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Best tube amp choice for Focal Electra 1038 Be

Hi,
I spent quite some time reading recommendation on what is the best amplifier for the Focal Electra 1038 Be speakers. Looks like that the first choice of most, who own these speakers or listened to them is Pass Lab. What about tube amplifiers, separates or integrated? I understand that to buy used/mint power and pre Pass amp I have to spent here on Audiogon about 7K (XA 30.5 + XP-10). I have to spent about the same amount for highly recommended INT-30A. So if this is my budget for tubes, what would you recommend?
My listening room is 15 by 12. My current amp is integrated LFD and the reason why I want to switch to something else is slightly fuzzy highs. I want them to be a little bit more forward and detailed. I listen mostly to acoustic jazz, blues and chamber music.
Recommendations on speaker cables will be appreciated also.
Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.
vad58
bmwmcab
63 posts
 
Give Accuphase or Luxman a listen.
vad58 OP
41 posts
 
Thanx for your advice, I'm just confused a little bit, because whatever company people recommend, every one have so many models. And we all know that their performance can be so different! Could you be more specific?
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
I have the AX7e and LOVE it with my Vandersteen Treo's...That said, if I could afford the AX5e, I'd go that route in a heartbeat. I've never heard another integrated sound so complete. Do you live near NJ? If so, go to Audio Connection in Verona and ask John to let you listen to them. He also has Belles and Rotel (their new stuff is unreal for the cost). He sells Quicksilvers too. He even had my own Silver Mono's that he's selling for me for a great price. Listen to the AX7e vs the AR, Quicksilver and Rogue tubes gear and see which one you like best. He has it all right there and you can AB to your hearts delight.
vad58 OP
41 posts
 
What a great advice to visit Audio Connection in Verona! I live in Brooklyn,NY, so it's about 1 hour drive. I will definitely go there in mid September. One more thing. Obviously I did one BIG mistake after I brought my Focals home. I changed my speakers and my speaker cables at the same time. So it's not only speakers are breaking in but the cable also. I had to factor them in too. Now after about 150 hours of usage sound changed dramatically and I started to recognize my old LFD. As Ayre, it's also Stereophile class A integrated amp. Still, after so many great reviews of Ayre I have to listen to it. HiFi bug never dies! Thanks again!
bmwmcab
63 posts
 
The Accuphase can be a little pricey. I believe the E550/E560 is a very capable integrated. Luxman has 2 class A integrated's. The L550A and the L590AX. If you can stretch it, the L590AX is a really good amp. All these integrated amps sound very tube like.
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