Hi, gang.
I've got some questions regarding SS amplifiers. I don't have a lot of experience with amps, but I'm learning. I started 5 years ago with a Denon AVR 2113ci (?). It sucked. Then, I bought a used Sim Audio 3.1 integrated amp with DAC added. This was a good step up because I could actually hear the improvement in my speakers. An AVA 400R and AVA Synergy 240/3 for HT came next. Once again I heard the SQ improvement. This satisfied me for about 2 years.
For my Taiwan home I bought a Nuprime IDA-8 int. amp/DAC. It's sort of like the /sim Audio. I love this amp for its convenience. It's my travel amp. I may keep it for a while. Last Fall I bought a Nuprime ST-10 amp (150w/ch). This was a step up. I had actually compared it to my 400R and was favorably impressed. I bought the ST-10 because my speakers were Fritz Speakers LS/5-R speakers. They sound great, but are 83.5dB 4 ohm. They need a wee bit of power to sound right. Yeah. I know 150w isn't big enough, but in my small living room, it works.
I've been aching for really good quality floor standing speakers for a couple years. My vagabond lifestyle, dental expenses, my son's college education, and a couple 'surprises' prevented me from buying speakers.....until last month. I bought a pair of Daedalus Audio Apollo speakers. There are three-way 86.5dB 8 ohm puppies that image like crazy. I bought them earlier than I had planned because I got a good deal on Lou's test speakers, which aren't pristine looking, but let's call them an 8.5/10. I either bought them or had to wait 3 months for a new full-priced pair. [Hmm. Think hard, Michael. Save enough to buy a nice amplifier, or pay full price on $14k speakers. - I hesitated for all of 30 seconds.]
The nice amplifier is a Don Sachs KT88 Kootenay 120 tube amp that just happens to match perfectly to my D. Sachs Model 2 preamp. The amp is being assembled now. It ought to be ready in a month or 6 weeks. Both the amp and my Apollos will fly to Taiwan in November. If you're in the neighborhood, we have a guest room with a queen bed....
Now why did I tell you that, and why am I asking about amplifiers? I'll tell you.
When I auditioned the Apollos, I first used my 400R for a solid three hours in order to get a solid feel for the speakers and their strengths (many) and weaknesses (few). Then, we replaced my 400R with Lou's Modwright KWA-150 SE amp and began playing many of the same songs. Well, holy sheeyut! What a huge difference! Yup. I finally REALLY get it. Those expensive amps that I had always referred to as "outrageously expensive" actually make much better music than those 'reasonably' priced amps like the 400R. Consider me educated.
I sold my 400R recently. I'll eventually sell my 240/3 or hand it to my son if he's interested (not very). My wife and I have decided to sell our home in Corvallis, OR and buy a new home in Vancouver, WA. My 87 yr old mother is there and she already had a near-death event 3 months ago that scared the shit out of me. I want to live near enough that I can be there fast if needed, or have a place to come back to if I have to fly back from Taiwan. [Taiwan is our winter home.] I will want to have a nice system in our new home and I know I'll want a really good amplifier. I'm not sure which speakers I'll have, but they likely will be 92dB or higher sensitivity. I'm not interested in buying a
new KWA-150 SE or a
new PASS xxx, or a
new whatever because I don't wish to spend that much on an amplifier. I'l happily buy a used amp. I haven't thought about a preamp yet. Perhaps, I'll get a kickass integrated. Who knows?
So....now that I have heard the KWA-150 SE and appreciate what it does, what other comparable amps are out there that I want to research and eventually audition? I've got over a year before I need to plunk cash down, so I won't get stressed out.
What suggestions have you got for me? Oh, I know. I need to tell you my budget. Um. $4000(?), but cheaper would be nice. Who knows? A year from now I might decide $5k is okay. You know how it goes. Class A, class A/B, Class D are all okay.
If you need more info, I'll be happy to answer. Since I haven't even bought this future home, I can't tell you dimensions or flooring. Just have fun with this. It's a fun hobby. Let's do it!
Thanks!
Michael
P.S. First post of the day!