the VK-. . .	6
Audio Research VS110 vs Bat KV-60 I would say the ARC VS110 is more expensive on the used market because it is a more recent design. The VS110 was released in 2003, while the VK-60 was released in 1995. So the . . .	6
Threshold T2 vs. Bryston SP26 vs. Plinius M8 Of thouse three I would choose the Threshold. However, given your desire for transparency and dynamics over warmth, I would recommend the Bryston. John	6
Act II tube rolling I would stick with CJ. Not much tube rolling can be done with the 6H30 tube anyway. John	6
Do BAT preamps run HOT? You'll find that after the callous' build up you'll be able to rest your hand on it for much longer than 10 seconds. :) Yes, it's normal. I'm expecting my VK-32SE in this week . . .	6
Ayre and McCormack ... a good match? You are correct Mitch2, that was a shameless plug. It would have been best if you had contacted Hodu offline and present your sales proposition in private rather than using the . . .	6
Speaker power ratings vs. aplifier power ratings? While Newbee is correct with his power table, I would also add that you do not have to stay that close to the 120 WPC speaker manufacturer recommendation, to answer your question. . .	6
Vincent SV-236 vs Rowland Concentra 2? I second Raquel's comments, though I have not heard the Vincent either. I recently downsized for personal economic reasons, from top of the line BAT seperates to a Rowland . . .	6
Audio Research Ref 1 or LS25 MK2 or BAT 50 Thats like saying that I've never tried vanilla, chocolate or strawberry, but please tell me what I'll like best. There is no one right answer, only what works for you. Cheers, . . .	6
ML 38s or ML 380s or my SFrontiers SL3? I'd keep the SF. I owned a 38S, for about a week, I was not a big fan at all. Now I'm a tube preamp fan at heart, but I've heard many better SS preamps than the 38S. If you're set. . .	6
BAT VK-500 w/BAT pack vs. McCormack DNA-2 Rev. A Thanks for all your responses. I just thought I'd get back and let you know what I wound up with. I know it bothers me when some ask questions and there isn't any follow-up. The . . .	6
McCormack DNA-225 vs. Threshold T800D I think it's a matter of personal taste. I own a Threshold T400, I have owned it for over a year with no problems. I bought it from a friend after lusting after it in his system . . .	6
Quality Preamp's with HT-Pass Thru capability? Classe CP-60	6
Which is the best preamp for my amps. 1)Klyne 2)Jeff Rowland 3)Threshold 4)Levinson Regards, John	6
Power and Pre amp HELP & Recommendations needed. I would check out a top shelf integrated at that price. I would recommend the BAT VK-300xSE or the Rowland Concentra. They both give you 150 wpc. If you need more power, then I . . .	6
Looking for advice on 2 Channel system I agree with the BAT VK-5i or 50se preamp. For speakers, I'd suggest giving the Vienna Acoustic Mahlers a listen. I also would check out the Aerial 10T's. John	6
Upgrading amp There's currently a couple of used Odyssey Audio Stratos amp for sale for $1000 and under that would probably work well with these speakers. They are a relatively easy load to . . .	5
1st Post - Semi Vintage vs. New Oh man, with those speakers efficiency rating (100dB), I'd sell the Adcom separates and look for a nice SET integrated amp!! Something like a Cary CAD-300 SEI would make you forget. . .	5
looking for pre owned I don't believe that wanted ads are free anymore, they used to be	5
Rowland Model 7 s -- what are they worth? There is the Audiogon blue book, or the Orion Blue Book . Some other mitigating factors in re-sale besides physical and electrical condition are the availibilty of original . . .	5
Looking for an integrated w/ a more forward sound Look for a Virtual Dynamics power cord and stick it on any of the above units. I'm serious, you will feel like you have been escorted to the front row. Not my cup o' tea, because . . .	5
Great Amp Suggestion for Aesthetix Calypso I'd take a swing at this Coda System 100, you may be able to get it for $2500. Coda makes great amps, but are relatively unknown. They don't spend a lot of money on advertising. . . .	5
What happened to Krell The ebb and flow of the hifi market happened. It seems that more folks are using tubes these days. The tube integrated amp has increased vastly in the last 10 years or so . . .	5
