For musical, refined and smooth - you are probably looking at tubes (YES!!). Since your room is small, you can look at some lower powered more refined amplification.
Without knowing what gear you have previously owned or auditioned and loved, this is going to be tougher. Can you give us a hint what speakers in particular have done it for you? I am inclined to mention Kharma, Merlin, and Audio Note off hand. Each offers something that could fit your description with appropriate other components.
No matter what (given what you've said so far), I am going to recommend an Audio Note DAC - in my opinion, they are oh-so-musical, can be tailored by changing the 6dj8 equivalents, and are a good deal for the price (one.1x 2.1x or 1.1x) when bought used.
I will await further feedback before I would suggest particular amps, a cable match, and some tweaks (particularly room treatments which will be essential), though...
Hey - this is a fun question!
Hope that helps so far and looking forward to part 2.
Jacob
Without knowing what gear you have previously owned or auditioned and loved, this is going to be tougher. Can you give us a hint what speakers in particular have done it for you? I am inclined to mention Kharma, Merlin, and Audio Note off hand. Each offers something that could fit your description with appropriate other components.
No matter what (given what you've said so far), I am going to recommend an Audio Note DAC - in my opinion, they are oh-so-musical, can be tailored by changing the 6dj8 equivalents, and are a good deal for the price (one.1x 2.1x or 1.1x) when bought used.
I will await further feedback before I would suggest particular amps, a cable match, and some tweaks (particularly room treatments which will be essential), though...
Hey - this is a fun question!
Hope that helps so far and looking forward to part 2.
Jacob