ARC VSI55 integrated which uses a passive preamp is a honey of a component! and reliable. You might not need the 55 watts a channel but the staging, imaging, and bass control are amazing for any amp much less something this inexpensive that INCLUDES a REMOTE!
Tube Integrated for Zu Cable Druids?
I would be very interested in hearing suggestions for a tube integrated to mate with my Druids- I spoke to Sean at Zu and he suggested the Almarro a205 or a Dared 845 as very good matches. (NB: trying to develop a system keeping a very tight budget to see what I can come with).
Truth is I was hoping to find something with a remote (yes, I am that lazy) but it isn't make or break if the quality of the (no remote) integrated warrants it.....
So, I have short listed the Almarro and the Dared....on my own I looked into the Cayin 50t and was favorably impressed after a recent audition (see below). I also saw that Dared now has a 2a3 SET at a very competitive price.
Any thoughts on these or others that might be a good fit would be very much appreciated....
Some thoughts on the Cayin: really very impressive build and sound for $1300; I demoed it at showroon where it was hooked up with $14k Sonus Fabers- very good though I did feel that the Cayin at times did sound a little grainy....on the one hand, there is something to be said for an integrated that can hold its own in this kind of set-up and on the other it may be a little unfair to expect not to find fault within the context and level of the much more expensive Faber's. Did sound good though....
(Btw, back in the day home trial and demo's were fairly common- when I asked this dealer if I could try it at home I was flatly told that it was not possible; only alternative was for me to buy it and if I was not satisfied to return and pay a 20% restocking fee....argument was that the Cayins are selling like hotcakes and so no demo's and substantial restocking fee- I don't know but feel that if I am going to buy new I should get a chance to try it- if not I might as well hunt down a used one....anyway, this is a whole other topic).
Truth is I was hoping to find something with a remote (yes, I am that lazy) but it isn't make or break if the quality of the (no remote) integrated warrants it.....
So, I have short listed the Almarro and the Dared....on my own I looked into the Cayin 50t and was favorably impressed after a recent audition (see below). I also saw that Dared now has a 2a3 SET at a very competitive price.
Any thoughts on these or others that might be a good fit would be very much appreciated....
Some thoughts on the Cayin: really very impressive build and sound for $1300; I demoed it at showroon where it was hooked up with $14k Sonus Fabers- very good though I did feel that the Cayin at times did sound a little grainy....on the one hand, there is something to be said for an integrated that can hold its own in this kind of set-up and on the other it may be a little unfair to expect not to find fault within the context and level of the much more expensive Faber's. Did sound good though....
(Btw, back in the day home trial and demo's were fairly common- when I asked this dealer if I could try it at home I was flatly told that it was not possible; only alternative was for me to buy it and if I was not satisfied to return and pay a 20% restocking fee....argument was that the Cayins are selling like hotcakes and so no demo's and substantial restocking fee- I don't know but feel that if I am going to buy new I should get a chance to try it- if not I might as well hunt down a used one....anyway, this is a whole other topic).
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- 7 posts total
There might be an amp in the Audio Space line from Gini Systems that suited your needs. They are very well-built, high value amps from Hong Kong. I have the AS-3i integrated in my bedroom and I like it a lot. http://www.gini.com/ |
The Melody is probably nice, but at $3K, not what I would call a budget amp. IMO you can put a lot of money into amps behind the Druids or not so much, and each way you get terrific sound. What the higher ranges buys you is the audiophile stuff like depth, refinement, etc. But the Druid is such a foot-stompin' pleasure machine that it is not *necessary* to drop that much cash, just nice if you got it. From my own experience, YMMV, I would advise anyone who has just purchased these speakers to start small (ie cheap) with amps and carefully observe what the steps can do for you. You may reach a point where you find it's as good as you want it (this is excluding the obsessed audiophile, and I know none of them live here) and you only laid out a few Franklins. |
- 7 posts total