solid-state class-A integrated amplifiers

[aKnyght]

recently been having an itch to try solid state amplification in my system... cannot believe i just said that !!

i think the curiosity is to actually know / hear what SS amplification would bring to the table in my specific system and what the tradeoffs are relative to my tube amp.

at this point, just learning and doing some research. however, i would love to know what solid-state class-A integrated amplifiers members here would point me toward.

nothing crazy price-wise and i would probably look to buy used if i get that far.

[heihei]

Vitus

[joeinid]

How much power do you want?

Pass Int-25 is a great start.

https://www.passlabs.com/amplifier/int-25

or

Maybe a Luxman 590.

[aKnyght]

the viking speakers are 97dB efficient.

my SET tube amp is 18 wpc and has NO problems at all driving the speakers. so, don't really need a lot of power. besides, i never listen above moderate levels (9 o'clock on the volume dial would be extreme for me with this pairing).

viking recommends 5-50 high-volt tube watts or 50-250 transistor watts -- not really sure why the difference here and if the SS specs include class A?

pass int25 as well as accuphase e-650 are quite nice but probably a bit too pricy for my purposes -- at least new.

[Jack]

Look at Sugden. There is a mint model for sale on AC and USaudiomart.

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=166742.0

[Mike]

Luxman 550/590


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[aKnyght]

thanks for the responses and suggestions -- this should get me started exploring this area.

for grins i pulled a 20+ year old adcom amp that had not seen the light of day in 8 years out of the closet and hooked it up in my system. input was direct from the t+a dac8 dsd with the volume control enabled. i was not expecting much; however, i must say it sounded pretty good in certain respects. nowhere near the musicality of the almarro and the mids were pretty flat in comparison... but, it was quick and had a firm grip on the bass.

anyway, this experiment was an interesting A/B test and certainly encourages me to further explore SS class-A amplification.

[Mechnutt]

You might want to consider a Pass First Watt amp

[Randy Myers]

I was going to say First Watt but then you said Integrated Amp .

[aKnyght]

that had occurred to me but i think integrated is probably the way to go in my case. OTOH, still very early on in the learning phase.

[kzhtoo]

I’d say older Pass INT30A might be what you’re looking for.

[Mechnutt]

Why not go with separates, a SS amp and tube preamp? I use a BAT tube pre with my Pass amp. I preferred the tube pre to the Pass preamp I had.

[still-one]

There is a very nice and reasonably priced integrated amp for sale here on Audioshark.

[joeinid]

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/li...ut-solid-state


This amp is awesome if you have a preamp.

[Mr Peabody]

I don't know much about them but Monarchy, like A70's, are fairly reasonably priced used. Not sure if still sold new.

Coda new may be out of price but they sometimes have refurb or trades at a great price and he provides some warranty usually. Not all the amps are pure Class A. You will often see some on Ebay.

I can't think of any Class A integrated. Seems the trend is Class A/D similar to Devialet, which I like the sound of but it's not a sweet type of sound like Pass.

I think you will have some trades, giving up some midrange magic for bass & control when moving to SS.

If memory serves, David is using a Pass XA30 and is happy with it.

[Randy Myers]

This may be the best deal on an Integrated Amp that you will find...

https://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=17530

[joeinid]

Not necessarily class A but sooooo musical and awesome.

This may be the best deal on an Integrated Amp that you will find...

https://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=17530

[hifinutt]

Look at Sugden. There is a mint model for sale on AC and USaudiomart.

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=166742.0

sugden make beautiful amps and many in service after decades . their service is excellent . recently had the a21se which is very grunty , very low noise floor and beautiful dynamics

[jadedavid]

If memory serves, David is using a Pass XA30 and is happy with it.

Yes, I am a tube guy and never thought I would have a SS amp.
But after recommendations to try a PASS XA30.5 amp, I sold my Coincident 300B amps and never looked back.
Previously had tried Bryston, McCormack, Luxman, Valvet and some others but nothing checked all of the boxes like the PASS.
Granted, these were not integrated amps and I had them all paired with a tube preamp.

[aKnyght]

generically speaking, putting a pre-amp between the a source and power amp is probably good for SQ... and my inclination is still to keep with an integrated... keeps the box count down as well as the cabling. also, a bit friendlier on the wallet all else equal.

otoh, a tubed pre amp into a class-A, SS amp probably sounds like something to explore -- i am not sure if that exists as an integrated, anyone know?

the pass and sugden certainly look like the real deal in this niche area... still more to learn though.

thanks to all for the help!!

[joeinid]

Something to think about....

The McIntosh MA252 (my brother has one and absolutely loves it) and the MA352, both of which are new designs are wonderful integrated amps. Tube pre and SS amp section. The MA352 is more advanced.

generically speaking, putting a pre-amp between the a source and power amp is probably good for SQ... and my inclination is still to keep with an integrated... keeps the box count down as well as the cabling. also, a bit friendlier on the wallet all else equal.

otoh, a tubed pre amp into a class-A, SS amp probably sounds like something to explore -- i am not sure if that exists as an integrated, anyone know?

the pass and sugden certainly look like the real deal in this niche area... still more to learn though.

thanks to all for the help!!

[Randy Myers]

Dang it Joe, you beat me to it . I was just about to mention the new McIntosh's. Being a Binghamton boy I have been thinking about these lately!

[Randy Myers]

The MA352 would be perfect but the MA252 has all the features I truly need.

I like the way they do not include a DAC. It drives me crazy that all their pre-amps and other integrateds have DACs. Even their new replaceable modules are not what I would want .

I also like that they have sub outputs.

