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Anyone recommend a neutral tube amp?

I've been wanting to move to tubes for some time now. Lately I've changed most of my equipment. I now have a Rega Saturn CDP and some very revealing Opera Callas monitors. My amp is the Sim Moon 5.3 integrated. I like the neutral character of the amp, it simply takes on the characteristics of whatever is being played through it. Can anyone name a tube amp that is similarly neutral, that won't color the sound of the CDP?
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Showing 4 responses by pubul57

pubul57
3,712 posts
 
ARC would seem be leaders in the neutrality arena. I think my CAT JL2 would fall into the neutrality side of the ledger.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I agree, I think balance is a much more important attribute, sounds better in more applications, and causes much less fatigue and boredom in the long run. My CAT JL2 is balanced top to bottom, as is my ARS Sonum integrated, yet they sound quite different, the ARS is "warmer" to some extent, but both are balanced through the frequency range. I have no idea which is more accurate though.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I just started playing with a Music Reference RM10 MKII ($1950)which is a wonderful little amp and an incredible bargain if 35 watts is sufficient (I also listend to the RM9 which has a similar sound signature if you need more power). This is defintely in the neutral camp, and in the best sense of the word.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I think you will find much fewer folks saying tubes don't soar, than folks claiming tubes are neutral. But I think Mrtennis is right that there is some convergence between SS and tubes with tubes becoming more neutral, much less obviously colored than in the past; they have always been enoyable and sometimes more obviously so than SS IMHO.
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