Tube Integrated Help

[Mechnutt]

If you are going to increase your budget, then you may want to consider a used Primaluna Integrated.

 

[musicphile/vintageequippe]

If you are going to increase your budget, then you may want to consider a used Primaluna Integrated.

... Sure - there's alot out there in the vintage/used market - BUT I recently took a chance and shelled out $150 for a new Monoprice integrated amp and am pleasantly surprised with it. It easily powers my JBL L-25 Prima speakers (a previous vintage find), and appears to respond well (meaning jumps in sound quality) to different interconnects (presently Harmonic Tech Pro-Silway MK lll I got as pat of another deal) and power cords (presently using a 2 meter used PS Audio X-Stream Statement SC I purchased for $175). So I skinned the cat by maximizing the machine with vintage speakers and quality ancillaries...

I'd suggest you put your money into music - try the Monoprice amp for 30 days and realize it's most times the music not the equipment that brings you joy and makes you smile.

 

[Shadowfax]

This is a tad above your price point, but a killer little hand made amp by Steve Monte of Quest for Sound for $1350
http://www.questforsound.com/amps/amps_sq84-V2.htm

 

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.

... Sure - there's alot out there in the vintage/used market - BUT I recently took a chance and shelled out $150 for a new Monoprice integrated amp and am pleasantly surprised with it. It easily powers my JBL L-25 Prima speakers (a previous vintage find), and appears to respond well (meaning jumps in sound quality) to different interconnects (presently Harmonic Tech Pro-Silway MK lll I got as pat of another deal) and power cords (presently using a 2 meter used PS Audio X-Stream Statement SC I purchased for $175). So I skinned the cat by maximizing the machine with vintage speakers and quality ancillaries...

I'd suggest you put your money into music - try the Monoprice amp for 30 days and realize it's most times the music not the equipment that brings you joy and makes you smile.

 

[Sean]

Thank you, gents! I'll have to look into these.

Keep 'em coming!

If you are going to increase your budget, then you may want to consider a used Primaluna Integrated.

... Sure - there's alot out there in the vintage/used market - BUT I recently took a chance and shelled out $150 for a new Monoprice integrated amp and am pleasantly surprised with it. It easily powers my JBL L-25 Prima speakers (a previous vintage find), and appears to respond well (meaning jumps in sound quality) to different interconnects (presently Harmonic Tech Pro-Silway MK lll I got as pat of another deal) and power cords (presently using a 2 meter used PS Audio X-Stream Statement SC I purchased for $175). So I skinned the cat by maximizing the machine with vintage speakers and quality ancillaries...

I'd suggest you put your money into music - try the Monoprice amp for 30 days and realize it's most times the music not the equipment that brings you joy and makes you smile.

This is a tad above your price point, but a killer little hand made amp by Steve Monte of Quest for Sound for $1350
http://www.questforsound.com/amps/amps_sq84-V2.htm

 

[musicphile/vintageequippe]

... Sure - there's alot out there in the vintage/used market - BUT I recently took a chance and shelled out $150 for a new Monoprice integrated amp and am pleasantly surprised with it. It easily powers my JBL L-25 Prima speakers (a previous vintage find), and appears to respond well (meaning jumps in sound quality) to different interconnects (presently Harmonic Tech Pro-Silway MK lll I got as pat of another deal) and power cords (presently using a 2 meter used PS Audio X-Stream Statement SC I purchased for $175). So I skinned the cat by maximizing the machine with vintage speakers and quality ancillaries...

I'd suggest you put your money into music - try the Monoprice amp for 30 days and realize it's most times the music not the equipment that brings you joy and makes you smile.

Really - the Monoprice amp with Bluetooth and preamp out is $159 - worth a look...

 

[Sean]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I’ll just kill my budget and do a McIntosh MA-252. [emoji6]

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[joeinid]

:exciting:

Excellent choice.

 

[Sean]

I think so, too, Joe. Mac, after all, was what got me into Audio in the first place. [emoji3]

Now, which cables (SC and IC) will pair well with the MA-252? Joe - Are you still enjoying Kimber Kables?

Speakers will be further down the road; so just my AAD towers for now:

M-5T
Type 2.5-way Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Sensitivity 90dB
Impedance 6 ohm
Frequency Response 40Hz-40KHz +/-3dB

:exciting:

Excellent choice.

