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The amp for you is the Eastern Electric Minimax - I know, 'cause I was (until last week) driving a pair of Royd Doublets (89dB, 6 ohm) with this genuine bargain pre-power. I've moved up around twenty rungs on the speaker ladder in the last week, but no way would I get rid of the Minimax. My personal favourite sound I've yet heard, and I've heard 552/500-based systems, big Dynavectors, Border Patrols, DNM, my own foray via Naim 52/SC/250, etc. etc.

What I'd say is that it just does exactly what a high end amp should do, but at a really affordable price. I'd be unlikely to go back to SS, though it's feasible I might add a second Minimax power amp to bi-amp my Avanti IIIs.

My history is I went: DNM->Naim 82/HC/250->52/SC/250->Nait2(modded)->MiniMax

...the DNM was the most musically engaging in many ways, but the amps are fragile and ergonomically disastrous. The 82/HI was a big disappointment, and didn't last long before being replaced with a 52/SC. This did all that Naim is meant to do, but cost a small fortune, and in the end I found that (with efficient speakers) the modded Nait 2 I have did things 95%+ as well as the big Naim outfit. The first system to convince me to move from the Nait was the Minimax. Cracking amps, miles better than the 52/SC/250 (though not as powerful it must be said) and MUCH cheaper. Roll a few NOS valves in there, feed it a top-notch source and you've an amazingly capable, very fast, dynamic, musical and insightful amp.

<blockquote data-quote="jtc" data-source="post: 634973" data-attributes="member: 1489">The amp for you is the Eastern Electric Minimax - I know, 'cause I was (until last week) driving a pair of Royd Doublets (89dB, 6 ohm) with this genuine bargain pre-power.&nbsp; I've moved up around twenty rungs on the speaker ladder in the last week, but no way would I get rid of the Minimax.&nbsp; My personal favourite sound I've yet heard, and I've heard 552/500-based systems, big Dynavectors, Border Patrols, DNM, my own foray via Naim 52/SC/250, etc. etc.What I'd say is that it just does exactly what a high end amp should do, but at a really affordable price.&nbsp; I'd be unlikely to go back to SS, though it's feasible I might add a second Minimax power amp to bi-amp my Avanti IIIs.My history is I went: DNM-&gt;Naim 82/HC/250-&gt;52/SC/250-&gt;Nait2(modded)-&gt;MiniMax...the DNM was the most musically engaging in many ways, but the amps are fragile and ergonomically disastrous.&nbsp; The 82/HI was a big disappointment, and didn't last long before being replaced with a 52/SC.&nbsp; This did all that Naim is meant to do, but cost a small fortune, and in the end I found that (with efficient speakers) the modded Nait 2 I have did things 95%+ as well as the big Naim outfit.&nbsp; The first system to convince me to move from the Nait was the Minimax.&nbsp; Cracking amps, miles better than the 52/SC/250 (though not as powerful it must be said) and MUCH cheaper.&nbsp; Roll a few NOS valves in there, feed it a top-notch source and you've an amazingly capable, very fast, dynamic, musical and insightful amp.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jtc, post: 634973, member: 1489"] The amp for you is the Eastern Electric Minimax - I know, 'cause I was (until last week) driving a pair of Royd Doublets (89dB, 6 ohm) with this genuine bargain pre-power. I've moved up around twenty rungs on the speaker ladder in the last week, but no way would I get rid of the Minimax. My personal favourite sound I've yet heard, and I've heard 552/500-based systems, big Dynavectors, Border Patrols, DNM, my own foray via Naim 52/SC/250, etc. etc. What I'd say is that it just does exactly what a high end amp should do, but at a really affordable price. I'd be unlikely to go back to SS, though it's feasible I might add a second Minimax power amp to bi-amp my Avanti IIIs. My history is I went: DNM->Naim 82/HC/250->52/SC/250->Nait2(modded)->MiniMax ...the DNM was the most musically engaging in many ways, but the amps are fragile and ergonomically disastrous. The 82/HI was a big disappointment, and didn't last long before being replaced with a 52/SC. This did all that Naim is meant to do, but cost a small fortune, and in the end I found that (with efficient speakers) the modded Nait 2 I have did things 95%+ as well as the big Naim outfit. The first system to convince me to move from the Nait was the Minimax. Cracking amps, miles better than the 52/SC/250 (though not as powerful it must be said) and MUCH cheaper. Roll a few NOS valves in there, feed it a top-notch source and you've an amazingly capable, very fast, dynamic, musical and insightful amp. [/QUOTE]

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