Upgrading to a higher end Amp

[Khornukopia]

On 3/31/2024 at 6:54 PM, RickD said:

The MA352 amp I have does sound pretty damn good. Nvidia has made me some extra pocket money that is itching to be spent. A while back I was certain I needed a different DAC. I borrowed a few big buck dacs from audio dealers but couldn't find any improvement over what I have.

 

Have you considered getting the new Klipsch Jubilee speakers? That could be a big upgrade in the sound.

[SME10]

El84’s are magic, it’s the one tube amp you should try.   https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-sq-n150-integrated-amplifier

[RickD]

On 4/3/2024 at 12:01 PM, Khornukopia said:

 

Have you considered getting the new Klipsch Jubilee speakers? That could be a big upgrade in the sound.

Although they would fit in my living room. They would be a little to large to look at.

[RickD]

On 4/4/2024 at 12:41 AM, SME10 said:

El84’s are magic, it’s the one tube amp you should try.   https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-sq-n150-integrated-amplifier

This integrated amp has no digital inputs, so it wouldn't work for me unless I purchased their CD player. I don't use CDs. Thanks for the tip.

[Shakeydeal]

@RickD
 

Why do you need a digital input? Doesn’t your dac have analog outputs?

[jcn3]

@RickD -- @Shakeydeal is right.  You've got a good DAC in the RME, so the integrated does not need digital inputs unless you're selling the RME.

[the real Duke Spinner]

On 4/4/2024 at 12:41 AM, SME10 said:

El84’s are magic, it’s the one tube amp you should try.   https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-sq-n150-integrated-amplifier

Or

El 34.  Fantastic mids. 🙂

[Bananas and Blow]

On 4/3/2024 at 9:41 PM, SME10 said:

El84’s are magic, it’s the one tube amp you should try.   https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-sq-n150-integrated-amplifier

 

What amps have you heard the EL84 in? Are you able to compare the sound to the EL34 power tube? I'm quite fond of my EL34s.

[Shakeydeal]

I know you didn’t ask me, but I’ve owned two different EL84 amps and both were excellent. A Music Reference RM10 II and an Aric Audio custom. I have also had many EL34 amps, also which were good. But if you don’t need the extra power, there is something special about the EL84 tube. That would be my choice.

[Gilbert]

Follow me..................

[Flevoman]

On 4/1/2024 at 2:54 AM, RickD said:

The MA352 amp I have does sound pretty damn good. Nvidia has made me some extra pocket money that is itching to be spent. A while back I was certain I needed a different DAC. I borrowed a few big buck dacs from audio dealers but couldn't find any improvement over what I have. The RME. I did a firmware update on this DAC and it sounded better.

This is exactly my experience with more expensive "better" DACs as well. I couldn't hear any difference myself, no matter how much I wanted to hear it.

[the real Duke Spinner]

I like my  Jolida EL amp. ,🙂

[RickD]

1 hour ago, the real Duke Spinner said:

I like my  Jolida EL amp. ,🙂

What did you have before the Jolida amp?

[RickD]

6 hours ago, Gilbert said:

Follow me..................

You know, I had that very same thought. The audio dealers that sell the brand are difficult to locate.

[RickD]

On 4/9/2024 at 5:41 PM, Shakeydeal said:

I know you didn’t ask me, but I’ve owned two different EL84 amps and both were excellent. A Music Reference RM10 II and an Aric Audio custom. I have also had many EL34 amps, also which were good. But if you don’t need the extra power, there is something special about the EL84 tube. That would be my choice.

Even over a 300B amp?

[RickD]

On 4/8/2024 at 11:59 AM, jcn3 said:

@RickD -- @Shakeydeal is right.  You've got a good DAC in the RME, so the integrated does not need digital inputs unless you're selling the RME.

Just a brain fart, the RME has both RCA and XLR outputs. I am using the XLR to the amp.

[the real Duke Spinner]

5 hours ago, RickD said:

What did you have before the Jolida amp?

Crown

[the real Duke Spinner]

Interestingly enough... Perhaps due to Bidenomics My Jolida CD player is selling for more than the $1200 it was new. 🙄🙄🙄

[Shakeydeal]

9 hours ago, RickD said:

Even over a 300B amp?

No