Which Amp?

Which Amp Would YOU Choose?

  • C-J 2550SE

    Votes: 8 47.1%

  • ARC Ref 75

    Votes: 8 47.1%

  • Luxman M-600a

    Votes: 1 5.9%
  • Total voters
    17
CDLehner

CDLehner

New member
Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Messages
1,312
Location
Eastern Shore, MD
Just for shits & giggles; some amp talk, and a vote.

I'm p u r g i n g, and settling in to just one kit :shocking:

Right now...the C-J combo, of ET-3SE and 2550SE, is the front-runner. But I really liked, the little ARC VT-50 I had (with the "right" pre)...which makes me wonder, if I should go after a Ref 75 (which has always been, like a dream amp for me).

Then again...I love class-A (again, if you can balance out the lush richness), and there's an M-600a for sale now; at a killer price. I have a Wyred STP-SE, that cut through the VT-50 just the right way. My feeling is, the Ref 75, would be pretty linear...especially with KT-150s; so a matching ARC pre would be in order. The Luxman...not sure; but I think I'd start, with the STP-SE and go from there.

So...I doubt anyone, has heard all 3; at least, for any l e n g t h of time. But we 'philes, love to give speculative opinions; it's what we do (nod to the Geico commercial, lol).

So...were it you?
 
The Twenty 26's are not the most efficient. Honestly? You should buy Joe's CJ ART stereo. You need power and tube goodness warmth on those PMC's. They are very neutral as you know.

SS option: McIntosh 452. Would be the Ying to the PMC's Yang. Looks pretty. Won't break the bank. Zero listener fatigue amp.


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CDLehner said:
I find them, easier to drive...than their number indicates. :)
Click to expand...

That may be, but have you driven them with anything over 250 watts?

CJ Art Stereo (see Joe)
McIntosh 452
Aesthetix stereo

If you want to go the integrated route:

VAC i160 SE would be killer. I personally think this might be one of the best integrated amps on the planet.

I think Bruce is selling his Rogers integrated - that's another option.

Finally, if you can live with the 60 watts, the Pass INT-60 or INT-250. Both have been those products that hit way above their price points for many of my customers.

Lastly, PrimaLuna has some decent amps. BQ reports have been mixed.

You need power and some warmth IMO.

Personally, I would buy a 452 Mc. Damn - it won't break the bank (just your back), it looks great, sounds great, has amazing resale value and would give you both warmth and power.


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I think I'd probably prefer a slightly warmer amp with the PMC speakers so Pass, McIntosh and CJ are at the top of my list. As much as I, and eveyone love ARC, I'm not sure if it is my cup of tea.
 
^^ My man; just be like Mike. He just ignores my list, and tells me what he thinks I should buy ;)

Notice...I didn't put an other (and please explain) option; but it's cool. Let me elaborate though.

First...as you know; I've driven the 26s, with a LOT of amps. Class-A, Class-D, Class-"T", A/B, and toobs. Again, I find them surprisingly easy to drive...and I already like their balance (not too warm, but far far from sterile); so I'm not looking for, a LOT of flavor elsewhere. Little tube in the pre, a linear-sounding tube power-amp; class-A current, if I can balance it out.

As for more than 250 per; no. The Classe CA-2200, was 200/400; and the current 2550SE is 250/500 per. I know headroom counts for something; but you really think, I need over 250wpc...in my cozy room?

Let's talk money! First...I own the 2550SE; it's "$7800" retail, and I got a great price. The ARC Ref 75, is what...$9k list; but I see them getting blown-out, around $5k...gently used or demo...because the SE is out. As for the Luxman; that's "$8500" new...guy wants $2900.

So...budget; $0 to keep the 2550SE, ~$3k for the $8500 Lux...and the ARC would cost me the most, and that makes $5k a pretty hard ceiling.

So...sorry Joe; but ART is out...so is VAC and Rogers (just don't know them well enough, to buy blind; just by reputation). I can't go back to a Pass INT. This might sound stupid and stubborn, but I got the smoking deal...of smoking deals, on that 30.8; I'd go back to that, at the same price...before I'd go IA.

But...the one thing, I might give some more thought; is the MAC. Never heard it in person...but I always thought, and know people whose tastes align with mine, who have; and they say, as I've always believed, too "olden golden" (please...no offense; different strokes, etc). But...it is "iconic", therefore does hold its value; and maybe deserves a day in court...rather than a hearsay opinion.
 
No worries Chris and I understand the financials don't make sense for you on the ARTsa at the moment. That is why I didn't recommend it per se.
 
CDLehner said:
My man Mike, doesn't make...recommendations; just for shits & giggles ;)

Budget...as little as need be, lol. Speakers...PMC Twenty 26s. Room size? I'm cozy...like 13' x 11'.



What's that mean?
Click to expand...

It means we have been down the "give me some advice/recommendations" trail with you and at the end of the trail, you disregard all of the advice you have been given and take a hard left down a dirt road.
 
Chris - you obviously have all the answers, so why ask the questions?

Your choices in your OP were not the ones I would even begin to pair with.

If you want to continue to ignore the experience of others, good luck. First Nagra, now this. You're a peach.

As Mark said, this is pointless.

Go with the CJ.

Good luck. [emoji49]


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Yeah...sounds like it's time for me to get a moseying along Cowpokes.

Maybe I don't follow the advice here; because people take what you want an opinion on, and disregard it (talk about a hard left down a dirt road).

It's like "OK...I like these 3 amps. Sure...there are other good amps; but I just want to know, which of these 3...you think is the best fit". I get MAC, VAC, Rogers; C-J ART, which has clearly been stated, to be out of my budget (and even if I didn't state it; uh...use a little common sense, and look at the other candidates. Does it l@@k like, I'm in the market...for a $20,000 amp?).

I'm a peach? I said "for shits & giggles"; you know what that means to me? For fun; hell...you're right. I might not buy ANY of them! Sticking where I'm at, is not a bad play at all (in fact...it's a damn good play). But I like to talk about audio; even if it's just theoretical. Like the "if you could live with only one speaker", or "what's your cost-no-object dream system" threads.

Now...if you think those, or my thread...is a waste of time; fine...don't post. I'd rather that, than you give me shit...and totally disregard, like any of the words coming out of my mouth. It'd be like walking onto a car lot: guys says "what can I show ya today". And you're like "I'm looking at maybe a Toyota or a Honda"...and the guy's like "over here, are our Porsches". And you say "no, no; that's a little more, than I want to spend...and I really don't need that much horsepower anyway". So the guy goes "my recommendation...a Ferrari". :rolleyes:

No...let's make it really accurate: then...the guy calls you an a$$hole, and tells you to get the f*ck off his lot, and go buy your damn Toyota elsewhere...lol.

I hate to say it; but more and more, I find this site...to be getting, like the one you ran away from. :(
 
My vote is to keep the current CJ gear since you like it. There is no going back once you sell it. Sell off every thing else. If you don't need the power you could move down to the 2275 which I have seen for reasonable prices used on Audiogon. I have not heard your particular CJ gear but I have heard other models and love the sound.
 
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