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Good amp choices with LTA Velo as pre amp?

I’m wondering what would be a good amp choice to use with a Linear Tube Audio  Velo used as preamp? Any Velo owners have experience/recommendations they are willing to share?

I can say that it’s not a good match with the 2 class D amps I have, an Apollon NCx500 and a Buckeye NCx502, driving 93db efficient  Caladan speakers. This sounds compressed for dynamics and treble lacks sparkle. What is working for the moment is using a 1watt MZ2 as amp, this sounds glorious for treble sparkle, midrange nuance and color, dynamics are fine, but low bass needs more wattage to have authority vs politeness. Thinking at this point that 20~50 watts is all I need. LTA is recommending either the Zotl40+ or their Ultralinear amp, which will run about $7k. Is there another choice that works well with the  Velo in the $3~7k price range?

davide256
yyzsantabarbara
5,564 posts
 

I am actually going from a CODA #16 Class A amp to the Class D Audio GanFet 6.5 amp. The CODA #16 is better in every way on my best system, Yamaha NS5000 speakers. However, on my much worse Magnepan Mini speakers the 6.5 is closer to the #16. On the NS5000, the 6.5 is way behind. 

I am replacing the #16 with another CODA #11 amp (already have it). I think the CODA S5.5, which is 50 watts of pure Class A would work great with your preamp. My #16, which I am selling to raise cash for something else, would also be great but it maybe overkill for your speakers since they are so efficient. I have seen the CODA 5.5 used on USAM for around $4.5 which is about half the price of a used #16.

 

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,564 posts
 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650219409-coda-s55-pick-up-only/

davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
433 posts
 

I ran across a First Watt F7 and bought it, it’s working well . But it exposed that the Caladans had more distortion than Magnepan 1.7, I’m using it with them instead. My challenge for next upgrade is to review the speaker market, to see if i can find something as harmonically clean as the 1.7’s but more efficient in the $6~10k range. Else I see no other choice than to go for a more powerful Pass amp

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