My quest for a solid state, class A power amp of around 25 watts per channel (to partner a good USB DAC with volume control) has come to nought.
So...
Integrated, solid state, class A amplifiers of around 25watts per channel. There seem to be two, the Musical Fidelity A1 (the new 2008 version I mean) at 30wpc for £999 and Sudgen A21a series II (£1300) at 25wpc.
I have seen good reviews of both amps and both have enough power to amply drive my Rega R3's at the listening levels I enjoy. But the Musical Fidelity has a built in MM phono-stage (nice) AND a built-in USB DAC (even nicer).
The DAC is a bonus but not a deal breaker (I have that covered already) but could be handy if it is better than the Firestone Audio USB DAC that I currently use. (I assume it is a version of their 'V-Dac' module) It would reduce the box-count and the built in MM phono stage would also reduce it again making my Rega Fono-Mini redundant.
The Musical Fidelity A1 has all this and it is £300 cheaper and a tiny bit more powerful.
Could anyone comment on the current versions of both amplifiers? (I realise there are incarnations of both amps going back to the time dinosaurs roamed the earth - especially the Sugden - but I am interested in the brand new versions.)
Thanks.
So...
Integrated, solid state, class A amplifiers of around 25watts per channel. There seem to be two, the Musical Fidelity A1 (the new 2008 version I mean) at 30wpc for £999 and Sudgen A21a series II (£1300) at 25wpc.
I have seen good reviews of both amps and both have enough power to amply drive my Rega R3's at the listening levels I enjoy. But the Musical Fidelity has a built in MM phono-stage (nice) AND a built-in USB DAC (even nicer).
The DAC is a bonus but not a deal breaker (I have that covered already) but could be handy if it is better than the Firestone Audio USB DAC that I currently use. (I assume it is a version of their 'V-Dac' module) It would reduce the box-count and the built in MM phono stage would also reduce it again making my Rega Fono-Mini redundant.
The Musical Fidelity A1 has all this and it is £300 cheaper and a tiny bit more powerful.
Could anyone comment on the current versions of both amplifiers? (I realise there are incarnations of both amps going back to the time dinosaurs roamed the earth - especially the Sugden - but I am interested in the brand new versions.)
Thanks.