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Does the Monarchy SM70 Pro still keep up or are there other small Class A power amps worth considering for hi-eff speakers?
Rgds Jan
Follow Ups:
Been using this Sony amp for a while; it sounded great, but it died, and now I'm on Tripath technology amplifier... 2 x 18watts / 8 ohms pure class A
or 2x 80w class B. See link.
Pass Labs
The "original" Monarchy SM-70 is Class A down to 4 ohms up to full output. It has a bit less power than the SM-70 Pro, but many feel it is the better sounding amp.
The SM-70 PRO is a high-bias Class AB design, it is not, strictly speaking, a class A amplifier.
Electrocomaniet made some small-ish Class A amps- 50~60 watts per side, as I recall.
The Forte 4a is class A down to 4 ohms up to full power, 100 watts at 4 ohm. With the "Soderburg' mods, it's a giant killer.
Some 1970's Yamaha integrated amps had a switch that allowed class A operation. The CA-2010 offered 30 watts class a per channel at 8 ohms ( or 130 watts class AB ) - there's some other models with class A switches as well, with lower power ratings.
Luxman made quite a few class A amps over the years- like the M-06 which was 55 watts per channel @ 8 ohms class A, and currently offers the L-550AX integrated amp which is 20 watts per channel @ 8 ohms / 40 watts @ 4 ohms, both in class A
The smaller Musical Fidelity were not bad in their day
I highly doubt any of those amps listed were high bias class-A , mostly because of their small heatsinks area and its not possible to still be in Class-A bias to full power below 8 ohm. The Forte did not have enough heatsinks for high Bias class-A operation, unless using fans, high bias class-A requires really hugh sinks ( ala Pass, Krell , etc) and will generate tremendous heat ....
And would appear to be best used in a COLD CLIMATE or many other places as Winter Only amps!
Too much is never enough
I am running a pair of sm70mkII's. They currently are driving Hornshoppe Great Horned Heils. I also rotate Nola Boxer 2's into the mix. My Monarchy's are paired with a Promitheus passive pre. These little amps drive the GHH's and the Boxers equally well. I'm very happy with the sound.
Thanks for your contribution.
I am also using passive attenuation. Using balanced Khozmo system.
There is not many options in the small class A SS department.
Many seems to like the Monarchy class A power amps. I`m still on the fence
deciding......
Rgds Jan
Thanks all
The Coda S5.5 looks interesting, but is way to expensive.
There is not much to choose from in the SS class A small amp category
The Monarchy amps are reasonably priced but seems a bit dated.
Have anyone experience with Holton?
Rgds Jan
The Monarchy SE 100 MK 2s are playing away even as I type. I have been through several other pairs of mono solid state amps for my Quads, keep coming back to the Monarchys.
And, the builder is a prince to deal with. Monarchy will also build a pair of hybrid amps as a custom project if the SE 100 does not float your boat.
My SE 100 MK2s are keepers here.
Hi Louie
Thanks. Which amps did you compare the SE100/2 with?
Do you feel that the resolution and transparency of these amps are top notch?
Kind regards - Jan
Transparency etc, is not "top notch" but neither is the price.
The amps are very, very musical in a good way. Excellent bass, midrange, and cymbals sound metallic as they should.
I've had two sets of the Monarchy amps, bought the first used, sent them to Monarchy in exchange for a set of the MK 2s, with surprisingly little cash.
The MK2s are better, more transparent. It is possible that Monarchy might have a pair of MK2s they could make a deal on.
Important you hear them. It could be that Monarchy will send you a pair with return provision if you don't like them, although I would be surprised at that.
I have compared them with a modfied Quad 909, a pair of MacMod Quad 405-2s (Steve MaCormack), a pair of Consonance M800 SE tube amps and a pair of Manley Snapper tube amps, and a pair of Classe DR 8 monos.
I like the Manleys better, all else was a wash.
Again rich clas AB in spite of their ads using 'pure class A.' Note that they even admit it goes into AB at 90 watts into 4 ohms, obviously not pure. Then again it is quite rich AB and will stay in class A almost all the time leaving class A only on very high level short pulses which never last any significant percentage of the time.
You didn't specify a price range, but I second the Pass XA30.5/30.8 and Coda recommendations. Neither option is terribly cheap, but they're both top-shelf.
I have somewhat more experience with Coda than with Pass. The Coda S5.5 is 50W pure Class A, combining great smoothness and really impressive transparency and resolution. It's truly a wonderful amp and comes with a 10-year warranty. I have the (slightly) bigger, Class A/B equivalent, the S12.5, which has remained in my system for longer than practically any amp I've ever owned.
Sugden is another possibility. Hope this helps.
"Back home, when we get a taxidermy man, he gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him!"
--Robert Shaw, "Jaws," 1975
A great sounding pure class A amplifier. The power rating can fool you as it plays like a more powerful amplifier.
I've been impressed with Sugden amps every time I've heard them. I almost pulled the trigger on one about 6-7 years ago, but ultimately didn't get it because I was leery of the power rating and possible compatibility issues with my speakers at the time. Maybe one of these years I'll get around to picking one up used.
"Back home, when we get a taxidermy man, he gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him!"
--Robert Shaw, "Jaws," 1975
It's a "high-bias" class A/B.I owned a pair of SM70 Pro's for several years, using them as mono blocks. They were nice amps and are great value, often going for used price of <$800.
I can't say for high efficiency speakers, but the pair worked well with my Magneplanar MG 1.6QR's, putting out about 120 WPC into 4 ohms. They don't really compare with my Pass Labs X150.5 but the Pass is 3-3.5x the price, used.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Edits: 06/27/16
You're correct. Almost no class SS 'A' amps stay class A at their full output, especially into low impedance loads, although they are probably class A except on large peaks meaning almost all the time. The single ended Pass amps were class A, of course, since single ended audio amps need to be class A. The closest thing to a true class A SS push/pull amp is the Mark Levinson ML2 amp from decades ago. It stayed in class A even at its 2 ohm rating.
Even the Pass XA-30.5, while 30x2 @8 in 'A', really is 'just' a high-bias amp.
At full power? QUITE a bit more. Like nearly 6db more.
I would LOVE to biamp my MG1.6 panels with a pair of those guys.
Too much is never enough
You didn't mention budget, the Pass Xa30.5 or .8 comes to mind. And there's the First Watt stuff but I'm not that familiar with it.
I know Coda also now have some pure Class A amps.
nt
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