Mastersound Amps. Anything similar you'd recommend

Thanks guys for the quick response. I'll have to take a look which exact model it was the dealer had there and will do that soon.

I do like a good bottom end as that is what I'm currently missing (though I'm not sure whether that's the speakers or the amps I have).

As I don't have any experience with tube amps at all I don't know if it would make sense to keep the Electrocompaniets and use the Mastersound as a preamp. Guess that would somehow defeat the purpose as I could just sell my pre-amp and look for a tube pre-amp that fits my current amps.

As I'd like to reduce the overall physical size of the setup I do like the idea of the integrated a lot better.

The one thing I'm not sure about is whether or not the Mastersound would match well with the PMC OB1+ speakers I've heard at the same shop and liked a lot. At the time they were driven by Rega equipment and I did like very much.

It might make sense to actually replace my speakers first as I've read all too often that the B&W's aluminum tweeters are just a bit bright in some setups and that would allow me to see hear the PMC's with without changing the amps.

What about the Cayin amps? Would those compare to the Mastersound amps?

Thanks again

Cayin makes good P/P amps, but I don't know about whether they make SET or if they're any good. A different sound than Mastersound, from the Cayin KT88s I've heard.

I think Mastersound is special. Check this out:

http://www.soundstage.com/traveler/traveler200801.htm

http://www.ultraaudio.com/features/2007_11_01.htm

If your looking for the SET sound, there are 2 other Italian manufacturers to consider, New Audio Frontiers and Viva. The first I believe is quite a lot more expensive than Mastersound, Viva just more expensive. I got my Viva Solista 845 second hand for $4000 and have been very happy with it for 4 years. It puts out 22watts and easily drives my 89db Acoustic Zen Adagios. Ayon is a good make, but I believe most are Push Pull. If it was me, I would keep a lookout on this site for a second hand unit.

I own a master sound and it will not drive the PMC. If going with a SET amp purchase loudspeakers designed for such use. As far as low priced amps near the sound quality after owning over 30 SET amps I can not think of any. But wright 2a3 or 300b not close to mastersound but good enough.

I've owned Quicksilver 300B SET amps for about six years and love them. I have not heard Mastersound so cannot compare. The Quicksilver amps have huge power supplies and are wired point-to-point by hand. Bottom end is excellent, especially for a 300B amp. Midrange is superb. I'm using WE 300B's and newer Svets on occasion. WE's certainly best the Svets in overall musicality and just seem smoother, for lack of a better descriptor. They are rarely seen used, and Mike Sanders does not advertise them on his website, but did show them at RMAF 07, where they sounded astoundingly good with a modified horn speaker, which I cannot recall the manufacturer. He builds them on demand only - you will not find them on his website. I believe the price is $3000 with no tubes. $3200 with (not sure which tubes he provides). He also makes a KT88 SET amp which I have not heard personally, but a close friend who owns several of his amps including that one speaks highly of it. I believe it was also reviewed in one of the rags. That amp is on the website.