Silicon Under 60, Slim Pickings?


I bought a tube amplifier because lower wattage SS amps are hard pickings. I'm driving FAL Flat Supreme S Speakers. 95db, 8W min tubes, 50W SS, max 60W

As daily driver a custom 8W Triode Lab EL84 amplifier, the sole valve amp I've liked(more assertive than the mean) ; however I'm thinking of returning to the silicon camp. My speakers are craving power and me a more tactile sound. I'm not a fan of the romanticism of tubes nor sand hardware voiced the same for that matter. Timbre top priority, sound-staging last.

The recent developments in Class-D have caught my attention but I feel left out; were I to mate a pair of 400W monos with my speakers there would be fireworks, no? What options do I have without exceeding 60w? My system is in a state of upheavel so I'm looking at anything between power amps to fully integrated DAC/Integrated. Perhaps a full Exogal Comet/Ion system but I'm concerned about the wattage again. That should give an idea of my absolute max budget wise. 3.5-4K Less is more.
redfuneral

Showing 1 response by tgrisham

I know that most will scoff at this suggestion. The Tripath amplifiers are very transparent. I have a TP-60 from Topping driving Dynaudios in a small loft. Heavy toroidal iron, nice binding posts, Alps volume pot if you need it. Plenty of power for your speakers. Built in overload and high temp protection. I don't think they have a sound of their own but do remind me of tube amps. They are never too accentuated on top as some transistor amps can be. Solid throughout the entire frequencies. Money back if you don't like it. Now, it doesn't have the cachet of the big boys mentioned.