2. amps-preamps
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Seeking warm, smooth musical amp 2k with features

So what's new - I want the warmth/magic of tubes and convenience of solid state with features galore in the order of priority: remote, pre-out, phono, headphone under $2,000. Yes I love the idea of tubes and tube rolling but with baby ready to crawl - I think I should restrict tube to pre-amp only.

I am particularly seeking musical enjoyment at low listening levels to not to awake baby. Since my wife will also be using this system, simpler the solution the better it is.

My humble system:
- Von Schweikert VR1 Monitors (efficiency 89db) with VR Sub
- Pioneer 563A Universal Player with
- Bel Canto DAC2 - still breaking in
- Arcam A65+ 40wpc integrated - warm but lacking detail especially at low listening volumes
- Thorens 170 entry level turntable
- Signal Cables and interconnects
- Stock Power cables and stock power strip and AC outlet.

Living in NYC apartment - room size 12*21 - open to foyer on one side. Wood floors with area rug. Room acoustics seems ok with furniture etc.

Here's my short list (other recommendations are welcome) - some within budget and some not - so would consider geting used/B-stock (my wife rightly thinks I don't have any hi-fi budget :-0 under $2000.)

+ Unison Unico Hybrid
+ Consonance 120 Hybrid
+ Marsh Sound Design - Hybrid Pre and Solid State Power
+ VTL or Quicksilver Pre- with ??? Solid State Power
+ Electrocompaniet ECI 3 / Plinius 9100 Integrated

Listen Mostly to Acoustic Jazz, Classical Chamber, Opera and Orchestra, Religious Vocal (poor recordings but great music)
Some Bluegrass, Classic Rock and Celtic

I want to get settled with my system - lower my noise floor and enjoy music even at low listening levels.

Your help will be greatly appreciated in choosing integrated or separates and helping reduce noise floor with tweaks or system matching. Thanks a lot.
saisunil
8 responses Add your response
swklein
136 posts
 
You might want to look for a used Audio Research 100.2.
driver's avatar
driver
750 posts
 
How about a Pass Aleph 30 for the amp & use your Arcam for the pre?

I would also suggest some aftermarket PC's & outlets. If you're happy with the Signal Cable, go that route, although I've not used them myself.

As for tweaks, check out the tweak/DIY section on AA. An audio bud here in town has gone on an "isolation device binge" and has a pretty decent report on affordable tweaks.

I'm guessing your room has you pretty limited with speaker placement but if you're able, you might want to play around with positioning, including toe-in. This can make a huge difference, per the following example. I just finished listening to the VR-1's, as I had new socks put on the top modules of my VR4's. I positioned them on top of the bottom modules & just by changing the toe-in one inch was able to get a substantially better soundstage. I spent 4 months on spkr. positioning, so thought just lining them up with the bottom modules would yield similar results-not quite.

You didn't mention if you had the VR's on stands or not, as with a new "crawler", that might not be practical, although that would give you the best chance for adjustment. You could just put the stands out of reach until you're ready for a serious listening session.

Good luck!
aball
2,016 posts
 
I tried an ARC 100.2 for a while but I didn't find it as smooth or musical as my McIntosh MC7200. You say you are looking for an amp but then the text suggests you meant "integrated." For a $2k budget and your system, I would get a McIntosh MA6500 hands down. Good luck! Arthur
nzera
68 posts
 
I was looking for exactly the same qualities in a kid-friendly integrated. A Plinius 9200 worked for me- warm full-bodied midrange, great phono stage, pre-outs and HT bypass, detailed but not thin or bright. The Plinius sounds great with the VR2, and should work well with the VR1s. If you can find a used or demo 9200 in your price range, it should be a step-up from the other amps you listed. The Plinius 8200 MK2 is also an excellent amp and often comes up used for less than $1500.
jeffjarvis
257 posts
 
Second hand Mcintosh MA6500.
Has a loudness button and tone controls for low volume listening. Looks cool.
Under your $2000 budget.
s23chang
617 posts
 
vintage MC240 and you'll love it. So far it is the best amp drive the Rogers LS3/5A
groove
8 posts
 
People may not agree, but I found the Conrad Johnson Solid State line of amplifiers to be very warm and actually quite "tubey" in sound.

Now, they are not the best amps out there - but they are very warm, musical, & have the signiture CJ sound. They can be found for under $2k. I Demo'd MAC's and lot's of others - IMO the CJ is one of the warmest amps I have heard. I ultimatley choose to go with VAC - but if you want the tube sound without the bottles - CJ is as close as I have heard.
saisunil OP
22 posts
 
Thank you so much all for your valuable input. Of course it made my head spin at a faster than already insane rate ;-) I followed through all the suggestions and finally decided to persue Plinius 8200 MK2 - which I was told early in my hi-fi persuit to be a very musical and warm amp - much more so than their new 9xxx series. But I missed the Plinius 8200 MK2 offered at $1250 - it was sold in less than 2 days.

I saw a reasonable offer at audiogon for Sophiaelectric tube used . I decided to keep my Arcam A65+ Integrated and had my wife agree to get an all tube amp as a second amp for me. With capacitor upgrade and shipping - it is ~ $950. Yeah, it doesn't have remote or phono or several input but I was not getting all the features at my pricepoint in any other unit - so I'll keep SS int as main and use tubes as and when desired. Tubes is what I have been really dreaming of - I went all for it - while keeping all the features I wanted with the solid-state and use tubes as secondary - well that's the plan I may end up listening mostly to tubes. It is crazy but exciting.

www.sophiaelectric.com

Discussed my needs with owner Richard and found him very helpful and persuasive.

Cheers,
Thanks a lot
Sunil
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