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Need Help: Integrated 'Tube' Amplifier for Arros

After numerous purchases, hours spent agonizing and trying to decide on that 'perfect' setup, I decided to take a step back and decide what is really important to me--the music.

I've owned five different speaker setups ranging from $1500 to $15,000. I asked myself a very simple question. What setup gave me maximum musical enjoyment? Not material pleasure or the conceited material idealization of certain products. But instead actual contentment in my current spatial and financial situation.

So I am going back to a system built around Totem Acoustic Arros. When I owned them I was content, happy and had no desire to upgrade for a long time (at least until I finished school). I had to sell them for personal reasons but I now have the resources to build a system that will be the cornerstone of my living room for the next 4-5 years.

I need help for the amplifier. My criteria is as follows...

Must be integrated
Must be tube
Minimalist design: source, volume and balance controls

Prefer it with, but not necessary...

Remote
Headphone jack
Phono stage

I bet all you guys are saying, "EASY, I can name 20 amps off the top of my head that fit that criteria". Well not so fast, here is the biggest thing of them all...

It has to be MADE IN NORTH AMERICA OR EUROPE

No Chinese please!
baroque_lover
pehare's avatar
pehare
639 posts
 
i'd pick the one that best matches the 4ohm load of the Arros. I have owned the following tube integrateds...ARC VSi55, Rogue Cronus, Cary sli-80 & demoed a MAC 6900 in my system....the ARC & Rogue seemed to have the most power but IMO none of them sounds nearly as good as the SLI-80. are tubes really the best match given the specs of the Arros?

i'm with you on the chinese thing....no explanation req'd my friend....
ethanh
48 posts
 
I own Arros and run them with a 35 watt tube integrated. I would definitely get something with more power if I were you, and pay attention to the amp's ability to drive 4 ohm speakers as others have mentioned.

Actually, if I planned on keeping my Arros for a few more years I'd probably upgrade to something like a Plinius 9200 or Unico, as I've noticed the Arros really benefit from some extra power and an amp that increases output into lower impedances.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Ethanh's advice is excellent, and it's really the best answer.

Some Arro owners are using tube amplification (check the Member's Systems), but most satisfied Arro users in the threads report using solid state amplification for exactly the reasons mentioned by Ethanh.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
My Ohms share the Arro characteristics of more difficult 4 ohm load and love of current/power. I like many tube systems when I hear them but they are not an easy fit for these kinds of speakers. Bass level and quality can suffer. Good SS gear is the answer. I think any decent Musical Fidelity SS amp would sound great with Arros and provide some tube like sonic attributes like smoothness and PRAT.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
ANother Agoner on another thread recently picked up a Unison Unico, 80 w/ch tube/ss hybrid for a new pair of Arros and reports good results.

A hybrid tube integrated like that is an interesting possibility. Or a tube pre combined with properly matched SS power amp could work very well also.
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