Pick an amp for me please...

J

Justin

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Looking for a few suggestions from this friendly forum.

Current system is Rockport Atria, VAC Signature SE Preamp, Berkeley Ref DAC (soon to be upgraded to Ref2), Hegel H30 amp.

I enjoy the H30, but if you were looking to leave the remaining major components in place and upgrade just the amp, any suggestions? I waver between tubes (VAC 200iq) and SS for the amp, but current thinking is I would like something with complete grip of the Rockports but another level of musicality from H30. I am thinking the VAC works beautifully with the right SS amp... and the H30 is very good, but a man can dream, right?

Any thoughts if I want to upgrade the H30? Soulution 501 monos? Nagra classic amp x2? VAC 200iq? Boulder?

As a reference point, I have never personally loved Devialet. Even the 1000 - for all the grip and impressive power it has - has left me missing an emotional connection to the music. The VAC has dramatically improved my system and I am really liking things. But I think I can take things to another level with the right amp choice here. What is an ideal choice for control over 87db speakers but loaded with musicality and emotion?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Justin
 
Justin.......Since you have the fine VAC Signature SE preamplifier, why not consider a VAC power amplifier. I have to believe there is some serious synergy available with that combination. A pair of VAC Phi 200 amps running in mono mode would give you plenty of fabulous tube power, or if you really wanted to step it up, consider the VAC Statement 450S dual mono amp.

http://audiorevelation.com/products/vac-450s-dual-mono-stereo-amplifier/



Statement450Sblwh-575.jpg
 
The VAC Signature 200iQ monos would work beautifully with your VAC preamp. The tube amps will also help fatten up some of the thinner digital songs you like. They will give you the sonics of your preamp, only more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Justin said:
Looking for a few suggestions from this friendly forum.

Current system is Rockport Atria, VAC Signature SE Preamp, Berkeley Ref DAC (soon to be upgraded to Ref2), Hegel H30 amp.

I enjoy the H30, but if you were looking to leave the remaining major components in place and upgrade just the amp, any suggestions? I waver between tubes (VAC 200iq) and SS for the amp, but current thinking is I would like something with complete grip of the Rockports but another level of musicality from H30. I am thinking the VAC works beautifully with the right SS amp... and the H30 is very good, but a man can dream, right?

Any thoughts if I want to upgrade the H30? Soulution 501 monos? Nagra classic amp x2? VAC 200iq? Boulder?

As a reference point, I have never personally loved Devialet. Even the 1000 - for all the grip and impressive power it has - has left me missing an emotional connection to the music. The VAC has dramatically improved my system and I am really liking things. But I think I can take things to another level with the right amp choice here. What is an ideal choice for control over 87db speakers but loaded with musicality and emotion?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Justin
Click to expand...

The H30 is a beast , what area are you trying to improve or looking to improve by switching amplifiers.... ?

regards
 
If you're considering the Soulution 501 monos at $55K, there's an immaculate pair listed here by a trusted forum member for only $19,995 OBO!
 
a.wayne said:
The H30 is a beast , what area are you trying to improve or looking to improve by switching amplifiers.... ?

regards
Click to expand...


Well, good question. I like the H30 a lot. I am hoping for a slightly more engaging experience... tonality... ultimately something that is a step up in class. More space. More emotion. Maybe I'm good where I'm at but I've got an itch to scratch!
 
Justin said:
Looking for a few suggestions from this friendly forum.

Current system is Rockport Atria, VAC Signature SE Preamp, Berkeley Ref DAC (soon to be upgraded to Ref2), Hegel H30 amp.

I enjoy the H30, but if you were looking to leave the remaining major components in place and upgrade just the amp, any suggestions? I waver between tubes (VAC 200iq) and SS for the amp, but current thinking is I would like something with complete grip of the Rockports but another level of musicality from H30. I am thinking the VAC works beautifully with the right SS amp... and the H30 is very good, but a man can dream, right?

Any thoughts if I want to upgrade the H30? Soulution 501 monos? Nagra classic amp x2? VAC 200iq? Boulder?

As a reference point, I have never personally loved Devialet. Even the 1000 - for all the grip and impressive power it has - has left me missing an emotional connection to the music. The VAC has dramatically improved my system and I am really liking things. But I think I can take things to another level with the right amp choice here. What is an ideal choice for control over 87db speakers but loaded with musicality and emotion?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Justin
Click to expand...

If you want to stay valve, for beautiful harmonics, try Jadis. Never heard the Vac and they are supposed to be great. The Ayon Orthos KT 150 XS will give you class A 300w triode, 400 pentode at a lesser price (at least in the EU), and is highly rated.

For SS, to replace a valve, my choice for control and musicality is Luxman M900. Both for relatively lower cost and relatively higher value. It is organic and full bodied, and you can later buy another one if required to monobloc the existing 150w to get a joint 600w, doubling down in impedance.

In fact I got a recommendation of Luxman M800 from two people who had the Vac, one who liked it equally, one not as much, but was good for SS. Here's more
http://www.audioshark.org/showthread.php?t=10390&p=178846&viewfull=1#post178846

ps: I have not heard the Atria, but have heard the Avior with Spectral DMA 400, Tenor 350 OTL, and Koda amps. The Rockport speaker that I actually like is the Grand Mira II, which is a different design, more like a lower priced version of Arrakis (7 ft tall, D'appolito MTM), front and rear ported (the Mira II and the Grand Mira and the Grand Mira II are completely different, no relation to each other).
 
There's another one that intrigues me, Audia Flight Strumento 4. Quite a beast.


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For synergy purposes, I like Mike's suggestion of sticking with the VAC amps. Can you also keep the H30? That would give you the best of both worlds.
 
I use boulder 1050 monoblocks with a VAC phi beta preamp -- I love the combo of tube preamp with solid state amps, and these have fantastic synergy in my system. The amps are very neutral, the VAC adds a touch of tube sweetness that works very well
 
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