OT: Solid state class A amps

[badtoby]

I've got the bug to upgrade/sell off some of my stuff and buy a class a amp for the Altecs. Anyone here use anything like that? Was thinking maybe first watt, pass aleph 30 or maybe pioneer m22. The pioneer is getting old so I have reservations about it but I have always wanted one. The Marantz 2238 sounds very good but like I said I've got the bug. Don't really think of my self as a tube guy though I have a fisher intergrated I prefer the marantz.

Bob

[GM]

You can never go wrong with Class A as long as it has enough dynamic headroom, but whether to have a high output impedance [and how much] will depend on the speaker system's effective Qt [sysQ], i.e. the total resistance the amp 'feels', so usually best overall to have a low output impedance with variable DF bass, treble tone controls to increase it as desired.

Not knowing what's available these days, such [integrated] amps, receivers may only be vintage units and/or VERY pricey. I could have bought a used Aston Martin or Ferrari for what a dealer wanted for the last ‘powerful’ integrated Class A amp I auditioned some years ago.

GM

[analog addict]

Sent to me by a toob buddy...

[valhallax]

i bought a used adcom gfa 5800... class a for the first 20 watts. like i said , it was used. got it home, hooked it all up, and all it did was get real hot. another something i havent got around too yet. getting to the point i'll need mores shelves. i figure i'll have plenty of projects if i ever get the chance to retire.

[alancohen]

I'm of the ilk that Altecs were just made for SET tube amps, or better yet, OTL amplifiers. High efficiency speakers and low power, liquid-like amplifiers. A match made in sonic heaven.

I'm currently using a 15W/ch, class AB OTL and the sound is nothing short of glorious. Son of Beast OTL Tube Amp

[Old Guy]

Class A amps at the foot of the bed will keep your feet warm in winter almost as well as tubes do.

[fpitas]

I'm using a First Watt J2 to drive my 511s. The drivers are Radian 475PBs right now, with TAD TD-2002s on the way. The J2 made a startling improvement in sound over the old class AB SS amp I was using. Ultra Audio gave it a nice review:

SoundStageXtreme.com | UltraAudio.com | First Watt J2 Stereo Amplifier

Summary

I expected Nelson Pass’s First Watt J2 power amplifier to be almost as good as a good tube amplifier, but it wasn’t -- it was better than most tube amps I’ve tried. It’s possible to find better-sounding tube amps, but you’d better be prepared to part with a lot more cash.

Nelson Pass First Watt link: FIRST WATT J2

[badtoby]

Thanks fpitas for the response. Have you tried the j2 without biamping or with 16 ohm drivers? I have read that at 16 ohms the output is half that of 8 ohms.
Thanks analog for the photo the wife liked it as she hates to cook breakfast. Another selling point in the WAF.

[fpitas]

Thanks fpitas for the response. Have you tried the j2 without biamping or with 16 ohm drivers? I have read that at 16 ohms the output is half that of 8 ohms.

My Radians are 16 ohm versions, it still has plenty of power. I've never tried it without bi-amping or a passive crossover; it is connected directly to the driver.

[amandarae]

I'm of the ilk that Altecs were just made for SET tube amps, or better yet, OTL amplifiers. High efficiency speakers and low power, liquid-like amplifiers. A match made in sonic heaven.

I'm currently using a 15W/ch, class AB OTL and the sound is nothing short of glorious. Son of Beast OTL Tube Amp

I am with you all the way. I have tried various amps, some of them I borrowed from my friend close by (Plinius, Monarchy Audio SM70, Threshold S150/S250, Odyssey Stereo/mono, Mark Levinson,Pass Labs 250, Krell, and quite several PP, PWM, Chip Amps).

For me, the three amps that really shine driving my Altecs are the ff:

1.) JE Labs 2A3DX
2.) Tubelab Simple SE (triode strapped pentode)
3.)TubeLab 300B SE

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