I haven't had a chance to check them out yet, but I've read a few good things about Bel Canto Designs("A few" is all the press they've gotten). They make an integrated tube unit (the SETi40) that retails for $5200, and they say they think it may sound better than their seperates. It's a single-ended triode design (which you may or may not want), but I think it puts out 35 watts RMS into 4 or 8 ohms. The only problem may be the fact that it only has 3 inputs. It was chosen by Stereophile as a class A integrated (Issue 3 of 1999, I think), and a few other mags liked it too. Check out their website... www.belcantodesigns.com (If that doesn't work, try it without the last "s")
Do I really need separates?
Currently the main system is a Anthem Integrated 2 fed by a Sonic Frontiers SFCD-1 through XLO ref. Speakers are Near 50meII. Cables MIT MH-750 bi-wires. Would I really hear a difference if I replaced the integrated with tube separates from BAT or Sonic Frontiers. Also, will a 50 watt tube amp push as much current as a solid state amp. My wife has suddenly got the audiophile bug worse than me. She really wants tubes (I guess I do to) but we also want to hear an improvement over the current rig. The cd-player we both love as well as the speakers. I guess we are a little confused. What happened to the good old days when I didn't even have the money to consider all this. Or max price point for making the switch is about 5k. please can someone help?