Buzz or hum Sounds like a ground loop hum. Many threads on that topic here. Search the archives	5
Retubing power amp Rod, I've owned a BAT VK-75SE, and a highly modified one at that. As with most BAT gear, there is not much you can do with tube rolling, as the tubes used are all based from the . . .	5
Difference between Plinius Sa-100mklll and Sa-102? Macd, the older SA-100 mk III is slightly warmer than the SA-102. The SA-102 is slightly more revealing than the 100 mk III. Sonically they are closer to each other than your . . .	5
Integrateds: Sim I-7, BAT 300xSE, Pass I haven't heard any of these integrated amps with the Dynaudio C1's. That said, the new Pass integrated is very intruiging. The BAT is a very good, old standby, which I much . . .	5
BAT VK-250SE and VK-3iX/SE Hi Sally, I have owned a Classe CA-200 amp and CP-60 preamp before, and it was a very nice SS setup. I have also owned nine BAT products, including the VK-600SE amp and VK-51SE . . .	5
Ayre AX-7e vs Plinius 9200 I haven't heard about any reliability issues with Plinius. I have heard these two integrateds and sonically, they are quite different. Which you would prefer would depend on your . . .	5
Tube amp - which speaker tap to use? Can I try both and just use the best sounding one? Thanks. Soulbrass That's exactly what I would recommend that you do. Cheers, John	5
Balanced in and balance out inverted ? puzzle My amps have the old standard (1= ground, 2= negative, 3= positive) and my preamp has the current standard (1=ground, 2=positive, 3=negative). No problem with hums or buzz. It is . . .	5
What did Jeff Rowland mean by a "new module?" It is probably best to contact Jeff Rowland again to answer your question. While I've never spoke to him on the phone, he is quite good at replying to e-mails. Generally speaking. . .	5
balanced pre amp A true balanced design is a differential design, with both positive and negative legs going through mirror image gain stages, output stages, etc. To do balanced right is expensive. . .	5
Classe CP-60 vs. CP-65 I don't know about it being a cost cutting move, it was in a way I guess. I had a couple of dealers tell me that the change was purely cosmetic. The CP-60 was availible in either . . .	5
Best integrated amp for about 2.5k I would think that a downgrade. If you like the McCormack sound, but just want to go integrated for space, I'd look into a Jeff Rowland Concentra I or II depending on budget. Krell. . .	5
Classe Modifications Keith, You might try Chris Johnson at the Parts Connexion, or John Hillig of Musical Concepts. Regards, John	5
difference between 6922 and the 6h30 super tube Goone is somewhat correct. I own BAT gear with and without the 'Supertube'. I would say that the 6H30 is more dynamic and transparent than the 6922's, like Goone said. The only . . .	5
Tubed Pre Dying? ? My friend has a PV14L, nice preamp. He is sending his to the factory for a mk II version upgrade, which I believe includes re-tubing. It is only costing him about $275 + shipping. . . .	5
Pre/Pro assistance and advice needed Of those on your list, I'd recommend the Aragon Sounstage. A friend of mine has one, and I've been pretty impressed with it, for a pre/pro. However, if 2 channel performance means . . .	5
Home Theater? I agree with Bld63. I use a 2 channel preamp with SSP pass through. I have a Denon receiver for surround only. I'm much happier now then when I was in the high end SSP market. . . .	5
Anybody mix and match tubes? Thanks for the feedback. I've ordered 4 Amperex 7308 PQ's (matched quad), 2 Amperex 7308 USN's and 2 Mullard E88CC's (matched pairs). I will try them in different spots and let you. . .	5
Preamp Options-Classe,Muse,SF,BAT,Adcom Tim, I currently own a Classe CP-60, I don't know about erratic comments, the only complaints I've heard about it have to do with the ergonomics of the volume control. It has a 60 . . .	5
best ss preamp for 2000 or less used I'm happy with my Classe CP-60 w/ MM/MC phono stage. It also has a surround passthrough for my HT. List was $4200, I believe $3700 w/o phono. You can find them for less than $2K . . .	5
Best preamp for a Threshold T400/ VA Beethoven Creeper and Scot, thanks for your recommendations, but I have chosen the Classe CP-60. I do have a Classe CDP1 also, but I mainly ordered the CP-60 because of the phono section. As. . .	5
