Sugden a21p

[admin_exported]

Hello,

Will a sugden A21p power amp drive my proac response d two to good listening levels? Sugden rated 25Watts class A both channels driven. Proacs : 88.5sensitivity!

Thanks

 

[indietronic]

hi! you still havent found what you looking for ? sugden , especially a21se is a sweet match for our beloved d2s....

 

[Anonymous]

hehe STILL havent found what i`m looking for 🙂

Do you think the a21p will drive the proacs well?. The A21p (25w) is much more cheaper than the a21se (30w), and I dont need an integrated, I need a power amp.

Thanks

 

[chebby]

Your Rotel power amp is 120 watts per channel (x5 channels) and you are going to substitute a 25watts per channel pure class A amp. (For front speakers?)

The Sugden will drive a pair of speakers of 88.5db sensitivty just fine but probably to nothing like the volume levels you expect from the Rotel.

If you intend to use the Sugden/Proacs at 'reasonable' levels in a smaller room as a 2ch system, then I think you could have an excellent combination.

The original Sugden A21 class A design goes back to the 1960s when Richard Allan designed it. Since then the design has remained much the same and is a tried and tested classic that has been evolved and refined over the decades.

They run very hot (hotter when not in use) so give it plenty of room and don't stack it under or over anything else.

I have only heard an old (very old) version of the A21 about 25 years ago with some Mordaunt Short Festival IIIs so cannot give any reliable account of it's sound quality WRT modern equipment. (I liked what I heard though.) I ended up with a used Quad 33/303 instead on that occasion.

A21s have always been reputed to have a very smooth, 3D sound (I can vouch for that bit) but don't think you are going to get huge rafts of dynamic 'slam'.

In the context of your 5.1 system I am not sure where the A21 will fit in. I think of it as a solid state alternative to a good valve amp for 'intimate' listening rather than 5.1 surround fireworks.

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:

Your Rotel power amp is 120 watts per channel (x5 channels) and you are going to substitute a 25watts per channel pure class A amp. (For front speakers?)

The Sugden will drive a pair of speakers of 88.5db sensitivty just fine but probably to nothing like the volume levels you expect from the Rotel.

Yes you`re right. I think I will need more power for that. What do you recommand chebby? I want something matching sugden`s sound but with more power. I dont like the idea of tubes tough,

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

You could try a sugden masterclass spa 4, 75 watts

 

[Anonymous]

Yes... but that costs 4 grand for just the power amp. 50 watts into 8 ohms!

I think I should buy a naim instead. Hope it works well with Proacs

 

[chebby]

daspaceman:I want something matching sugden`s sound but with more power.

If you have £4K - £8K+ then the Sugden Masterclass power amps.

Or a big class A Luxman or Accuphase amp (again many £Ks) but they are still around 25 - 30 watts per channel for the integrateds and "£How much!" for their more powerful class A power amps.

ATC make a small range of integrated and power amps that operate in pure class A up to about two thirds of their 150 watt output.

Rick from Musicraft will know the details but I think they are significantly cheaper than Sugden Masterclass.

[Edit] The ATC P1 stereo power amp is £1566 including VAT. (That price is due to go up v soon along with all ATC prices)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks chebby,

The ATC is within my budget. Does it sound similar to sugden audio ?

And, what about naim, you have experience with Naim. How do you describe the naim sound?

Thanks

 

[chebby]

daspaceman:The ATC is within my budget. Does it sound similar to sugden audio ?

I was just trying to find examples of Pure Class A (solid state) amps or class A/B amps (like the ATC) that operate in pure class A for the majority of their output range.

So no, I can't say personally, which is why I linked the WHF review of the ATC P1.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi Kevin

Sugden amps match well with Proac speakers although i tend to find the mix a little too smooth. The power levels from Sugden amps can punh well above their weight although as chebby has also pointed out you might find some of the smaller amps not working as effectively for 5.1 use in relation to the 1075.

If you like the sound of class A than again (as chebby has also suggested) ATC's P1 will do the trick nicely with music or for movie use. Please also still consider Naim's NAP250 and the SPM650 by Chord Electronics all of which work well with Proac speakers.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[seasiders rock]

The Sugden punches well above it,s weight.

I had the A21AP power amp with a Linn Kollector Pre, with B&W 602 S3, which are not an easy load, dip to under 4ohms.

No problems at all, plenty of welly, yes it runs hot, i left mine on, never turned off in nearly 8 years, no problems at all.

Agree with the heat, but in a rack with good air flow to sides and top ok, dont place in direct sunlight and you will be ok.

The other option is Bi Amping, integrated driving the tweeters and an A21AP the bass.

 

[Anonymous]

MUSICRAFT:

If you like the sound of class A than again (as chebby has also suggested) ATC's P1 will do the trick nicely with music or for movie use. Please also still consider Naim's NAP250 and the SPM650 by Chord Electronics all of which work well with Proac speakers.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Thanks once again Rick,

How is the treble extension of the ATC power amp? Is it too smooth for the proacs?

Seesiders rock .. How do you find the italian amps, audioanalogue?

 

[seasiders rock]

daspaceman:MUSICRAFT:

If you like the sound of class A than again (as chebby has also suggested) ATC's P1 will do the trick nicely with music or for movie use. Please also still consider Naim's NAP250 and the SPM650 by Chord Electronics all of which work well with Proac speakers.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Thanks once again Rick,

How is the treble extension of the ATC power amp? Is it too smooth for the proacs?

Seesiders rock .. How do you find the italian amps, audioanalogue?

The Audio Analogue amps are about the closest you will get to a tube amp with out buying one.

Warm and laid back with a sound stage you can walk into, does not have the bass clout the Sugden has, the Donizetti is rated at 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms, but it puts out 160 into 2 ohms. Drives my Dalis to the point the dog does a runner and hides under the bed upstairs

Build quality is excellent, built like tanks. Mine are all second hand and came in at aprox £930, at todays prices probably well over 2.5 k for the same quality.

Supurb kit.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

daspaceman:MUSICRAFT:

If you like the sound of class A than again (as chebby has also suggested) ATC's P1 will do the trick nicely with music or for movie use. Please also still consider Naim's NAP250 and the SPM650 by Chord Electronics all of which work well with Proac speakers.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Thanks once again Rick,

How is the treble extension of the ATC power amp? Is it too smooth for the proacs?

Seesiders rock .. How do you find the italian amps, audioanalogue?

Hi kevin

ATC's P1 power amplifier will work well with your speakers. The P1 has the performance and the quality/quantity of power to keep your speakers in check.

The Audio Analogue amps are very good particularly for music but at the same time can be lacking some dynamics and drive which you may find when listening to movies.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft