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Post by julesd68 on Oct 12, 2016 11:28:44 GMT
I’ve just acquired a valve pre-amp that I wasn’t planning on buying but couldn’t resist …
Anyway, the problem is that I don’t have a power amp to go with it so would welcome some suggestions as to what to buy.
Here are my requirements -
- must be solid state
- powerful, over 100W
- not Class A or Class D
- must have real bass grip to get hold of my Tannoys
- ideally not a massive footprint
- silver finish would be a bonus
- under a grand
The only thing I’ve seen that I’d really like to try is an LFD which seemingly ticks all my boxes …
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Post by yomanze on Oct 12, 2016 15:16:40 GMT
An Avondale power amp (NCC200 based) would also tick the boxes.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 12, 2016 17:39:55 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 12, 2016 17:54:24 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 12, 2016 18:16:35 GMT
I don't know about the 557, but I tried a 555 (it's predecessor) and thought it was pretty poor, really. It was painfully bright and lacking somewhat in resolution, I thought.
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Post by jandl100 on Oct 13, 2016 6:17:14 GMT
I've been through a whole variety of amps over my hifi journey - costing from around £20 to £4000.
In my opinion, you really don't need to spend anywhere near a grand on an amp to get superb sound.
I find very little, if any, correlation between cost and the best sound you can get in any price category. Viz. a great £100 amp can sound as good as a great £4000 amp.
My current amp combo in my main system cost me less than £200 and it's the pooch's dangly things as far as I am concerned. Stunning sound.
My 2nd system is running from a DAC/amp that cost £88 brand new. And it sounds great. I have much more expensive amps to hand but I don't feel the need to use them.
Also, do you really need 100wpc to drive Tannoys? You need to be a serious headbanger to justify that, I would have thought.
Also also, why not class D? Have you tried some? They can be fab. Some are, some aren't - but that's the same for anything.
Avoiding solid state class A I would agree with. Snoozeville.
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Post by mikeyb on Oct 13, 2016 7:09:47 GMT
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Post by Sovereign on Oct 13, 2016 7:19:46 GMT
Very sensible post Jerry. And spot on with your advice there. But Class A - snoozville?  As you said about other amps, they are not all the same. I have compared my Colin Wonfor Class A SECA with some very big and fast amps such as the Naim Nap 500 and the owner couldn't believe what he heard, he truely loved my SECA. Good luck with your amp search Jules i think anything made by Firebottle would also be good, but I've never heard them. |
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Post by jandl100 on Oct 13, 2016 7:36:10 GMT
Very sensible post Jerry. And spot on with your advice there. But Class A - snoozville? As you said about other amps, they are not all the same. I have compared my Colin Wonfor Class A SECA with some very big and fast amps such as the Naim Nap 500 and the owner couldn't believe what he heard, he truely loved my SECA. Err, OK, James.  I'll amend my comment to read ... All the pure class A tranny amps I have heard (quite a few!) have been snoozeville to a greater or lesser extent. They lose the immediacy, sense of in-room presence, and visceral dynamic scale of the best of the other amps. I haven't heard Colin W's class A SECA amps. They may well be a happy exception. It all comes down to taste as well, of course. Some folks find my system choices to be forward and hyped up, too explicit, while others prefer an even more upfront presentation. Everyone needs to find their own preferences. |
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Post by John on Oct 13, 2016 8:10:42 GMT
Plenty speed and grip in Colins SEGA Amp
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Post by Sovereign on Oct 13, 2016 8:30:52 GMT
Very sensible post Jerry. And spot on with your advice there. But Class A - snoozville? As you said about other amps, they are not all the same. I have compared my Colin Wonfor Class A SECA with some very big and fast amps such as the Naim Nap 500 and the owner couldn't believe what he heard, he truely loved my SECA. Err, OK, James. I'll amend my comment to read ... All the pure class A tranny amps I have heard (quite a few!) have been snoozeville to a greater or lesser extent. They lose the immediacy, sense of in-room presence, and visceral dynamic scale of the best of the other amps. I haven't heard Colin W's class A SECA amps. They may well be a happy exception. It all comes down to taste as well, of course. Some folks find my system choices to be forward and hyped up, too explicit, while others prefer an even more upfront presentation. Everyone needs to find their own preferences. No need to edit anything mate, I was just saying that my amp, not other Class A amps, has oodles of get up and go. 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 8:53:25 GMT
The Firebottle Air is around 80W of hybrid power.
I am a happy owner of one. There is a loan unit doing the rounds over on AOS.
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 13, 2016 9:23:42 GMT
Ah yes, loan schemes. I remember those!
Monsieur Firebottle is a member here too.
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 13, 2016 9:30:19 GMT
Apart from the things I have suggested to you privately Jules, have you thought of trying an NVA amp?
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Post by Sovereign on Oct 13, 2016 10:49:34 GMT
Apart from the things I have suggested to you privately Jules, have you thought of trying an NVA amp? That's a very good suggestion. Cracking amps, and good customer service. |
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 13, 2016 12:27:41 GMT
I've been through a whole variety of amps over my hifi journey - costing from around £20 to £4000. In my opinion, you really don't need to spend anywhere near a grand on an amp to get superb sound. I find very little, if any, correlation between cost and the best sound you can get in any price category. Viz. a great £100 amp can sound as good as a great £4000 amp. My current amp combo in my main system cost me less than £200 and it's the pooch's dangly things as far as I am concerned. Stunning sound. My 2nd system is running from a DAC/amp that cost £88 brand new. And it sounds great. I have much more expensive amps to hand but I don't feel the need to use them. Also, do you really need 100wpc to drive Tannoys? You need to be a serious headbanger to justify that, I would have thought. Also also, why not class D? Have you tried some? They can be fab. Some are, some aren't - but that's the same for anything. Avoiding solid state class A I would agree with. Snoozeville. Thanks Jerry, plenty of food for thought there. I can assure you that I would love to spend much less than a grand, it's just kind of my top limit. The two things that I'm really set on is solid state only and also lots of power / grip ... The Tannoys really do need it - you especially need the headroom with the kind of dynamics you get in classical orchestral. BTW am looking out for one of those Philips amps you have! |
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 13, 2016 12:29:59 GMT
The Firebottle Air is around 80W of hybrid power. I am a happy owner of one. There is a loan unit doing the rounds over on AOS. Thanks wonky - I'm pretty sure I want a solid state amp but definitely something to consider, especially with a loan unit knocking around ... |
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 13, 2016 12:32:09 GMT
Apart from the things I have suggested to you privately Jules, have you thought of trying an NVA amp? To be honest Chris I haven't - purely on the basis that I'm not sure how it would get on with the valve pre. That said, I do like NVA amps a lot - I used to have a 50W NVA integrated and it was a superb performer. |
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 13, 2016 12:46:55 GMT
Yes, I remembered that you had a bit of nva stuff before and assumed you might have already considered it. Thought it best to check though. I don't see any reason why it might not work.
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Post by pinkie on Oct 13, 2016 14:57:07 GMT
Couple a quickies -must dash
Sovereigns class A is definitely not snoozeville.
And Wonky - which bit of transistor and over 100w didnt you read???
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As you said about other amps, they are not all the same. I have compared my Colin Wonfor Class A SECA with some very big and fast amps such as the Naim Nap 500 and the owner couldn't believe what he heard, he truely loved my SECA. 