 

[CPP]

:exciting:

Excellent choice.

Interesting : A hybrid design, the MA252 uses four tubes in the input/driver segments and a solid state output stage, delivering 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 160 per channel into 4 ohms,

 

[joeinid]

I think so, too, Joe. Mac, after all, was what got me into Audio in the first place. [emoji3]

Now, which cables (SC and IC) will pair well with the MA-252? Joe - Are you still enjoying Kimber Kables?

Speakers will be further down the road; so just my AAD towers for now:

M-5T
Type 2.5-way Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Sensitivity 90dB
Impedance 6 ohm
Frequency Response 40Hz-40KHz +/-3dB

Yes, still have my Kimber all copper cables in RCA and XLR. They are a great match with McIntosh.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Sean]

Chris, I am in agreement. Mac's first hybrid integrated hasn't gotten a lot of review ink (at least that I can find) but I imagine it will fall right in line with what we've come to expect from McIntosh, albeit in a watered-down fashion.

I love how the package looks on paper - smaller footprint, headphone output, tube pre, ample solid-state power, and the storied Mac brand. What's not to like?

I won't be purchasing for a bit (after our move), so I will have time to research cables (and speakers for down the road) that mate well with the little amp. Color me excited.

Interesting : A hybrid design, the MA252 uses four tubes in the input/driver segments and a solid state output stage, delivering 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 160 per channel into 4 ohms,

 

[Sean]

Good to hear. Joe. I know we've seen lots of forum members extremely happy with WW but I'll be open-minded and will start another thread as I continue to research synergistic cables. I want to check out the value-based offerings from the likes of Acoustic Zen, Kimber, AudioQuest, WW, etc.

Yes, still have my Kimber all copper cables in RCA and XLR. They are a great match with McIntosh.

 

[joeinid]

I also love Belden 8402 and Duelund cables. Both not expensive and sound great to me.

Good to hear. Joe. I know we've seen lots of forum members extremely happy with WW but I'll be open-minded and will start another thread as I continue to research synergistic cables. I want to check out the value-based offerings from the likes of Acoustic Zen, Kimber, WW, etc.

 

[Sean]

I will certainly add these to my list; thanks, Joe.

I also love Belden 8402 and Duelund cables. Both not expensive and sound great to me.

 

[Jack]

Sean

I have never heard the Belden's but I have the Dueland IC's and SC and they are a steal.

 

[Sean]

Thanks for chiming in, Jack. I will seriously look into these.

Sean

I have never heard the Belden's but I have the Dueland IC's and SC and they are a steal.

 

[aKnyght]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I’ll just kill my budget and do a McIntosh MA-252.

MA-252... nice choice sean! i will be very interested to follow your experience w/ this hybrid amp.

I also love Belden 8402 and Duelund cables. Both not expensive and sound great to me.

i can also highly recommend cables made from Duelund wire... very economical, even for professionally manufactured cables using this wire. imo, a classic 90/25 situation: 90% of the performance at 25% of the cost. i use both SC and IC employing this wire. for the IC, i am running unshielded as my system and environment are not noticeably impacted by RFI/EMI -- this is less expensive and has better SQ.

 

[Sean]

I will be sure to share the experience as I bring in the 252; bear with me, though, please. I’ll be looking to acquire after a move in the next couple of months.

More support for Duelund! Must be something to that - thanks for chiming in.

MA-252... nice choice sean! i will be very interested to follow your experience w/ this hybrid amp.



i can also highly recommend cables made from Duelund wire... very economical, even for professionally manufactured cables using this wire. imo, a classic 90/25 situation: 90% of the performance at 25% of the cost. i use both SC and IC employing this wire. for the IC, i am running unshielded as my system and environment are not noticeably impacted by RFI/EMI -- this is less expensive and has better SQ.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dr Morbius]

Since used was mentioned, for under $1000 you can get a rebuilt HH Scott 299 series which is kind of magical to me. Or you can get a non rebuilt which is what I've done and send it to NOS Valves (Craig is the owner) and have him redo it and should run just under $1k if your a little lucky. Unless you have very inefficient (power hungry) speakers this could work out.