amp info

njdeadhead · « **on:** 17 Dec 2006, 03:47 am »

Hi all this is my frist post here and also very new to the world of high end hifi gear. I am looking in to geting a good Integrated Amplifier. I was looking at the musical fidelity A5, A3.5 and also thinking about the Exposure 2010 S. Any info on the to of them or some other amps that I should look in to. I would be very grateful to get any info and thanks for all your time.

-Brian

Bob Reynolds · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 06:00 am »

Others I would suggest are: Krell KAV, Bryston B100, Creek 5350SE, Arcam, NAD.

If you don't require remote volume control, you might consider an NHT PVC (passive volume control) plus any of the ATI amplifiers. It'll be hard to beat the sonic value of this pair.

Gordy · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 06:04 am »

The Jolida's have a great rep and more than a few fans here at AC, I've no experience with them myself...
http://www.jolida.com/catalogue/index.shtml

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 06:38 am »

Quote from: njdeadhead on 17 Dec 2006, 03:47 am

Hi all this is my frist post here and also very new to the world of high end hifi gear. I am looking in to geting a good Integrated Amplifier. I was looking at the musical fidelity A5, A3.5 and also thinking about the Exposure 2010 S. Any info on the to of them or some other amps that I should look in to. I would be very grateful to get any info and thanks for all your time.

-Brian

Might need some more info...
Budget....
Room size.....
Speakers.....
Type of music...
The more info, the better.....

LightFire · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 07:30 am »

NAD amps

njdeadhead · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 07:36 am »

Room size 10 by 15ft studio and 7ft high. Not a lot of room so it most go well with being under or next to a to a tv. Speakers I have a set of B&W 601 S3 that was giving to me by a frend. As far as music gos led zep, pink floyd the grateful dead and every thing you can think of. If I had to set a budget I would say like 1600 to 2000. From what I have read I don't think that a tup amp would go good in my room with it need to be next to a tv and all. So far when I went to the hifi store my me I was looking at amp by musical fidelity, MARANTZ, ROTEL, ARCAM and McINTOSH witch was to much money for me. The one that sound the best to my ears was the KW 500 by musical fidelity but at like $7000 I can't go there so that was why I was looking at the A5 and the a3.5. I did like the way that the musical fidelity amp maked you feel like you where seting in the room with the band. I know that is going to be a hard thing to find at what I have to spend on a amp.

-brian

LightFire · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 07:45 am »

Try NAD. It may cost you like 700.00

njdeadhead · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 07:59 am »

700 new or used.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 07:59 am »

Quote from: LightFire on 17 Dec 2006, 07:45 am

Try NAD. It may cost you like 700.00

Better yet....go listen to a NAD. Since you have heard the musical fidelity models....and by their spec's they would work in your size room and with your speakers....the more you hear, the better you will know what your looking for.

Budget....1600. to 2000.
Room size 10 by 15ft studio and 7ft high....
B&W 601 S3 speakers
Music...led zep, pink floyd the grateful dead

G Georgopoulos · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 08:01 am »

Hi

Good integrated amplifiers are realy hard to find these days

Try as many amps as you can, listen for good sound, from a good source (cd)

If I could suggest an amp a friend told me of YAMAHA integrated amps, but
these will be costly, if you can afford them try them you might not like
them yourself, find something that you like, good luck!!

George
http://georgopoulos.awardspace.com

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 08:10 am »

Quote from: njdeadhead on 17 Dec 2006, 07:59 am

700 new or used.

This.....would be the model in that range.....and a review.......but try to listen for yourself....

LightFire · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 08:17 am »

Quote from: njdeadhead on 17 Dec 2006, 07:59 am

700 new or used.

New. Check their web site and try to locate a dealer.

http://nadelectronics.com/index

JLM · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 12:13 pm »

NuForce (see circle below) has just upgraded their digital integrated to 100 wpc. It's very small, runs cool, and Jason provides great service. Its in your price range and sound quality-wise leagues ahead of NAD or your speakers.

