Integrated Tube Around $1000
Hi Rich. Not knocking your comment but one man's "loud" is another man's soft. There was a thread (I think on AA) about that and some thought 85dB was loud but headbangers were laughing at them. It's another example of how everything's relative. Matthew - you seem sold on the 30W. Give it a try and let us know how it goes! Arthur |
Another vote for the Jolida 302b. I would prefer the EL34 based 302b against the 502b. For your Totem Monitors the slightly fuller bass won't be a problem. I am driving some 88dB, 4Ohm Mission monitors, which are fairly power hungry, without problems. It works great for all kinds of music: Indian Classical, Jazz, Western Classical, Pop, Electronic. I just love the involving and lively character of the JD302b. Verastarr used to offer a 302b/502b converted amp that can use both EL34 and KT88 type tubes. Might be worth checking out to see which tubes you prefer. Also, I would make sure to budget some better tubes for the 302b or 502b (SED EL34, NOS for the rest). They are so much better than the stock tubes. Sorry, I never heard the Primaluna: based on the reviews and user comments it should be a great amp as well; probably with better built quality than the Jolida. Good luck and enjoy. |
I have no experience with the Jolida or the Model One's. FWIW, I run a Conrad Johnson MV-55 tube amp & a Creek OBH-12 passive preamp (with remote) with Totem Arro's. I normally listen at a measured 70db and I never turn the volume more than a third of the way up. My room size is 12x22x8. With careful shopping you may be able to get an MV-55 for $900 and the Creek for $200. Vince, the owner of Totem, suggested that I stick with my tube amp for the Arro's as it has great synergy. I think that the Conrad Johnson sound adds a nice roundness to the razor sharp sound of the Arro's. My 2 cents! |
Ok, here's a short correction to what I said earlier. I lied. The Mission 751s I have are 89dB and 6Ohm (not as wrongly stated before 88db, 4Ohm). Still I found them fairly difficult to drive with a Linn LK 85 and Rega Mira I had previously. The Jolida 302 does a much better job than either one in terms of musicality and loudness. |
Hi Arthur; The 85db that I was referring to with the AR 302 and the NHT SB2 speakers was their sensitivity ... as opposed to the resultant sound level that I am driving them at. I doubt that I am using more than a watt or so of the Prologue Two's power output, though. In HI FI Plus' review of the Prologue Two, it speaks a bit about how loud the amp plays. Regards, Rich |
