Solid State amps with 'presence'

POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

You know what they save Dave, if the first watt is crap !

 

Want to try my ASR Emitter? It is within your budget. It does have presence Although to be completely honest, I doubt if you could find a real tube-like presence in a SS amp. Emitter might be as good as it gets outside tubes.
A good tube preamp may add some presence to a SS power amp though, it might be an option.

 

what are those big sugden monos and pre called? theyre the masterclass range, but theres a stereo power called the AA ..and a set of monoblocks - are the monos and the AA stereo the same amp? or a different model altogether

 

LFD - really seriously nice amps.

 

and if the first watt is excellent ... and so are the following 400 watts ??

 

If you use inefficient speakers you need the current, which of course begs the question why would anyone buy inefficient speakers in the first place.

 

Because they might sound good maybe.

 

Perhaps! I tried quite a few, diamond tweeters ceramic drivers, nothing sounds as real as really good compression drivers and horns!
They are a touch on the large side though.Keith.

 

Which would be the other reason.

 

After a few years you hardly notice them!

 

I Guys and Gals

How the dulcets behave will depend on the size of the room,i use a pair in a tiny room with great results. I have used a minimum power rating of 18 watts with good results (depending on Genre of music). However they will need and even in my small room do respond well to more power(must be quality). A Bat Vk300se intergrated was very good as was aConsonance cyber 100 300b amp,with T J Meshplate valves . Normally i use a Bat pre and a Music Reference rm 200(100 watts kt66)

However recently a friend has lent me his pre power(only 5 watts),and this tiny amp has opened my eyes and ears .It blows away almost all of my kit in purity of sound,open-ness and detail. It has an amazing amount of current despite its size and power rating(works because this is a postage size box room in the house ,it would not work with the dulcets in a bigger room).

But to answer the first question is there a solid state amp/hybrid that is as good as valves simple imho answer is NO. I have heard some get close but none have beaten valves comprehensively .Especially in the areas of dynamics,speed,clarity,naturalness,dimensionality.

I would look for a 35/50 watt class a amp. Maybe using 845 valves or a kt 66/88 or even el34/5881. One amp that would work well in a smallish room would be an Audio Innovations series 500 (early version,with the three speaker taps4/8/16 ohm and black/dark browny black) and re-valve it with Tung-sol reissue 5881 valves,doesn't need to be re-biased,though i would get an engineer to check it out) .One with a border patrol power supply would also be very good too. If your room is big and you like Metal and Dance Music this may not be powerful enough.
The Dulcets respond to Power but also need quality. I have also had great results with Audio Innovations s1000 mk 3 amps re-valved with Tung-sol 5881 valves and an Ear 864 pre-amp using Audience Rca-Rca cables and xlo type 6 speaker cable

Regards D Louth

 

What amps did you audition?

 

There are a couple of dealers advertising ITs for £2k at the mo.[/QUOTE]

Could you let me know who is advertising the IT's, thanks.

 

A Bat Vk300se intergrated was very good as was aConsonance cyber 100 300b amp,with T J Meshplate valves

I have considered both these, how did they compare/contast?

 

By the way sorry for my delay in responding, my email update for this thread appears to have stopped working and I had assumed the thread had died. Glad it hasn't!

 

I would look for a 35/50 watt class a amp. Maybe using 845 valves or a kt 66/88 or even el34/5881

Do you know of any good 845 amps?

 

Hi mcshads, i listened, all at home, to border patrol, audio note and allnic. I bought the allnic. All single ended though - i have up on solid state a while ago (although i still have a secret interest in battery powered kit )