A hypothetical £1000!!!!

OK so lets imagine I've got a hypothetical £1000, and I've decided that the place to put it is in my amplifier. This includes the sale of the current occupant of the amplifier slot at Summit Towers....... So the Manley in the Trade room is a bit too rich sadly

It's got to drive the Meadowlarks, so it must be at least 10 watts, this is the minimum required, according to the speakers designers. They are if I recall 90db with a pretty flat impedance response (8ohms?) all the way across. I don't require masses of power as my listening levels are moderate compared to some of you guys.

So I would seem to have some pretty good choices. I'm not doing ebay I'm sick of it and the crap that comes these days, so I'd rather buy from a dealer, but second hand or ex-dem. Must be valve based, I ain't going solid state again

Some options seem to be:
Ear 859
Amplifon WT-40
Audiovalve Assistant 20

Anybody got any thoughts, or maybe alternative suggestions?
Cheers chaps

 

go round the corner, visit Mr Cattlin and let him talk you into spendingit on foreign travel instead.

 

EAR 859 at Shadow Audio for £999. I used to have an 869 which drove my old Red Rose standmounts very nicely and they were only about 87db. Should hold it's value fairly well also if thats a consideration.

Definitve Audio also have a nice Canary Audio valve integrated with Border Patrol supply though it's £1250 and a bit tatty cosmetically. Most impressive sounds I've ever heard came from one of these when I had a demo at Definitve about 4 years ago - with Avatar OBX's on the end.

 

Oh I won't be losing out on foreign travel Bob, off to France later this year and hopefully somewhere exciting next....

 

I'd go with that Canary.

 

Which Canary Chris, am I being daft?

 

Unclepuncle's words of wisdom:

'Definitve Audio also have a nice Canary Audio valve integarted with Border Patrol supply though it's £1250 and a bit tatty cosmetically'

Coincidentally I came across a review of the BP power supply in an ancient copy of hifi+ t'other day.

 

£1000?

Keep your MC34-A and use the pre-outs into a pair of these (£750 from Ben - 240v models available): http://www.mei-xing.com/English/E-CP/e-MC845-C.htm

Sweet lord Jesus, you'll be in for a treat

Upgradeable with better tubes (without needing biasing) as & when you need/want to....

DT

 

Canary 608 LV int. amp with BP PSU - electrically perfect - physically tatty now £1250 rrp £3600

http://www.canaryaudio.com/608.htm


I've heard the amp (in plain non/bp version, and its very nice). Looks beautiful too.

 

Hi Richard,

I would go along with the others. I would look at that Canary amp with the Border Patrol supply. Good value for money.

SCIDB

 

I've seen a picture and it's very scruffy, I don't think I really want a piece of kit as battered as that one is. I rather think I'd struggle if I every wanted to get rid of it.
Has anyone heard the EAR?

 

Richard, remind us of the pre, please. What do you currently own, and why are you looking at a change?

 

I tried the EAR 859 with LV Auditorium II last year. Nice... but a bit matter of fact and not at all warm or rich.

 

I've got a Chinese Ming-Da MC34A, it's very nice and sounds great, but you know how it is, I've got a little money coming, I'd like a little more refinement particularly at the top, and I still treasure the memory of the Audionote show set up every time I hear it. I really want that chunky you can almost chew on it sound you get from the best valves. Not sure I can afford it though

There is no pre, I'm trying to avoid too much complication so would much prefer an integrated, I haven't really got room for a pre and power, or worse still a pre and mono's. I did consider some Audio Note Zero's and their pre, but I suspect that they will be underpowered for what I want.
Valveyness is quite important, I do like whatever distortions it is they create.

 

What are your sources, then? How do you control volume?

 

I dont want to overly push it, but if you're happy with 10 watts or so, I dont think there is a better integrated for that money than a Glasshouse 300B.

They proffessionally make them for you if you're not great with a soldering iron. £931 as a kit.

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/kits/300bseprice.html


I wouldnt have bought one if I didn't think so..

 

There's an avondale arcam 5, a Sansui TU-717, and a Pro-ject Perspective complete with non-emasculated Lyra Dorain feeding a Loricraft Missing Link. The M34A is also an integrated.

 

How much does it cost to have one made? I can't see that on the site anywhere?

 

Last time I asked him how much he'd charge for someone I know he said £350.

It takes about a working day and a half (for him)...and probably a week for someone like me!

Probably best to tell him who told you, if you decide thats the route you want to go.


You're welcome to hear mine if you come near M/Keynes.

 

It's a thought, but it's really pushing the budget, that's nearly £1400.
That's the trouble with this mullarkey, there's always something better at the end of the rainbow.