Best 5 or 7 channel amp under 2K In that price range I would go for the Rotel RMB-1095. 200 watts X 5, clean, musical, a tad soft on top, but the best multi-channel musically under $2K new	5
Parasound HCA2200II , Yeah or No-Way! The Parsound HCA2200II is a very good amp, I'm using it now with a Audio Research LS-1 preamp. I've also owned an Aragon 4004, it is a little smoother but lacking the bass slam and. . .	5
Amps with short warm up time 4 critical listening Why not just leave them powered up 24/7? Then you don't have to worry about warm up time. I don't know of any SS with a fast warm up period. If you want a warm up period of under . . .	4
preamp vs integrated Is there a difference? Yes. However, different is not always better. If you 'love the sound' I'd advise you to leave well enough alone. Enjoy the music	4
Classe Omega Omicron monos or Pass Labs X600??? I'll second Albert's vote for the Classe Omega Omicron's, especially considering that you're planning on driving B&W's with them. B&W owns Classe, and voices their speakers with . . .	4
Upgrade under $1000. Aragon or? In your budget you'll probably get the most bang for the buck with an integrated amp. You may be able to get a nice Ayre, Plinius or Krell for under $1500 used. Then you can sell . . .	4
NRG Control Amp A150S - Ballpark value? Try the Orion Blue Book as a starting point. Or you could just throw it up on Ebay with a no reserve auction and find out it's actual value	4
Impedance matching Mcintosh MC2301 and Shindo pre I'm seeing both Shindo preamps display an output impedence of 600 ohms. Doing the math it looks like a 78:1 ratio. Either preamp should work fine	4
Tube rolling Bat vk-3i Best is such a subjective word, it means many different things to many different people. There is no best 6922, just as there is no best amp, speaker, preamp, etc. Maybe you . . .	4
Got the itch; where to go after Rowland Concerto? The itch is never rational. I've owned a Jeff Rowland Concentra II, but not the Concerto. Try to find a VAC Avatar Super tube integrated amp. It should run about $3K on the used . . .	4
Ground source hum Are both amp and preamp on the same circuit? If not, put them on the same circuit. Have you tried changing the preamp>amp interconnect? If not, try this. Are you sure it's not . . .	4
Shunyata Combo Offer - Opinions Please Certainly sounds like it would be worth a test drive. There is no substitute for listening in your own room with your own ears. Cheers, John	4
Anyone have an Aesthetix Atlas power amp yet? Someone told me today that he heard one on display at Audio Connections in New Jersey. It is amazing how little information there is about this amp in this day and age of . . .	4
Tube Pre/SS Amp versus SS Pre/Tube Amp As Rwwear says, it works both ways. This has been discussed many times before, perhaps you'll find more opinions in the archives. Cheers, John	4
BAT VK55 vs VK 60 Tom, if Victor can squeeze more power out of a smaller, lighter VK-55 than the larger, heavier VK-75, the only answer physically would be to lower the bias. Perhaps the VK-55 does . . .	4
Any info about a possible upgrade to ARC Ref 3? Brian, have you tried contacting ARC? I haven't heard any rumors this year, but I did hear them last year around this time. Pre-CES mental gymnastics as far as I can tell. . . .	4
Rowland Synergy IIi vs BAT VK51se???? Of these two choices, I would choose the BAT VK-51SE. It has a more powerful presence, with better tonal accuracy and soundstaging. The Synergy IIi is slightly more refined and . . .	4
Tubed pre to go with Aragon 8008BB Audio Horizons TP 2.0 would be the one to beat IMHO. Try one, with their Money Back Guarantee you have nothing to lose. John	4
Advice on Class A Amp or Integrated please Why not look in your own backyard? Plinius is manufactured in New Zealand, and has some fine sounding Class A amps. John	4
When was the Classe 5l built? Before the CP-40? Hi Jeff, The Classe DR-5L was released in 1990. The CP-40 is from the more recent series, released in 1996. The 5L was the middle of the line, the CP-40 was entry level. 1990 . . .	4
Threshold/Forte Owners I can't believe that Jon couldn't help you out with this information. He should even be able to make you a copy of the manual I would think. John	4
DNA-1 Rev. A or DNA-125 / 225?? No doubt! Take the Rev. A all the way! It's really no comparison at all. Happy hunting, John	4
