[budbrew]

I currently have the CIAudio D-100s and I think they will fit your bill. They are still breaking in. They are dead quiet (it's eery coming from tubes), detailed and musical. With a new baby I'm moving away from SET monoblocks and I don't miss much with the D-100s and gained the quiet and a more detailed presentation. I enjoy them. However, they may be a little too polite for me. Coming from tubes they sound very, very clean, perhaps too clean. But I think they are worth your listen.

[Frihed91]

Phil,  Does Gilbert have any dealers near Raleigh-Durham NC?

[Papajin]

Phil,  Does Gilbert have any dealers near Raleigh-Durham NC?

Bryan Ingenito is out of Charlotte.  It's possible there's an even closer dealer and assuming Phil doesn't know one offhand, I'd suggest sending an email to bcircle@bluecircle.com and asking.  They were very responsive when I emailed them asking for a local dealer awhile back.

[PhilNYC]

Bryan Ingenito is out of Charlotte.  It's possible there's an even closer dealer and assuming Phil doesn't know one offhand, I'd suggest sending an email to bcircle@bluecircle.com and asking.  They were very responsive when I emailed them asking for a local dealer awhile back.

Yeah, Bryan (originally my customer!!! ) is the only BC dealer in North Carolina, and closest to Raleigh...

[Frihed91]

Phil,  Don't you fish?  According to Gilbert, everyone has gone fishing!

To the rest of you, Gilbert Yeung is very accessible at Blue Circle.  You can reach him at Gilbert@bluecircle.com.

[PhilNYC]

Phil,  Don't you fish?  According to Gilbert, everyone has gone fishing!

To the rest of you, Gilbert Yeung is very accessible at Blue Circle.  You can reach him at Gilbert@bluecircle.com.

Sorry, no fishing for me...only bbq and tunes...

And Gilbert will probably be attending the August NY Audio Rave...

[Frihed91]

That sounds like fun.  He told me he was coming to Denver just to watch.  I plan to attend.  I am not sure which BC dealer(s) will be there.  Where can I order him a Hello Kitty T-shirt, or does he already have one? 

[KLe]

Hi Carlman
Many good amps have been recommended, so just thought I would recommend Greg Ball's GB300D amps. I use his 300D and have found them to be very dynamic, involving, neutral, very quiet, excellent focus and stage, reasonably priced, and overall, a very good amp.

Here's a few reports of his 150D and 300D amps http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=26819.0 

rgds
KL

[Carlman]

Just thought I'd post that I decided the McIntosh MC402 is what I'll be getting... I heard the MC501's at a recent comparison at my house, along with the CIA D200's and my current Butler... (BTW, The Butler surprised me a little at how good it really is compared to the others.) 

I was thinking the McIntosh MC252 might fit the bill but I think I need more power to get the impact and control I liked about the 501's.  I can't really afford the 501's so the 402 is going to have to 'do'...   Even though I haven't actually heard the 402, I feel pretty good that it'll work for me.  Plus, I like having just 1 amp instead of 2... not a big deal, though.  Another couple of good points about more power... they will work in a larger room if I move... and in my experience, more power equates to better sound at low volume.

The Mc's are notoriously quiet but they also deliver the goods when it comes to bass, detail, and resolution.  They do have a 'richness' to them so they aren't completely without color but I like what I hear.

Thanks for all the recommendations... I'm happy to be in the 'home stretch' with my system.  I think I've done as good as I can on this multi-year odyssey to sonic nirvana.  I'm there and I'm very happy about it. 

-C

[avta]

Carlman:
You probably don't remember me but I'm the fellow your casual comment turned into a pc-based music devote'.  Thanks again for that. I'm in the same boat you are although not as far along. I'm trying to decide on an amp for my Magnepan 1.6's. I've got a Norh ACA 2b tubed pre. and I'm currently using a Mac system with Apple lossless files to a Squeezebox2. I was wondering if you'd listened to a Nuforce amp in your system or any of the class D amps such as Channel Island's D-200?  Also, about what would I expect to pay for the McIntosh you are considering if you don't mind me asking?
Guy

[Carlman]

Carlman:
You probably don't remember me but I'm the fellow your casual comment turned into a pc-based music devote'.  Thanks again for that. I'm in the same boat you are although not as far along. I'm trying to decide on an amp for my Magnepan 1.6's. I've got a Norh ACA 2b tubed pre. and I'm currently using a Mac system with Apple lossless files to a Squeezebox2. I was wondering if you'd listened to a Nuforce amp in your system or any of the class D amps such as Channel Island's D-200?  Also, about what would I expect to pay for the McIntosh you are considering if you don't mind me asking?
Guy

Hey Guy! I remember, glad it worked out!   I haven't looked back since I switched over a year ago.  The technology has really evolved to where recipes for good sound are emerging in many areas... the Olive looks attractive, hard drives are getting huge, different player software is out, the Slim devices/streaming concept has taken off... etc.  But, I'm still doing it the 'old fashioned' way.   Well, except for one thing... PM me about unmapping your soundcard.

I have tried the Nuforce and CI Audio D200 amps.  Neither were a good fit for my system or tastes but they might be for yours.  The only digital amp I've liked was a TacT 2150, which amplifies in a very unique way and is nothing like a switching amp.  I was hoping to hear an Aberdeen-modified version but it didn't work out.

The MC402 I think retails around 6,k and I've seen them used but in very good shape in the 4,5 to 5,k range. 

-C