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I'd like to have a low maintenance, good sounding backup amp to keep me happy while my amps and preamps are getting fixed. My speakers are 92db single driver 4 ohm, and are driven comfortably by a Decware se84b and even better by my Welborne DRD300b's. (linestage is a Wright sound wla12a)
Any recommendations for a small integrated for $1000 or so?
(I have a pair of old Paramour 2a3, but the hum level with my speakers is unacceptable)
Lenny
Follow Ups:
I have a single-ended Elekit TU-879S in which I run a pair EI KT-90s and it sounds wonderful. I have it running direct coupled and have changed out the second pair of 0.1uf caps with Mundorf SIOs and I love it. I think it would make a great back-up amp, even when stock, with Russian 6L6s.
Its my main runner right now and it puts out 8 WPC of great sounding music. I think they're around $585 plus shipping. Not a bad price for a great back-up amp.
Larry D.
You may wish to try a Chinese 6l6-based single-ended amplifier from K&D Industrial Limited (www.audio-amp.com)
It is only $185.0 (less shipment), 7WPC, 9 kg.
2 EL84s/channel in PP configuration: 10W, Class A. Around $1,000. Not exactly cheap.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
FrihedDon't even think about it.
Had one years ago and it was the
worst tube amp that I have ever heard.
Harsh and in your face like early CD players.
I tried to like it and let it burn in for
almost 200 hours but not much improvement.
Absolutely no depth, just a 2D soundstage.
I just had to sell it at a loss on Ebay.DanL
PS I later bought a Jolida 202 which blew it away.
If that gives you a clue how bad I disliked the amp.
Edits: 03/19/12
How about the Glow Amp One? I picked a used one to tide me over while I set my Fi Super X 2A3 back to Don Garber for a repair, and I was quite pleased. It has only one input (well, there is also a USB input as well) so if you use more than one source, you will need to wire up or buy a switch box. It's claimed output is 5W per channel from a single EL84 pentode run in triode mode, and it is very quiet (I used it with Oris Horns.) And it has a headphone output as well.
And even better when you upgrade to JJ tubes.
For a few $$$ more than the Glow you can get an Almarro 205A and have 2 inputs.
Have you heard one?
Lenny
I have one and like it. I bought it used and with the right speakers it can be excellent.
looks great!
Lenny
There's an ad on agon for an Almarro A205A MKII, which looks like it might be perfect.
But the simplicity of the T amp appeals also. I do have a pair of passive attenuators for volume control, so an integrated is not strictly necessary.
Building or having an amp built seems excessive for this application, but I'll look into the amp.
Lenny
I don't what your long term plans are but the one advantage of a class T amp (or SS) is that if you run them as a bedroom system and you fall asleep you're not wasting electricity or tube life. Indeed, the chance of falling asleep to music through a tube amp is probably zero because of the worry over the tubes.
I have never heard the Almarro - it may indeed be better - SETs usually are better than everything IME - but little Trends system is really surprisingly good - with the tube amp (the only way I've heard them) it sounds better than my Rotel Separates at around $2k (and these were separates TAS gave product of the year to). (oops)
To be fair the tube preamp only has one real input - CD with a switch for MP3 and no remote control. So they can essentially do a lot more on a budget price than a company making a full function preamp with remote LCD, 5 or so inputs phono stage etc etc.
They're pretty neat little boxes - and for a super charged computer audio system or bedroom system they're appealing - especially here in Hong Kong with small apartments. I am somewhat tempted to use them on my Audio Note speakers and if that goes well I'm going to buy them.
You can buy the parts for George Andersons Tubelab Simple SE for $400 and pay someone $500 to build it. It's ot only dead quiet with 97dB speakers, it sounds great.
Could probably get tube audio lab to do the whole thing from the ground up for about the same price, or less.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Trends Audio .
Trends PA 10 tube preamp with their 15 watt class T 10p power amp I am currently in the process of reviewing them and they are ridiculously good - I drove them with 87db Roksan TR-5 loudspeakers with ease. Very quiet - except you do hear the volume control when you turn the knob. But otherwise very low noise.
They have been reviewed favorably by many publications and both units are under $400. You could biamp which is the system I am running - the biamp package and it's $600.
Limited inputs mind you but you'll very likely be surprised at the sound quality at the price. I am.
bwb is quite probably correct. You said "old" - if they are the original design and do not have the current-source upgrade, then they can be made much quieter. This isn't the place for Bottlehead customer service (!) but drop by the Bottlehead board and we'll find ways to fix you up.
After fiddling with the hum pots and letting them play for a few hours, it seems to have settled in and the Paramours are actually quite enjoyable.
Lenny
.
I've used Bottleheads with 107dB speakers with no problems.
Why not get them fixed and then you will be set.
If you want an integrated then a Naim 5 is an excellent choice
.
"something is wrong with the amp" - probably. All my amps are broken :(
Lenny
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