I would love to try one but I also am not sure if the Amp would be as good sounding as the T+A and the T+A might be hard to move without giving it away (not as well known in the U.S. ).

[aKnyght]

Something to think about....

The McIntosh MA252 (my brother has one and absolutely loves it) and the MA352, both of which are new designs are wonderful integrated amps. Tube pre and SS amp section. The MA352 is more advanced.

i have thought more than once about those two amps!!

however, i seem to be stuck on class-A ...rightly or wrongly. trying to keep the characteristics of a SET amp as much as possible but gain some speed and low-end authority.

this would not be a replacement for the almarro -- that amp stays to the bitter end and my heirs can fight over it -- just a second amp to rotate in once in a while for a change.

seeing your stable of amps makes me think i should have at least two, right?!

[joeinid]

i have thought more than once about those two amps!!

however, i seem to be stuck on class-A ...rightly or wrongly. trying to keep the characteristics of a SET amp as much as possible but gain some speed and low-end authority.

this would not be a replacement for the almarro -- that amp stay to the bitter end and my heirs can fight over it -- just a second amp to rotate in once in a while for a change.

seeing your stable of amps makes me think i should have at least two, right?!

Absolutely! I've had over a dozen at once, several times. I am trying to be a little more judicious in case something pops up next year that I just can't resist

[Randy Myers]

I definitely understand where you are coming from about class A. I was stuck on it also for sometime and had amazing Class A Audio Mirror amps. They sounded fantastic, but I found switching back and forth with the T+A Amp I keep wanting to listen to the T+A whenever I hooked up the Audio Mirror's.

I finally realized that the Amp 8, with the extreme high level parts used, High Voltage design inherited from their HV series, and the ultra wide bandwidth had very much the characteristics that I loved with Class A, but it had none of the negatives. So I sold the AM Class A amps and put the T+A into full time duty. It has been very happy with me for that .

Unfortunately I have been in the re-discovery, re-building phase since jumping back in, so I can't afford to retain extra pieces .

[Mechnutt]

Here is a Pass XA30.8 for sale-

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.ph...;topicseen#new

[bluegrassphile]

What Joe said.

How much power do you want?


Pass Int-25 is a great start.

https://www.passlabs.com/amplifier/in

or

Maybe a Luxman 590.

[kzhtoo]

I’d say older Pass INT30A might be what you’re looking for.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/li...0a-solid-state

[Kuoppis]

A Pass INT-60 might be to your liking. Up to 28W in Class A, all you need for your Vikings


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[aKnyght]

A Pass INT-60 might be to your liking. Up to 28W in Class A, all you need for your Vikings

quite an interesting suggestion - ty!

[bluegrassphile]

"[...A Pass INT-60 might be to your liking. Up to 28W in Class A, all you need for your Vikings...]"


Auditioned one. They make the world a better place. Seriously, killer, sweet sounding amp. Class A warmth in spades, great spectral balance (lows to highs), wide, deep, sound stage, really good dynamics, good slam. Pretty much checks all the boxes with my ears.

Sounds superb at low, medium, and high volume (in small to medium sized rooms). I especially like an amp that sounds great at low to medium volumes. Some amps don't sound all that well at low volume levels. This isn't one of them. Sounds great at all volume settings. Typical ultra high quality Pass craftsmanship. Pass Labs is a company very well known for it's excellent customer service.

Simple design and layout with almost nothing to clutter the signal path or create distortion. IMHO, one of the top two or three integrated amps in it's power and price range. I wasn't even going to audition the int 60, but I'm sure glad I did. It really grabbed me and drew me in when the music began to play. It's just a great amp any way you look at it.

Disclaimer...if I sound like a bit of a Pass fanboy, well...unashamedly, I am. But it's for all the reasons mentioned above. I'm such a fan that I have not only auditioned an int 60, I have a Pass int 250 on order. I know they sound a little different from each other with more extension into the higher and lower ranges in the int 250. But if the int 250 sounds anywhere nearly as good as the int 60, I'll be a very happy fanboy. My 2 cents.

[RDSChicago]

Croft Acoustics make an integrated with a solid state amp section and a tube preamp section. I was seriously considering one. Around 50wpc I think, and around $1,600 new. Would probably drive your Berlin's very well.

[bluegrassphile]

What Kuoppis said. LOL!

[aKnyght]

...for grins i pulled a 20+ year old adcom amp that had not seen the light of day in 8 years out of the closet and hooked it up in my system. input was direct from the t+a dac8 dsd with the volume control enabled. i was not expecting much; however, i must say it sounded pretty good in certain respects. nowhere near the musicality of the almarro and the mids were pretty flat in comparison... but, it was quick and had a firm grip on the bass.

anyway, this experiment was an interesting A/B test and certainly encourages me to further explore SS class-A amplification.

so... i left the adcom gfa 5400 solid state amp in my system for the week, listening to it for 2+ hours per day.

i must say it was certainly nice listening to this modest amp as a change. back in the day it was a very entry-level audiophile amp, nothing anyone would call high-end. despite that and after several days of listening, i thought it was actually a quite good amp and it fit nicely into my system with its 125 watts certainly being enough power to give it a full sound. if it were the only amp i had, then i would not be unhappy.

well, last night i switched the 18 wpc almarro SET tube amp back into the system... ahhhhhh! it was glorious -- now i know why i love this amp and why it had received so many great reviews.

anyway, while i probably only reaffirmed that i am most definitely a SET tube amp person, it was really nice to have something to rotate into system for a change. also, maybe that second amp should just be another tube amp... or at least a higher power SS amp, say 75 wpc or more.

thanks to all here for the information and helping focus this line of exploration.