If you can't crank it up, I'd think seriously about the tiny DA-10 (palm sized, 10 wpc, one input, $99, see 6moons.com) or the Super T (still very small, similar design, $139 from Partsexpress.com). These would be gap fillers/future bedroom amps, but even most audiophiles would be amazed at how loud 10 watts can be (especially with the right speakers). Something in the middle (more power, more money, less quality, and smaller than NAD and the like) would be Onix or Cambridge Audio.

I assume you're on a significant upgrade path. Stay with some sort of small speakers until you settle into a "destination" listening environment. Speakers are a pretty complicated and personal perference item to shop for. Until then add a sub if you must.

If you're computer savy using a $300 Squeeze Box is a no brainer as the source (ripped CDs and internet audio streaming). If not the Olive players ($900 and up) are a great place to go (CDP, harddrive for ripped CDs, and internet audio streaming). Both can be modded or just add a high-end DAC.

Take care.

WEEZ · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 02:17 pm »

I would strongly consider a Blue Circle CS integrated.

(PhilNYC here at AC can probably help...)

WEEZ

bundee1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 03:03 pm »

I really liked my Arcam A65 plus. It had a very energetic balanced sound. The bass was good and the highs werent harsh. You can find their old flagship integrated amp, the A85 for around $700-$800 used on Audiogon.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Dec 2006, 03:12 pm »

Quote from: WEEZ on 17 Dec 2006, 02:17 pm

I would strongly consider a Blue Circle CS integrated.

(PhilNYC here at AC can probably help...)

WEEZ

I've got a demo CS Integrated that just came back from the factory for a tune-up...assuming the "nj" in your screen name means you're in New Jersey, you can take it for a test-ride if you'd like...

njdeadhead · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Dec 2006, 04:19 am »

I would love to know more about tub amps. What post on here do you all say is a good start. I see a lot of you on here like tub gear so I would like to do some reading up on them. Or even some web pages. Thanks for the help so far. I have been looking up info on all the amp that you told me about.

-Brian

JLM · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Dec 2006, 11:11 am »

Brian,

Around here we call them "tube" amps, not "tub" amps.

Tube amps typically produce less watts, often have poor damping characteristics (bass gets flabby, not tight or well defined), and the even order (2nd, 4th, etc. harmonic) distortions they produce are "friendlier on the ear" but far greater than the odd order distortions of solid state amps. On the plus side the sonic warmth and magic of tubes coupled with the late night glow has resulted in cultish followings.

And then there's tube rolling (changing one set/type for another to tweak the sound) to add a hobby aspect to audio. Of course some rolling is required as the expected life expectancy of tubes range from months to decades depending on the application and type of tube.

Tube fans get much more into the particular circuit design of their pieces. SET (single ended triode) fans have a unique niche in audio. Ranging from 1 to 18 watts from very simple circuits these amps are for purists, but also require exploration into another audio niche, high efficiency speakers with all of their challenges (lack of bass and colorations to start with).

It's not easy to get an unbiased education on tubes as its the advocates who are the most knowledgable. Srajan at 6moons.com may be the best professional reviewers that sits comfortably on both the tube and solid state sides of the fence. Vendor forums, like Decware or Bottlehead, tend to get deep and highly defensive. Audio Asylum has speciality forums, but is far less friendly than Audio Circle.

It's a place worth exploring, I did for three or four years. I think of tube vs solid state like a Mac vs PC. I'm still fasinated by Mac's and tubes, but can't bring myself to pull the trigger (currently have chip monoblocks that are also simple off the mainstream designs). Depending on where you live, auditioning/shopping for tubes can be very hard. Where I live there are only two places within 200 miles that carry tube anything, and even those places only had one tube amp each.

bpape · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 Dec 2006, 12:06 pm »

And then there are those of us who use tubes for our DAC output buffers and Preamps while sticking with solid state or hybrid amplifiers - trying to get the best of both worlds.

Bryan

JLM · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 Dec 2006, 08:43 pm »

Oh yeah

, that would include me (duh).

The advantage of using them in low voltage applications (like pre-amps or CDPs) is the long life, no flabby bass issues, and relatively low cost for replacement/rolling.