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Hello
I am looking to replace my Unison Research S8 with a solid state amp.Not bothered if int or pre/power.I prefer the more analytical sound even at some loss to smooth albeit not harsh sounding.I have a budget of around 3500 Pounds sterling and will be looking at the second hand market but not too old due to reliability issues. I have been considering Krell, Mark Levinson, Chord and accuphase. Does anyone have any thoughts on the most detailed amp in this price bracket without being too harsh.Thanks
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I've heard a fair number of Levinson and now own one and wouldn't ever describe any as "warm or soft".
Naim is a great suggestion, detailed and musical.
I've owned Krell before, never considered it harsh. I matched Krell with Dynaudio. Krell has tremendous transient response and control. I haven't heard the more recent models. It will also provide the detail you want.
I've owned Pass, I would consider it warm, especially by comparison to the above, but it would still have good control and detail, just delivered with a bit more finesse.
If you are going to have to ship I'd suspect some of those big U.S. amps weighing 80 to 100 pounds could cost a nice sum for delivery.
You might entertain what Class D amps are available. The technology is coming along.
Thanks
Do you have any good examples of class D amps in my price bracket 2nd hand 4000 GB Pounds. I have SME 10 Deck, Krell CD Player, Whest 20 phono amp and Anthony Gallo Nucleus Classico 4 Speakers.
I am not sure what is available in your area. You might look at the Merrill Audio either Taranis stereo or Thor monoblocks, not only are they very neutral and detailed he uses differential balanced circuits which will work well with the Krell for a balanced system. The Taranis is cheaper but is said to have more slam. The Thors are good but more refined sound.
I also like T+A, a company out of Germany who makes good sounding gear. Some of their amps don't have the current for lower impedances like Krell. This is another area the Merrill is good at, drive into low impedance.
I heard Audio Alchemy at an audio show and was very impressed d by the sound. Don't know much about them except the good sound.
I personally don't have much experience with Class D beyond that. I have heard Bel Canto which is decent.
Thanks
I´ll check out those suggestions.
The Crimson 640E-III Mono Amplifier - $6K/pair
The Crimson 620E-III Stereo Amplifier - $3K/pairFor a description of the sound, go to www.amherstaudio.com
Edits: 06/06/16
You will not be happy with most Accuphase or Mark Levinson amps. They are very good amps but are on the warmer, softer side of things.
The most analytic amps that I am familiar with are from ARC, Audio Research Corp. I own a very old ARC SS model power amp and an old modded pre amp. I don't use them as my main or even secondary systems. They aren't worth much so I just keep them to play with.
I much prefer tube amps personally and many modern tube power amps are far from wooly, slow, and syrupy, they can be very quick have plenty of sparkle, and are analytic. The real benefit of tubes IMHO, is the incredible 3D 'soundstage' they create. As always if you have access to an audio shop or any shows you can't beat an audition to inform you. I also got to hear a bunch of gear by joining the local audio group. Best of luck.
I have not heard of ARC, thanks for the advice.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I will look into them and hopefully be able to get what I´m looking for.Any more suggestions greatly appreciated.
The first thing that I did was to look at your location. I don't remember there being too much of a high end audio scene in Andalucia unless things have changed recently and most of the shops that I do recall along the Costa del Sol which attempted it as dealers didn't last long. There was a guy selling Linn in Marbella a few years ago but I don't think he was still there a couple of years ago. Even El Corte Ingles (Puerto Banus) had a go at one point with B&W and Vincent amongst other brands.
Unfortunately I doubt that most of the recommendations made so far will be attainable within your budget. The reason being that all of the American gear bears the cost of being imported into the EU. If bought used from a dealer it will also have VAT imposed on the sale.
If I were you I would be looking at a European manufactured brand and one for which I could reasonably expect service in the future. Maybe Naim - it would be quite a change from yout Unison integrated.
You may find a bargain buying privately but I think that you will need to look beyond your locality which means that your budget will have to be supplemented by shipping costs for a pre-power combination which is usually pretty heavy. I am guessing that you are an ex-pat Brit so maybe you could buy in the UK ( loads of available Naim of course due to its popularity) and drive it back?
Yes I am an ex pat and your advise about weight and carriage is something I´ve considered. I don´t know the sound qualities of NAIM and thought they´d been surpassed by other makes, I have Anthony Gallo Nucleus Classico Ser 4 speakers, Krell CD Player and a SME 10 Deck. Thanks for your advice.