Are the performance of separates worth the price? I think you'll find the law of diminishing returns are in order. You may pay 45% more, but you won't get a 45% improvement in sound. It gets very expensive trying to chase that . . .	4
how does upgrading work with Krell amplifiers Why don't you contact Krell and ask them. Here is a link: http://www.krellonline.com/html/c_service.html Cheers, John	4
Sonic Frontiers Line 2 / Classe CP-60 for CAM-200 You have to decide on tube or solid state. As a former owner of the CP-60, I can't recommend it highly enough. The best SS preamp I ever owned or auditioned. That is a very . . .	4
Best Preamp Audio Research LS5 versus BAT VK-5i/SE I'm in the same situation, I'm checking out the AR LS-5, BAT VK-5i and a Sonic Frontiers Line 2. I've been leaning towards the BAT, because I enjoy the family signature. I actually. . .	4
Amp for VA Beethovens? I'm a former Beethoven owner, I moved up to the Strauss. I preferred a SS amp. I know some like a tube amp with the Beethovens, but IMHO the bass was not tight enough. I used a . . .	4
CA-200 vs. ML 332 I agree with the first two responses. Keep your CA-200 and enjoy it. The ML is a very different animal. Different is not always better. You'll get more information, but it may not . . .	4
Solid Stae HT amp for Merlin's? Try this link: http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstran&1052275206&2&3&4& I have no relation to the seller. Good luck, John	4
red light on classe 30 preamp? www.cservice@classeaudio.com .Armin Gschwendtner has always been very helpful in answering any technical questions. If it seems to work fine, I wouldn't be too concerned. Possibly. . .	4
Best amp for Sonus Faber Concertino Home Jeff, Don't forget about McCormack, you may find a DNA 1 mates very nicely with your speakers. Or try a Classe CA-200. Of the 5 you mentioned, I like the Aragon 8008BB the best of . . .	4
Best amp/pre-amp for Vienna Acoustics Haydn ? McCormack makes great SS equipment. I'd second that amp reco. I can't second the Adcom. I don't care for Adcom sonics, and if they have reliability issues, why would you even . . .	4
canary audio repair It sounds like you were having issues with a ground loop hum, and the factory suggested that you try to float the ground, which caused a loud bang that took out your speakers? It . . .	3
Line Stage Tube Replacement for CJ ET3 I guess I'm a little bit tweakier than you are. I bought a new tube preamp about 5 weeks ago, and the new tubes I ordered arrived before the preamp did. My preamp uses 8 tubes, I . . .	3
Will Parasound A21 damage my NHT Speakers? Very doubtful that this amp will damage your speakers. Most speaker damage comes from driving an under-powered amplifier too hard, and driving into it's 'clipping' stage, where . . .	3
Classè Six vs ARC LS7 Personally, tubes have ruined me. I owned a Classe CP-60 about 15 years ago and enjoyed it. However, then I started dabbling with tubes. I wound up owning many high end tube . . .	3
Popping noise when muting pream I had that problem twice with different BAT preamps, both times it turned out to be a leaky capacitor. It sounds like your preamp needs some professional service	3
BAT VK-51SE vs Audio Research REF3 I need the sound speed, punch, driving, attack, dynamical, large and deep soundstage, transparency, lightness and naturalness. I have owned both of those fine preamps at one . . .	3
upgrades for your amp/preamp Here is a list that may help you out a little	3
HELP New tube integrate bias problem. It's a new unit right? Send it back and get another	3
cary v12i and v12r From what I have heard, they are both reliable. The 12i was supposed to be an improvement sonically, but I heard that it was a step down instead. The 12r supposedly brought the . . .	3
What is a DAC? Hi Ken, A DAC is a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC). All cd players have built in DAC's, just as all integrated amplifiers have built in amplifiers. For those that prefer . . .	3
NAD 7600... any good? Here is a link to some info on the NAD 7600 receiver . It was NAD's top of the line unit in the late 80's, and I believe it sold for around $1600. I thought it was one of the . . .	3
Inex Innovation cables rids the need for amps? Very interesting indeed Tommy, looks like we are steadily moving to the iPod music system. Now they will need to shrink speakers. I'd be afraid of accidently stepping or bending . . .	3
