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Arny Krueger wrote:
"Rockinghorse Winner" wrote in message
...

I am seeking to replace an ailing Marantz 2325 receiver with an integrated
amp.

This is a legacy 125 wpc SS receiver.

I am leaning toward the Japanese tube amps, as they seem to offer so much
for the money, but would be willing to change my mind if persuaded
otherwise.

Depending on the size of your listening room and your preferred listening
levels, you might not be able to obtain a tubed amp that will power your
speakers in the style to which you have become accustomed.

I listen mostly to rock music, sometimes loudly, though my preference is
for high resolution over sheer sonic power. I am not a bass head, but
rather prefer balanced sound with tight, accurate bass.

Your desire for tight bass does not favor a tubed amp.


There are tube amplifiers such as the larger VTL and Audio Research
models, and the classics like the McIntosh MC3500 and MI200, Marantz 9,
and various large Altec theater amps which will meet his needs. The
price is probably not going to meet his budget.

The largest good hi-fi output transformer in current vendor production
of which I'm aware available to the DIYer is probably the Acrosound 350
clone wound by Sowter in Britain. This is not a 100 watt unit even, not
at 20 Hz. ARC, Conrad Johnson and VTL Manley make production amps in
these power ranges but I don't think they will sell output transformers
to hobbyists. I know people have used the Ampeg SVT bass amp opt for
hi-fi use, but whether it is suitable is unknown to me, nor do I know
whether the one supplied by the Kornblum organization (St. Louis Music)
today is up to the standard of the original unit. They will sell them,
I do know that. The SVT is rated at 300 watts, but that's probably at a
high distortion figure.