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Amplification Recommendations Please

Happy New Year 'Goners!
I am asking for your assistance. I am looking for 2-channel amplification solutions in the $1000 to $1500 range, and would like to move to at least a tube preamplification stage, if not full tube set-up. I listen mostly to Rock and Jazz, with a sprinkling of everything else, and love the clarity of the cymbals and bells, and HF overtones best of all. (Think Pat Metheny, Miles, Beethoven Symphonies, and Stone Temple Pilots) A remote control and HT pass-thru would be nice, but transparency, clarity, and presence is tantamount!

Core components:
- Solution Must Replace: HK PM665 Integrated, 120W@8
- Speakers: Infinity Intermezzo 4.1t's (ea w/850W sub amp built-in) Recommended power: 25-500W per specs...I love these speakers, as they are incredibly flat and detailed, and I figure I need at least 50 Watts, although I rarely crank it beyond a medium volume level.
- CD: Rotel RCD 1072
- TT: HK T-60 w/various cartridges both MM and MC
(Also have tape deck & DVD, but not for critical listening)

I am torn between an integrated and seperates:
-Jolida 502B Hot Rodded by Versastarr (~$1400) No remote
-Primaluna Prologue 2 from Upscale (~$1400) No Remote
-VTL IT-85 (Used~$1500) w/Remote
OR
Seperate Preamp, Power amp & interconnects:
-Transcendent Grounded Grid (~$800) No Remote Cntl
-Audio Experience/YS Audio Symphonies Plus (~$750) No Remote Cntl
-TAD-150 (~750) Remote, HT Pass-thru
-VTL 2.5 (~$1000) Remote, HT pass-thru
Any of these would then be coupled with a reasonable priced (most likely used) power amp - most likely a solid state:
Bryston 2B or 3b, Musical Fidelity A3.2cr, PS Audio HCA-2... (wish I could afford a Krell 250A or SimAudio Moon W5)
Please, What are YOUR recommendations ?

My Sincere Thanks,
Rick.
razaroff
13 responses Add your response
aroc
760 posts
 
Grounded Grid and McCormack DNA amp. Transparent and fast for the money. Tough to beat.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
Do you know what the efficiency and impedence spec's are on your speakers? As I recall, a lot of the Infinity line had low impedence dips and really require a powerful amp (one with lots of current) to sound their best.
razaroff OP
8 posts
 
Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m): 87dB
Impedance: 6 ohms
Per the Manual, the built-in 850W amp powers the 12" sub. and the lower crossover frequency is at 80Hz with a roll-off of 24db/octave. I'm guessing the remaining 3-way array which includes a 6" woofer could be viewed effectively as a 6 ohm 3-way speaker that has the bottom deliberately rolled off nothing past 65-70Hz...?
Thanks, Rick.
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I would recommend adding Conrad Johnson (MF2500A or 2250A)to your short list.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
McCormack DNA 0.5 is a great 100 wpc ss amp with a well defined upgrade path via SMcAudio
newbee
4,751 posts
 
If you don't listen at very high levels I'd put the PrimaLuna Two on your list. I bought the Prima Luna One for a second system and it drove 86dba speakers to moderately high levels with no difficulty in a midsize to smaller room. Very musical and with some tube rolling it tunes easily to what you might expect. Its only shortfall in my opinion is the bass, while full is not quite as tight as it could be. Thats why I recommended the Two - it has larger power tubes (but not that much more actual power) fast recovery diodes, and it should also be tunable to your expectations, including tightening up the bass. It also has auto bias and is fused so if a tube blows up you just replace it - no trips to the repairman to put in new bias resistors. BUT it is a barebones integrated - no remote, no HT pass thru, no tape loop, and you can't seperate the preamp stage from the amp should you ever care to do so. Pricewise though its really a great amp.
hiend2's avatar
hiend2
374 posts
 
ROGUE 120 MONO BLOCKS. 70 WATTS TRIODE 120 ULTRA. SOUNDS MUCH MORE POWERFUL. TUBE AMPS LOOK AROUND 1300.00 YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS PURCHASE IVE OWNED 4 PAIRS OF MONOBLOCKS AFTER I SOLD MINE JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER ROGUE YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK TO SOLID STATE
3728slingshot
102 posts
 
looking at the used market I would seek out a Classe CAP-100 or CAP-150
razaroff OP
8 posts
 
Thanks for the great input so far - keep it coming, I'm loving it!

I have looked into the McCormack DNA amps, and am interested in knowing if it is actually worth it to buy a used one and then pay as much or more than the purchase price to have it upgraded. Do new models such as the current DNA-125 come with the upgraded parts, or are they at additional cost? Again, Thanks to all for the input.

A total $1500 +/- budget suggests that I'm looking to spend maybe $800 to $1000 on the power amp... More than $2000 total for amp, pre, and interconnects is out of the question.
c123666
871 posts
 
Audio Research models for a grand or less present a good choice; ie, SP6, sp8. Used Kora Eclipse which has a remote is supposedly a good option and less than 1500 used I've seen. There is a used Art Audio w/phono for 995 firm; well, there was a few days ago. Nice unit.

Amplifiers I would think of the Conrad Johnson EL34 model at less than a grand used. The VTL IT85 might make a good choice, too, and has the benefit of being able to add a second IT85 amp to match the internal amp.
aroc
760 posts
 
I'd run the McCormack unmodded. I think people were just recommending that down the road when you're looking to replace the DNA, you could pursue the SMc audio upgrades rather than replace the amp outright. The stock DNA isn't bad, and it fits in your price range. Spend the rest on a decent tube preamp, IMO.
razaroff OP
8 posts
 
Hello Hi-end2! Looking at Audiogon listings, a pair of 120 mono's would run over 2K alone, and even if I go with the Transcendent, TAD-150 or Symphonies Plus pre, I'm way over budget...
What about the Rogue 88 or Magnum 88? Tube amp alternatives available used might also be Consonance M-100 w/Svetlana 6550's, or a Jolida 502B. What is your take on this?
- Rick.
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superhonestben
194 posts
 
VTL it 85 is rock solid and a great product, so is the 2.5 preamp
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