Help needed for choosing budget Tube Amp...

[loudspeaker777]

Hi,

I'm currently running a pair of b&w 685 via a Fatman Trinity and CambridgeDACMagic, I'm planning to purchase a Rega RP3 to add into the System. Because the Fatman Trinity only has one pair of RCA input, I now thinking about upgrade the existing Fatman Trinity to a new budget integrated tube amplifier, which allows more RCA input on the back.

I am really new to this integrated tube amplifier world, have done a few searches online and find a few models that within my budget. Hope anyone here could teach me a quick lesson and provide some suggestions about which one of the followings will be the best match for my current system, and what is actually the main difference between them when come to sound quality. I generally listen to Jazz, Blues and Classic Rock

Amp I've found are

DARED MP-15[/b]

DARED MP-30B[/b]

DARED MP-2A3C[/b]

CAYIN MA-80

YaQin MC-100B[/b]

or the more expensive PrimaLuna's ProLogue Classic[/b]

Thanks Heaps

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[floyd droid]

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Is this Push Pull or Single Ended

Ok ,serious time . As you have listed the more expensive Prima Luna ( price is dictated by which valves you opt for) so circa 1750 -2k .

Will that price range be pushing the boat out too far ?.

Awaiting your next post before proceeding

 

[loudspeaker777]

Thanks for Reply, i'm not really sure if it is Push Pull or Single Ended, I think quite few of the models listed are single ended from previous reading

Regarding to the price around $1500 AUD or around 1000 GBP will be the maximum i'd like to spend on this

Thanks

 

[floyd droid]

Lol, sorry mate the push pull/single ended was aimed at the mods in your post ,twas a joke. Now I'm a tad stumped, are you in Australia at a guess ?.

 

[davedotco]

As a general rule, valve amplifiers will need more support from your dealer/manufacturer than solid state, so I would be looking at what is available locally.

If you are going to buy chinese out of Hong Kong, do your research on both the product and the supplier, but you are still taking a bit of a risk so beware.

The advantage of course is that your money goes at lot further, certainly better material value than anything imported from europe (I'm assuming you are in Australia).

My default answer, for uk buyers, would be the Croft Integrated which is a hybrid design and probably a more predictable choice at this budget, the Croft is £850 or £1000 with a phono stage. Whether it is available in your part of the world and at what price, I have no idea.

 

[loudspeaker777]

HAHA, I see now, I'm living in sydney now, but wasn't born here

 

[Infiniteloop]

I'd see what there is second-hand from somebody like Unison Research, or alternatively have you looked at icon Audio? They have some entry level Amps for about £1K.

I don't really trust those Chinese imports........

Valve Amp enthusiasts tend to look after their equipment, so second hand is a good option.

Oh, and welcome to Valve world!

 

[davedotco]

I'd see what there is second-hand from somebody like Unison Research, or alternatively have you looked at icon Audio? They have some entry level Amps for about £1K.

I don't really trust those Chinese imports........

Valve Amp enthusiasts tend to look after their equipment, so second hand is a good option.

Oh, and welcome to Valve world!

The market in Sydney is hugely distorted by the geography, anything out of Europe is going to carry a huge premium so realistically the OP has to buy secondhand or from China if he is going to stay close to budget.

If buying out of China do your homework, check out the product and the dealer and check your import duty and taxes, fob prices can be very deceptive.

Regarding Chinese quality, most of the more well known brands are pretty solid these days, there is some carp around, but if you do your homework you should be OK.

 

[floyd droid]

Stuck record time. The OP if at all possible should get out there and listen to few different valve amps first ,regardless of their cost. Presentation fellas !!.

Anything out there half decent is going sound worlds apart from the Fatman thingy for starters. Soooooooo , where does he go EL34 / KT88 / KT66 etc plus the vagries of how the ruddy things have been voiced. Stick three KT88 based amps from different manufacturers infront of him , for example , and as sure as eggs is eggs they will sound different , vastly different in some cases.

Also , he needs to realise that , baring the few and far between exceptions , he needs to factor a phonostage in his budget.

Edit. Oooooh hello Ruth , where you been ?, lol.