I don't know what your finances permit, but you might just try something in home for a while before you sell any of your current gear. Several online dealers have 30-day return policies, and you can always buy a used component and then resell it if it's not an improvement over what you have. My personal suggestion would be the Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP with KT150 tubes. One of the advantages of the Primaluna is that it's auto-biasing, and it take a wide range of tubes. Regardless of what you do, enjoy the journey!
Considering simplifying my system... talk me down (or whatever)
I few weeks ago, I turned eighty. I don't know how that happened to me, but it did, so I suppose I've officially entered Geezerhood. Although I'm now ancient, I am anything but deaf. I have been gifted with extraordinary hearing throughout my life and it continues to this day... I love music (my wife is a professional pianist), and I have enjoyed my current system for several years.
That said, I have been considering simplifying my system by selling my current line stage preamp, phono preamp, and power amplifier (Sonic Frontiers SFL-2, Sonic Frontiers SFP, and Audio Research VT-100, respectively), and replacing the three with a single integrated amp.
To my ears, this system is extraordinary. These pieces drive what may be among the best Klipschorns on the planet: 1972 K-horns, modified with Martinelli tractrix mid horns with TAD2001 drivers, JBL 2404 tweeters, and Al Klappenberger's extreme slope networks (20db/octave). I'll be keeping these until I need some nursing home money (!)
The last time I visited the Klipsch factory (in Hope, Arkansas!), they were using a Cayin something-or-other in their listening room... it was glorious, I think one of those would do quite nicely for me.
Perhaps there is no logic at all to this "simplifying" idea. I've just been thinking that sooner or later we will find ourselves in a different living situation and perhaps simpler might be better. So, I'm leaving it to the brain trust here to talk me down.
Have a nice weekend, y'all
That said, I have been considering simplifying my system by selling my current line stage preamp, phono preamp, and power amplifier (Sonic Frontiers SFL-2, Sonic Frontiers SFP, and Audio Research VT-100, respectively), and replacing the three with a single integrated amp.
To my ears, this system is extraordinary. These pieces drive what may be among the best Klipschorns on the planet: 1972 K-horns, modified with Martinelli tractrix mid horns with TAD2001 drivers, JBL 2404 tweeters, and Al Klappenberger's extreme slope networks (20db/octave). I'll be keeping these until I need some nursing home money (!)
The last time I visited the Klipsch factory (in Hope, Arkansas!), they were using a Cayin something-or-other in their listening room... it was glorious, I think one of those would do quite nicely for me.
Perhaps there is no logic at all to this "simplifying" idea. I've just been thinking that sooner or later we will find ourselves in a different living situation and perhaps simpler might be better. So, I'm leaving it to the brain trust here to talk me down.
Have a nice weekend, y'all