given you were happy with a nait2, and moved to the MInimax becasue you didn't need the power
I know you're saying that in jest, but some might take that at face value so I thought I'd fill you in on my meandering venture through solid state.
2001: DNM 3B Primus/Crimson 640Ds monoblocks (200w), Neat Petite III/Gravitas
A fine sounding, boogie-some system which was great but the 640Ds sacrificed the finer things for a real ballsy sound. Great with rock, a bit lost with the finer aspects of timbre and tonal colour.
2002: Replaced 640Ds with DNM PA3^S (23wpc solid state)
Far more control within my normal listening envelope - also timbre, tonality and timing were vastly improved. Despite the lower power, the overall sound was a league apart from the 640Ds.
2003: Replaced Neat speakers with s/h Audiophysic Virgo mkIII
An opportunistic buy, as I'd always admired the Virgo II, and wanted something with a bit more detail and dynamics than the Neats. Also was easier to drive, and better looking. DNM really excelled into these, though I felt the bass was a little lean, so added my trusty REL Stentor into the mix in early 2004. My PA3^S and the Stentor had a fight (resulting in the DNM blowing something internally which was repaired under warranty) and I started to see how fragile and generally incompatible the DNM amps actually were, and in any case the ergonomics and dual volume pot thing was bugging me, despite the great sound, so I started to play with...
2004: Naim 82/HC/250 into Virgo mkIII
A fine, if unspectacular sound. I'd been very very impressed with the results of a recap on the Nait 2 which we used in a second system, so much so that I thought a bigger Naim setup could rival and perhaps replace the DNM setup, with less risk of losing money if I resold it. Plus I'd get a remote. Oddly enough, despite my tip-top mains, supports and careful setup it didn't even sound as much 'fun' as the Nait 2. More detail, yes, and a bit more grip and dynamic, but duller and a bit boring. This quickly led to me selling-on (no loss) to buy...
2004: Naim 52/SC/250 (into Virgo IIIs)
This was more like it. Finally a system which in most regards bettered both the DNM amps and had the fun of the Nait 2. But, boy, was it expensive, and though I really enjoyed this setup, I still felt that it wasn't 'better enough' to justify the money spent, over the little Nait 2. This was where I left the Naim upgrade ladder: one fateful evening, with a couple of friends and my wife, we did a rather unscientific but effectively blind test of the 52 system against the Nait 2, using both my Opus 21 cdp and an LP12/Armageddon/Aro/Lyra Helikon/Dyna P75 for vinyl. The results were interesting: everyone thought what turned out to be the 52 system sounded noticeably better with cd, but with vinyl, the Nait 2 was the favourite. Crazy, but I trust my ears more than what my head says should be the answer, and my impressions were backed up by those of my wife and friends. SO, it seemed silly to keep £5k sunk in a 52/SC/250 system when a £300 Nait 2 ran it so close for my own listening purposes. So I sold it on, with no loss. It was at this time that I started to really think about why an 18w integrated should be capable of making MUCH more expensive amps look a bit silly. My conclusion, and pardon me if this sounds like a case of
deus ex machina, was that into sensitive speakers, there just isn't the need to carry all that muscle (which is either very expensive, or compromises the sound at a price point), and that given optimal mains (I have 4x32A spurs on a dedicated consumer unit), the expensive dedicated power supplies of Naim, etc., may not be so important, leading way to my overall conclusion that a simpler, less powerful amp on great mains into sensitive speakers, fed by top-notch sources, was the best way forward for me. I thus lived with the Nait 2 as the 'inverse mullet' amp quite happily for over a year, and had no wish to change, until I hear...
Today: Eastern Electric Minimax pre-power (8wpc)
A radical departure from the Nait 2, I had read about the Minimax system but had no particular desire to hear it and certainly no plans to buy one. But, there I was, in a dealer, auditioning a replacement deck (the fragile fully-Naimed LP12 and our cats were always an uneasy combination) and I'd bought a Spacedeck HD with Spacearm which outperformed the Linn in every way for my tastes. Whilst I was there, I couldn't help but notice the spectacular sound coming from a little unassuming silver pre-power. Which turned out to be the Minimax. I tried to ignore it, but failed: here was a pre-power which finally bettered the Nait 2 into sensitive speakers, whilst adding everything I'd missed since DNM days (the delicacy and tonal colour). What's more, it was (all-in) less than 1/3 of the cost of my old 52/SC/250 amps, yet sounded far better. To cut a long story short, I borrowed, loved, bought and here we are!
So, that's my journey. I've missed out a few details such as the fact that I borrowed Rogue M150 150wpc valve monoblocks at one point and found them hugely disappointing (in combination with the M99 preamp), and other amps 'just for a shot'.
So, this has been rather longer than I intended, but the point of posting all of that is by way of belated introduction to my quest for the ideal amps. Thing is, I can't speak highly enough of any of these amps (save for the Naim 82/HC - curiously disappointing) but there's a magic in the Minimax I don't want to lose. Nevertheless, I am always open to better offers, and willing to be open-minded about alternatives...
Off for coffee now...
I rather doubt you'd gain much by going to the SUV end of the spectrum. That's not to say lots of watts can't be fun - but so far on yourmeander through hifi you've come back to 'small and refined' amps every time.