Nick
Now we know a bit more about your system do you need a phonostage in the pre-amp or integrated amp or do you have an outboard one ?
In regard to your comment, Naim have continued to develop pretty rapidly since their merger (takeover) with/by Focal and are interestingly large enough to have unique electrical components (transistors, regulators) made for them. However the sound of the brand may or may not be to your taste - that's always the difficult part giving advice on a forum; understanding what you might like.
I have a good phono amp in the Whest 20. My Unison Research S8 is good with a rich sound but it cannot seperate the instruments sufficiently in the more complicated pieces of my music, from prog rock to classical.
Good, that simplifies things a bit.
If I were in your situation there are two high end integrated amps that I would seriously want to look at. Both are made in Europe. Both come from companies with great reputations. Both are distributed in Spain. Both can be afforded by you new (which serves to relieve your concern about the possible reliability of second hand). Both could also be obtained in the UK if that is how you want to do it. Also both have a DAC section which may be an interesting alternative to the Krell player used directly ( I assume the Krell has a co-ax digital output).
The first is the Hegel H360 ( Spanish distributor is in Madrid):
http://www.hegel.com/products/integrated/h360
The second is the Gato DIA 400( Distributed in Spain from Portugal):
http://gato-audio.com/dia-400.php
Good luck and let us know what you end up choosing.
Thanks, I´ll check them both out. Having checked out Naim, it does interest me.I´m not buying till later in the year but will let you know what I buy.
power amps that you're looking at. Most Krell models that are geared toward HT don't have the same performance as the other high end models such as the FPB, CX and or the most revealing of them all the Evolution. Krell is very revealing, neutral and transparent sounding with no harshness or glare. If you feed it with an excellent source it will sound excellent, however, if you feed it with a marginal source it will sound marginal and on top of that it will reveal your source's shortcomings warts and all.
If you can afford it, go with the Krell Evolution power amps and paired it with their SOTA two-chassis Evolution 202 preamp and hook them up together via CAST cables. Also, if you pair them say with an excellent speakers such as the B&W 801, Wilson Maxx2 or Totem Shaman, what you'll get is the most visceral, neutral and natural sounding that is as close as live sound that you will ever experience.
Or perhaps not.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Sweet Krell pic!
Audionet SAM G2, 4500 Euro new in Germany.
It would be nice to know the type of output stage they use.
An under-the-radar choice would be Coda. IMO, they make some of the better SS power amplifiers I've heard or owned. They can trade punches with a LOT of the big boys--at comparatively reasonable prices, all things considered. And they come with a 10-year warranty (5 years transferable, if I recall).
I use their S12.5 stereo amp, and on my speakers, it possesses a terrific balance of transparency, resolution, and speed, married to a just-sweet-enough top end. They make a wide-range of amps to suit pretty much any speaker load (mine are fairly easy to drive).
FWIW, Coda seems to get a bit more respect outside the U.S.
No affiliation. Just a very happy customer.
BTW, I heard the company's CSi-B integrated vs. one of Unison's integrateds (perhaps the Unico or Unico P; it was a while ago). As I remember, on Harbeth Super HL5s, the Coda was quite a bit cleaner and more detailed, if slightly less full in the bass. It definitely gripped the Harbeths a lot better, that's for sure.
You may also want to check out something from PASS Labs.
I have to agree with this advice. Went from Spectron Musician III MK2 to 2nd hand Pass X250.5 and still love it!
Edits: 06/06/16
Thanks Mike
4000 pounds is about 5750 dollars. I like most music genres and don´t play my music very loud. Are the characteristics of the 3 amps you have mentioned similar, which would you consider the most detailed? Also what do you think of krell.
Thanks again
I do not like Krell - too harsh for my ears. Many, many people really
like Ayre, and for good reason. Listen for yourself. As for BAT,
I have experience only with their integrated, which uses twp 6h30 tubes
in the preamp stage, and I liked what I heard when I heard one some time
ago.
I am not a big fan of lots of detail; in my experience, the more detail,
the more unpleasant the sound of an amp, which os why I prefer tube amps,
for the most part. A highly detailed amp wears me out very quickly.
Whatever you buy, audition it thoroughly before laying out your money.
And consider tubes.
I don't know the current conversion of pounds sterling to us dollars, but
I can advise you to consider BAT, Ayre, and Jeff Rowland amps.
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