Narrowing down choices in a power amp
Hello all,
I am looking for advice / specific models on a power amp for my existing system.
At this time, Baetis Music Server, AES/USB into T+A DAC 8, feeding into Mark Levinson 326S, feeding a ML 532H, into B&W 802 D2. Turntable is barely ever used.
The ML 532H is making occasional popping sound from 1 channel and then drops out. It owes me very little, I have used it for about 10 years, daily, for a few hours a day. Largish room, low volume listening, mostly blues, pop, rock.
Quality of sound is way more important than volume, I can likely live with a few watts of Class A power.
Per a previous post, it seems like some initial Class A is a really good goal.
Pass Labs and their dealer has recommended at a minimum a X250.8, with minimum 14 wpc Class A. The XA60.8 is not recommended.
Classe Delta Monoblocks have 35 wpc Class A, and get great reviews. Likely some development with my speakers in mind.
Classe Delta Stereo had 12 wpc Class A. Also get great reviews.
Benchmark AHB2 is sort of Class A, no one seems to talk about how musical / engaging / sound stage.
McIntosh MC462 has great reviews, no Class A, I don't need 450 wpc anyways.
Luxman M10X has 12 wpc Class A, seems like a very happy following, I am intrigued. More power than I need but, hey.
Simaudio Moon 400M, 10 wpc Class A, can't find any in depth reviews.
Mark Levinson 536 monoblocks, no Class A, great reviews and I have a ML preamp.
Hegel H30A, hi bias AB amp, great reviews, not Class A.
I am sure there are other brands. Being 3 hours away from the closest stereo shop, with snow covered roads, not helping getting out.
So, my research, and it all comes down to not being able to get out to audition, likely until health and roads are better.
Musicality, engagement, sound quality are way more important than sheer volume.
Thoughts?
I am not open to buying from the US. As I said, I have heard of gear being held due to paperwork issues, at the border. Budget, I don't like to discuss. It should be obvious to some extent, when I am mentioning gear with a list price of over $25k Cdn. Pass XA 25 or 30.8 have been ruled out, by Pass Labs and their dealer. In the XA line, I was advised XA 100 or higher.
|
+1 @twoleftears I was about to recommend the Accuphase A-48S or A-80, depending on @robeffy 's budget. One thing I can say is that though my 50W Accuphase replaced the 250W Parasound, it sounds far more powerful than the Parasound. Refinement and truth of timber is at a completely different level. Just try to audition a well burned-in Accuphase Class A amp and you will know what I mean. Check this Accuphase thread I had started. |
Musical, engaging, resolving = Audionet. A pair of Audionet Max amps used for 10 - 15 k. or a pair of Audionet Amps: https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbed8c-audionet-amp-solid-state https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650285512-audionet-amp-mono-block-pair-pristine-condition/ So much more resolving than ML or Accuphase or Pass So much more lively and interesting than Benchmark. Less fatiguing and brittle than Luxman. I moved up the chain from Amps (good!) Max's (the sweet spot) and now Heisenbergs (amazing). |
