Given what you’re looking for I’d get a Coda amp and pair it with a Spatial Audio Raven or Aric Audio Motherload XL tube preamp. Best of luck.
Recommendations for an Amp/Preamp combo excellent musically and very reliable
Hello, having often encountered major reliability problems with components that may be too sophisticated in their design and which have taken too many months to be repaired, I thank you for giving me your recommendations for an Amp/Preamp combo that is excellent musically and also solid as a rock. My speakers are Magnepan 3.7i with 2 Vandersteen subwoofers.. My room is 550ft2. I am looking for a holographic placement of voices and instruments, a 3D soundstage. I want a sound that gives me goosebumps. I do not want the bass to be sloppy. I am looking for a sound that is not tiring after a few hours of listening. My musical styles are very varied from classical music to jazz, pop, world music, rock, blues, rap, hip-hop...Budget is up to $15k and I could consider used equipment. Thank you.
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The context of my statement was the Magnepan LRS+ and the Mini (which is the same driver as the OP’s speaker). In this context I like the Wotan over the Sanders Magtech because the Wotan has more bass and almost as clean top end. The CODA #8 is very similar sonically to the Wotan from my audio memory. I do not think I had the #8 when I had Maggies. However, I have the #16 now and I can extrapolate the sound to my old #8. The CODA #16 is the best overall amp I have owned It is almost as clean top as the Benchmark AHB2, similar bass (or more bass) as the Wotan, and a beautiful Class A tone like the KRELL Duo 175XD. I owned all of these amps before. I put the Sanders, CODA #8, and the Wotan about the same level of performance with the Maggies, which are hard to drive. My suggestion to people is to give the Wotan a home trial and maybe have a lot more funds for other gear. I needed 30 days of hard playing before the top end cleaned up on the Wotan. |
I'll throw in mention of Hegel. My system is the Hegel H360 to Sopra 2 speakers with a pair of REL low frequency drivers. (REL doesn't like to call them "subs"). Electrons come from a Synergistic Research 12UEF. Good cables throughout. The internal Hegel DAC is bypassed and the digital signal is processed by a Holo May. I find the system to be clean, airy, resolving, tight articulate bass. And the extremely important mid and lower-mid range has warmth and fullness but is not over expressed, which suits my personal preference. Overall the Hegel+system creates a palpable soundstage with at times very beguiling presence. My room is terrible, btw. Like, terrible. But the future holds promise. Also, if anyone is using a Holo May and your phase lock loop (PLL) is off, please try with it turned on. It was a PITA to figure out an it causes an initial delay of anywhere from about 1-10 seconds when switching or turning on sources, but the improvement in sound can be dramatic. At least it was in my case.
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mllc Definitely a tube preamp with a solid state amplifier, would be exactly what you are asking for. For disclosure I own a CODA S5.5 amplifier paired with an Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp......everything I could ever want Preaamps - Aric Audio Motherlode II $5,750 (RCA jacks only) or Motherlode XL $6,875 (RCA and fully balanced XLR), Don Sachs/Lynn Olson Raven preamp $6,395, Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.4 $8,500, Supratek 6SN7 Cabernet $4,500 or Grange $6,500 (though Supratek is shipped from Australia.....tariffs?" Solid state amps - Coda #8 $6,800 or #16 $17,500 for sure would be my first choice......Pass Labs X250.8 $11,500, Sanders Magtech $12,000 would be second for me. The CODA S5.5 is a supremely talented high current amplifier, but probably would not be a good mix for your speakers. Obviously there is more expensive gear you could buy that would fit the bill as well. |
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