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Valve amplifier choice


Hi Guys
I am considering making a switch from a Musical Fidelity Kw 500 to a lower powered all valve integrated or possibly a pre - power combination , i am due to move into a new house that has a smallish listening room 20ft x 12Ft , my speakers are Triangle Lyrr current model floor standing rated at 92db. Rega Dac as digital source , really fond of the smooth sound as in the past i have found cd sterile.
Although i enjoy the Kw 500 i was able to Listen to a Icon Audio integrated that really sounded nice , i also have had a crush on Macintosh amplifiers for some time now although not had a chance to audition due to living in Tasmania- Australia , there are very little in the way of local hifi outlets as it is a rural environment , i would like to get some suggestions for Icon Audio or macintosh valve integrated that would suit for a room of the above dimensions , I am a newbie valve amps with the Kw 500 being the closest i have come to with valves in the pre stage.

Thanks everyone.
steam3642
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
Icon Audio has some reviews and support in the UK magazines. The reviews are pretty good and they seem to have an amp for various needs.
roscoeiii's avatar
roscoeiii
1,155 posts
 
I am not sure about what is available in Australia, that may be a big deciding factor. But maybe some of the tube gear from Japan or a reputable Chinese manufacturer? A lot of the Japanese gear that I am aware of seems to be fairly low powered, SET amps (Shindo & Yamamoto for example). For Chinese made gear, check out Line Magnetic (LM) and Primaluna.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Look into the Cayin line, great sound, great value.
steam3642 OP
124 posts
 
Thanks Guys

The Icon Audio model i auditioned was the
"Stereo 40 MK III 6AS7"

Specifications and Features
• Comprehensive manual supplied
• Full instructions for valve change included and bias meter
• All hand wired point to point
• No printed circuit or tag board to ‘colour’ sound
• Blue ALPS volume pot (Japan)
• Class A, all Triode front end
• Output circuit all pure Triode
• 4x 6SA7 precisely matched for best performance
• 1x 6SL7 first stage valve, 2x 6SN7 phase inverter
• 274B valve rectifier for smooth sound
• No global feedback used (integrated operation)
• Standby switch to save valve life and power
• 35 Watts per channel, 33+33W both channels driven
• Signal to noise level -95dB
• Freq response (L) 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0dB 15W
• Freq response (H) 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 1dB 15W
• Min bass frequency for full power 15Hz
• THD 0.56% (L) 1.3% (H) both @ 15 W
• Suitable for 3 to 16ohm speakers (8 & 4 Ω taps)
• Damping Factor 5.00
• Supplied with attractive safety guard.
• Audiophile quality metal film resistors (Taiwan)
• Rubicon/Nichichron power caps.
• Purple LED mains indicator
• Choke regulated power supply
• Audiophile SCR/Solen Polypropylene audio caps.
• Optional Jensen Copper foil paper in oil upgrade
• Silver PTFE audio cable
• 99.9999% pure transformer copper
• High grade long grain transformer iron (Japan)
• Custom hand wound Tertiary output transformers
• Ceramic valve holders for minimum noise/leakage
• Gold plated Input & speaker terminals
• Four line inputs – CD, Tape, Tuner, Aux
• Tape monitor circuit with ‘Record Out’
• 280mv input sensitivity (H) Integrated
• 680mv input sensitivity (l) power amplifier
• 230/240volts 180w Min, 250watts max signal.
• 2A AS rear fuse
• CE, ROHSS and WEEE where applicable.
• 390mmW, 390D, 230H, 20kg

It was not expensive , i think comeing in at around $2500
Australian which i thought was reasonable for a quality valve amp.
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