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Integrated amp for Quad 22L?

I am looking for an integrated amp, preferably used, to drive the Quad 22L speakers. I listen primarily to rock(70%) - classic, alternative, modern & some classical - instrumental, indian fusion(20%) & vocal(10%). I prefer a warm sound, with a good, tight bass, nice mids and smooth highs. The speakers will be in a small room(15'x12') placed along the width.

Budget is 1K & I am fine with either SS or tube but have never owned a tube product, so I am unsure about maintenance. Since I have a limited budget for now, I plan to use a Roku soundbridge playing my cd's ripped to FLAC/WAV from htpc.

- The 22L is rated 89dB at 6 ohms. What is the minimum power requirements for the amp? I don't play music at rock-the-house levels but need something which delivers impact on music like Zeppelin, Pink Floyd etc.
- I would like to use the optical out on the Roku. Are there any integrated amps which have digital input(coax or optical)?
- If I wanted to add a subwoofer in the future, can an integrated amp provide the necessary pre-out?

I should add that the dealer was driving them with a Quad cd player & pre-pro. He suggested that Arcam would also be a good match. How about NAD, Rotel & the Outlaw receiver(RR2150)?
srinivos
srinivos OP
5 posts
 
Metman,

This will be first dedicated 2-channel system, so I don't know the first thing about biasing or replacing tubes. I read a little of the TAD-60 review & discussion and the technical details seem to be complicated.

How often do you need to do this & how difficult is it? Should I just stick to SS or hybrid components for now?
metman
233 posts
 
I don't know how my reply was posted twice, but anyway, don't be intimidated, biasing the tubes is a piece of cake. It really involves nothing more then hooking up a meter that I believe paul provides and turning a screw until it reads the proper bias, and this only needs to be done on the power tubes, and only needs to be checked very infrequently or when you replace a tube. Talk to Paul at Bizzybee, He's a great guy and will answer any question you may have. if you cannot reach him via phone just email him, he's usually fairly quick to respond.

Ken
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,756 posts
 
This is actually less than your budget but the Audio Refinement Complete is an absolutely wonderful SS integrated. I've owned amps from NAD, Rotel and, while I think the Rotels are a good value, the Audio Refinement is a big step up from either the NAD or the Rotel.
panu21
82 posts
 
just purchased a prima luna dialogue one . tried it with my quad 22l and sounds great. beautiful build lots of power.dont need to know much about tubes ,i dont. check upscale audio website.
sonicbeauty
324 posts
 
I owned these great speakers.
I second the Cayin T-30 (Paul's TAD-30)for an amazing tube amp, and actually a tube roller's dream with the extended bias option ( kt-88, 6550, el-34, and more).

HOWEVER the Arcam A85 is THE match for the 22L's. They have smart microprocessor-controlled toned controls that actually work. It will get rid of some of the slight box colorations the L22 may have at lower frequencies. a divine match for a great budget system!

Good luck !
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