blown fuses Check for shorts in speaker cables first, including connectors touching. Try changing cables. If this doesn't help it sounds like it's time to send it in for service. Cheers, John	3
Blown fuse, cap, resistor? Don't you just love easy, inexpensive fixes? John	3
Tube pre + Pass power amp Why don't you e-mail Audphile1, he has a ARC tube preamp with his Pass X250.5 amp. Search the virtual systems for Pass amps and see who is running tube preamps with them and . . .	3
New Avatar ? I've heard that VAC put the Avatar Super on the shelf because it wasn't cost effective. They are working on a new integrated amp, I don't know if it will still be called the Avatar. . .	3
Classe Amps I've owned Classe amps ande heard many Krell amps (though I wouldn't buy one). I'll take a Classe amp over a Krell amp anyday of the week. YMMV. Cheers, John	3
Looking for JRDG Concerto VTVU Show Demo Check the bottom of this ad. They will be selling a show demo piece	3
Threshold T2 Versus Mark Levinson 38S I've owned both of those preamps, and IMHO the T2 was the easy winner. I thought the T2 was much more natural sounding than the 38S, and had better dynamics. I also had a Krell KRC. . .	3
Dynaudio S3.4 or B&W Nautilus 803 ?? It would depend on your musical tastes. In my opinion, the Dynaudio is warmer and more musical while the B&W is more detailed and transparent. I'd prefer the Dynaudio myself. As . . .	3
Is your Pass X250 dead silent or slightly buzzing? It's not related to Class A circuitry, that much I can tell you. I've owned Class A amps from 2 different manufacturers in the last 4 years, and haven't experienced that problem. . . .	3
Wadia Y'all think of Classe for 2 channel Preamps I owned a Classe CP-60 for a couple of years and was very happy with it. Build quality is excellent. Sonics are very good, smooth rich midband with solid bass fundamentals. Not the. . .	3
Amp for Vienna Acoustic Beethoven speakers The Concentra II is a fine integrated amp, as are the BAT VK-300SE and the VAC Avatar Super. These are the best integrateds I've heard. Once you get into seperates the . . .	3
Krell KAV 250 vs. Proceed HPA-2 Neither, really IMHO there are just too many better amps out there. Try a Jeff Rowland or McCormack amp. Even Classe, Pass, Plinius, BAT or an older Threshold would do a better job. . .	3
Should I add a 2 ch preamp to my HT system Nix the pre/pro, get a quality stereo preamp with a HT bypass. You'll never look back, I didn't. May I suggest a Classe CP-60, or a Sonic Frontiers Line 2, if you're into tubes. . . .	3
Is Harman Kardon Signature amps/pre-amps that bad? It's all about value. I borrowed a H/K signature Series 2.0 from my friend for a couple months while my Proceed was in the shop. He paid $450 for it as a new, 'B' stock unit. I . . .	3
Classe CAP150 or CAP151? Hey Bigboy, I'm not familiar with the integrateds, but in the amp line the change is mostly cosmetic. The older series was availible in silver OR black, the newer series is in . . .	3
Coda Continuum power amps I've owned a Model 10 and a Model 20. Very nice equipment, smooth, musical, with extremely powerful bass. They are not the last word in transparency, but never failed to keep me . . .	3
advice on pricing uncommon gear Unfortunately, the re-sale price on uncommon gear is pretty low in general. People want to buy the brands that get lots of advertising/reviews. Those brands hold their re-sale . . .	2
Krell KRC-3 ?'s Well the first review in Audioreview was in December of 1996 and states a list price of $2950. Here is a link, you'll have to scroll back to the beginning manually. I don't know . . .	2
Tom Evans Audio Design is still in business I've heard that about Tom Evans gear before too, that it is solid state that can please a tube fan. I haven't had the oppotunity to listen to one yet though. Have you heard a . . .	2
Clayton M300 or Mcintosh MC601 Well, only you can determine which will be better for your Tyler D1's. I agree with RW that the Mac will hold it's value better, and be easier to find. That being said, I'd go . . .	2
S/N Ratio for Rega Brio-R? Not very important I imagine. It's hard to find gear today that is noisy when fed quality electricity. Most current noise issues revolve around dirty electrical feed issues. . . .	2
