I would also suggest looking at Triode labs / Finale audio. Some very nicely made tube amps.
class amp dilemma to match with Pure Audio Project Horns should I see an audio-astrologer?
Dear Audiogon nutcases….
I am considering an amp upgrade…. An amp sidestep? … an amp diversion? Help me clarify paths forward….
I currently have my Pure Audio Project Duet Horn’s running on a Prima Luna Dialogue HP with Ray Power Tubes and Radiotechnique Gain Tubes. It sounds… pretty damn good.
But for some reason, I have this memory… hallucination…. Of experiencing a more vivid, strikingly present, astonishingly real presentation of the instruments in the room. (Not sure if this is a dream or what….)
And so I have been mulling around an amp upgrade to achieve a more vivid sense of presence and realism.
I am thinking of the following amps to match my Pure Audio Project Duet Horns:
-Decware SEWE 300B Sarah (not concerned with the wait time, can find one used…. but is a good match for my PAP’s?… super curious about 300B... I like that I won't need a preamplifier since I only run roon --> nagar steamer --> DAC and a phono preamp....)
-Pass Labs X25 (This is what the owner of PAP uses during trade shows, and is well regarded with other PAP owners)
-First Watt Sit 4 (This seems a little bit warmer and musical according to reviews, than the X25… but is it even hotter running than my Prima Luna?)
-Prima Luna with Ray Tubes and Radiotechnique Gain Tubes! (Is this the best it gets….???)
I have been looking at reviews and forum posts… My room is smallish (14 x 16’ with an 8’ ceiling) (and I live in NYC where huge bass is not an option) …
Music Tastes: All over the map, currently a lot of free jazz, experimental classical, Russian composers, solo piano, violin, African, vocals…. I disappear into the music and want a full hallucination…
What do you think I should do?
r
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I had the PrimaLuna EVO 400 pre, amp and the PrimaLuna Dac a couple years ago, that was with the Klipsch Forte IVs, it didn’t work out. The PrimaLuna after a year started to eat power tubes and blowing fuses, I replaced the PrimaLuna tubes and sold all three pieces and never been so happy to leave tubes behind and I never was happy with the sound maybe 75% even after going down the tube rabbit hole. Next and what I have now is Pass Labs preamp, the XA-25 and and the Sit-4 and that’s definitely giving me everything and no worries if everything is going to turn on and play all day. I got rid of the Klipsch speakers and 100% happy with my Volti Lucera speakers, I have been going back and forth with the Sit-4 and XA-25 in my system,I am sorry to say but the XA-25 has won the Sit-4 is out of my system and I have it for sale if someone in my area the Pacific Northwest of Washington state wants it come on over and get it. If you like tubes keep what you have other tube amps won’t make you happy get the XA-25 before you go down the more tube rabbit hole, the XA-25 doesn’t get very hot sounds glorious..that’s my 2 cents worth lol Meinter MA3i dac, Pass Labs XP-12 pre,Pass Labs XA-25 amp, First Watt Sit-4, Volti Lucera speakers.. tube amps never again… |
If on a budget look into the Dynaco ST35. If its an older one make sure its sorted out properly. They can be surprisingly musical, even to people that really like SETs. I've heard several SETs on that speaker. 2A3s and 300bs. They didn't have enough power and SETs have problems making bass to begin with (a technical thing that any designer of output transformers for such amps knows all too well). There are class D amps now that would work well on this speaker. |
this is a personal subjective question that only the OP can answer. The 300b has a great warmth reputation, but 300b tubes can be pricey. I’m using my 100db speakers to investigate tube midrange magic starting with SET amps 300b/45/2a3 +1 @atmasphere - some high sensitivity speakers require more current to drive/control the cone bass units. Seems a 301SET is lacking in power for the PAP. |
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