No one would believe me. Actually costs me some creditability here. There is only one other exactly upgraded Allied 333. When a friend heard it he said he would pay whatever I wanted to upgrade one. A week later he went to a radio swap and unbelievable a like new condition Allied 333 was there. He paid $150 for it. I just charged him parts for about $150 including new tubes. It must have certain tubes.
The Rega Aethos is another amp that I’d love to try. The only reason it gives me pause (in addition to the required budget) is the fact that my Rega Elex-R is, IMHO, an awesome amplifier. If there’s a forum member who climbed from the Elex-R to the Aethos please let me know. Thanks.
Perhaps @Echoes Myron could comment more? What is your endgame integrated amplifier? "I own a Rega Aethos and it is end game material for me. I really don't see ever needing to move up from it. Mine is currently waiting for service, so I am really enjoying the Elicit-R that it had replaced. The Elicit is a very fine amp, but the Aethos is definitely a big notch above in every way. " Here is the Rega integrated amp lineup. Award-winning amplifiers made in England by Rega io<Brio<Elex-R<Elicit MK5<Aethos<Osiris
I know this is the endgame integrated thread but it occurred to me I started the game with an integrated and the only one I've ever owned. It was a solid amp the Bryston B-60 $1500 new back when I bought it circa 1998. That amp is long gone this is pic is from the Bryston site, it's discontinued now but pretty sure it was selling for a crazy $3500 when last available.
@Ilusndweller & @Ivand actually I can't help because I have never owned/heatd the Elex, I only know the Elicit-R and the Aethos. From what I understand the Elicit's sonic signature is an outlier in the range. The Elicit is a very neutral sounding amp, and is particularly excellent at detail and imaging. The Elicit disssects each aspect of a mix, and places each instrument in the soundstage with pinpoint accuracy. The holographic imaging can be uncanny with coaxial speakers like mine. It is not uncommon to hear instruments appear from behind your head with certain recordings, or from surprising spaces all around the room Despite the nominal power increase on paper, the Aethos brings a great deal more power and autbority. I have demanding speakers, and the Aethos blows right past the Elicit and allows them to do more of what they are capable of. The sound and presentation are also quite different. The Aethos presents the music as an organic whole, rather than the sun of its parts like the Elicit. It is a notably smoother/warmer as well. Both are very excellent amps, but the Aethos is clearly superior.
Without having even tried tubes, I can imagine myself being in bliss with a Luxman LX-380 or Leben CS- 600x Exactly! Obviously, I wouldn't turn down a top-of-the-line SS Luxman integrated amp if someone is looking to unload some extra weight
Any integrated without a mono button rules it out for me. I have too many mono records I enjoy and it’s a necessity.
These days, I'm all active speakers, so no integrated amp needed. Preamps though are another matter. Currently using a Linn Kolektor, which dates to the late 1990s, early 2000s, before the "Majik" style aesthetic kicked in. Rather like that granite, hefty case they had back then. What would be my endgame choice though? I'd need to check how keen I was to go back to passive speakers again. Tricky one.
Taylor @GoldprintAudio made this daydream come true. Letting her run in with the stock tubes (with the exception of the 6922's) for the next 100 hours or so
I’m happy with my Exposure 2510. Sounds great with my speakers in my room. Never once had listening fatigue since using this amp and it also has a very engaging sound. No doubt there is better somewhere but i can’t be bothered chasing it. If you have a good picture on the screen why fiddle with the aerial?
Between Cary Audio's annual Holiday Sale and Taylor, this was able to happen. Thank you! The wife and I moving into our retirement home in a few months and I'm in the process of downsizing equipment, my new space is smaller than what I currently enjoy. The SLI-80 will fit the bill quite nicely I believe and provide many years of pleasure at least that's the plan
Congrats Mike, Merry CHRISTmas ! If only Cary made a power amp version of this I would have been all over it. And yeah, that Cary holiday sale is the best deal going. Keep us all posted about how it sounds.
@mreeter ... try swapping out the stock 6SN7 for maybe some Sylvania 6SN7 GTA. Got those and Telefunken E88CC in my SLI-80.
Your post mirrors my experience with integrated amps. I've only ever owned one: the Canadian-made Brown Mark 1. I started a thread over on CAM a number of years ago looking for info about it. Got some neat responses, with people posting pics and recollections. I've always seen integrated amps as receivers that never quite made it. I've always ever used only complete separates, or receivers (and later, AVRs.) So to the OP: don't have one and don't think I ever will. Jeff
I've got a few pairs of nos 6SN7's and 6922 variants on the back burner. Going to let the Amp ripen with the stock tubes before I start making many changes, want to get a good feel for its 'Stock' character first. Have some old stock Svetlana Winged =C= EL34's, along with some Gold Lion KT77's and Tungsol KT120's that I'll roll in as well. One of the features I liked about this Amp is the ability to utilize several different Power Tubes.
The Luxman LX-380 is a fabulous piece - I hope to have one some day! Of course there's the L-595a se, too . . .