The great preamp revival - ARC Ref5 SE Yes, the preamp is dead, it can now safely join vinyl and valve technologies in audio heaven (the attic, where the best music is	2
Buying 2 1/2 year old new in box power amp I just bought a preamp that was 5 year old NIB. I was a bit taken aback when I first found out it was 5 years old, but it looks and works like it's brand new, so I guess no harm, . . .	2
Confused........... Zd542's reco's are pretty good, but I'd keep my eye out for a Jeff Rowland Concentra II integrated amp if I were in your situation	2
McIntosh MA2275 int tube Amp... This Amp is not in production any longer...Why ?? Time. Every model from every manufacturer eventually stops being produced. People want something new, that's all. . . .	2
Amp/pre compatability Matching the preamp output impedence with amp input impedence. The preamp's input impedence (50K) means nothing here. So your preamp's output impedence is ???. You amp's input . . .	2
Shunyata's Hydra 8 Version 2 vs V-Ray version 1 I asked this question of Grant Samualson of Shunyata. If I recall correctly, Grant said it would be a close call, but he felt the Hydra 8 V2 would sound better. Cheers, John	2
Amazing images of vacuum tubes Cool link, thanks. They should have some Pink Floyd music playing in the background of the EL34 tube movie though, IMHO. Cheers, John	2
Krell KAS2 I would agree with you assessment. Though I am not a huge Krell fan, I've always thought their best work was in the very early 90's. I thought their KAS and KSA 150/250 were some . . .	2
ARC LS2 - replacing the Alps pot Call ARC and speak with Leonard. He would know better than anyone here, a very nice guy too	2
amp power vis a vis speaker power rating Maybe this will help. If not, there are plenty of other explainations in the archives	2
BAT VK-50 SE vs VK-31 SE - differences I've owned both, and IMHO the 50SE was a tad warmer and smoother, while the 31SE was more dynamic and powerful. Which you would prefer would depend on what direction you wish to . . .	2
BAT Toobs I don't think that Amperex white labels would be overkill. That's the great thing about tube equipment, you can make it sound better by changing the tubes. I have my BAT VK-P5 . . .	2
Is it best to stay in the same family???? The Rhea is an awesome phono preamp, it is worth an audition. Sometimes there is some family synergy, but sometimes the upgrade outways the family synergy. Is there a way you can . . .	2
BAT 300xse or Musical Fidelity TriV 300 Integrated I've often thought of simplifying my system by going to an integrated. I've listened to quite a few, my two favorites being the BAT VK-300XSE and the Rowland Concentra II. I would . . .	2
Pre-amp with Headphones out for 600-800 Sonic Frontiers Line 1	2
Preamp for BAT VK-500 power amp Perhaps a used BAT VK-3iX	1
Need Help Finding Good Tube Pre-Amp w/Phono I'm a bit confused by your last paragraph. If you like the warmer type of sound you should enjoy the Conrad Johnson sound over the Audio Research. I just picked up a nice VAC . . .	1
BAT VK 31 SE vs BAT VK 32 or BAT VK 32 SE I've had the VK-31SE and VK-32SE in my system, I haven't heard the VK-32. In my system, which tends to lean towards the warm, polite sound, I preffered the VK-31SE. I felt the VK-. . .	1
Power Amp shut down sound thru R speaker ?? It sounds like it's time to have the caps replaced. Good luck, John	1
Amp jumpers? Is there a sonic benefit? Possibly, though what about the cheap Belden hook-up cable that many manufacturers use on internal inputs and output? Or the cheaper coupling caps that . . .	1
Pass Labs X250.5 VS The Classe CA- 2200 Unfortunately for you, only you can answer that question. No one here can determine the value of differences to you	1
Mark Levinson 38, 38S, 380, 380S SS Preamps... All are older models. The 38 and 38S are circa 1994, and the 380 and 380S are 1998 vintage. The 'S' versions supposedly have replaced many parts with higher quality parts. Regards. . .	1
Speaker noise when turning on amp? Sounds like a ground loop hum. Try this site, I've found it helpful. Click on the Humbuster link on the right. You'll have to become a member, no big deal. PS Audio Toolbox It . . .	1
Classe CP-35 preamp. The Classe 6 is better sonically, richer, fuller. Stronger bass foundation also. The 35 has a remote though it sonically is more in line with the old Classe 4. Classic case of . . .	1