OT: Solid state class A amps

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

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

Sent to me by a toob buddy...

http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2013/01/16.jpg

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.

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

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

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

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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

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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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