High End Integrated Choices

07-26-06: Sphere
Personally I would go for the Gamut Di150.It is a knockout amplifier.

I heard the DI150 at the LA HES, and I thought the sound in the Gamut room was excellent. It's an integrated worth consideration. Kinda spendy, though.

True.it has a smaller version coming in called the Di100.
Worth a cheskout.

Well, after much deliberation I got myself a bootiful Cary SLI 80 F1 integrated used from my brother in law. He bought it around 3 months ago and hasn't played it much. I found it to be a lot tighter sounding (maybe thats the direct coupled preamp section talking) than the signature version and it mates beautifully with my B&W 805S speakers.

It sounds much better in triode mode especially with voices and Im amazed how 50 watts can drive my 805S to very realistic levels easily. I tried the 4 ohm setting and iot didn't sound as good as the 8 ohms which kinda makes sense as my speakers are 8 ohms sensitive.

The tubes in place are mainly electro harmonix but Im itching to roll some tubes.

SED KT88s come to mind. But when it comes to the 6922s and 6sn7s, Im not sure which ones will do the job.

Can someone help? Ghasley, I remember you saying you had this amp, mind letting me in on what you are using?

Thanks

Love the new JJ Tesla's, and Groove Tubes makes the Mullard EL34 reissues, as well as the early rock n' roll/country r&b GE 6V6 that everyone is so in love with. I like the SLI-80 for it's versatility most, so I'd be tempted to get a few different types.

KT66's have less power than the 88 or 90, and 6V6 and EL34's are different again, but all should have enough to power the speakers. The transformer is your real issue, not the power tubes, and the transformer is top notch. Slope and type of power is more important with the input tubes and inverters, it won't affect wattage as much.

The 805s nautilus sounds very good with the Unico 80watter hybrid integrated amplifier much to my suprise.

Tried and proven combo.