Sky Hits Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Hello again, brothers and sisters of the good sound: I last checked in here after I'd discovered that my old sony integrated amp is falling apart. In the middle of a great Fourth of July weekend of entertaining guests (including the parents) with the fantastic sound of my La Scalas, the Sony finally kicked the bucket. So, I'd like to take some suggestions on a new or used intergrated amp...or possibly seperates. The trick is, I'm on a tight budget. I'd really like to spend no more than $300 to $500. Here in Chicago there is a great shop called Saturday Audio Exchange (saturdayaudio.com). They sell new and used gear and I plan to stop by tomorrow afternoon. On the new side, they sell Jolida tube integrateds (albeit probably pricier than I am looking) and the latest NAD for solid state. I'd love to go tube, but don't know if that's feasible. Oh, and if it's of interest, my source is a technics 1200 with a Grado Gold cart. Any advice/suggestions? Advice specific to Chicago is welcome too. Thanks as always! -Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEvan Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I'm parousing the Saturday site. That Arcam D75A+ looks like a sweetie and would work great. a nice step up in sound from the Sony, I'd wager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpines Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 You can have my Sophia Baby for $275 shipped. I'm the original owner and it's mint. +/- 150 hours. In it's price range and given the fact that it's an integrated it's a great unit which I enjoyed tremendously. Email me if you're interested. http://www.sophiaelectric.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macho Kiljoy Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 wpines, e-mail sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEvan Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Ooooh-ooooh, get the Sophia! You'll need to get a phono preamp to run your TT, but there are several nice sub-$200 options out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Hits Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Thanks to all for the advice! Email sent to the kind fellow in CT. And I have a creek audio phono pre. Thanks as always to the posters at this great forum. Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ69 Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 That should be a sweet set-up, welcome to the tube world. Thanx, Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macho Kiljoy Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Did it sell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpines Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Sold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Hits Posted July 18, 2008 Author Share Posted July 18, 2008 [] The above is my abbreviated review of bringing the Sophia Music Baby into my system. Brad (wpines), responded to my initial post with a really generous offer of his Sophia Music Baby, and I am really, really glad that I took him up on it. The Baby is a very simple and accessible as well as attractive piece. It was no trouble to insert the six tubes and secure my speaker cables. More difficult was the anticipation while I waited 30 minutes (the instruction manual says 20 is sufficient) for it to warm up. After the warm-up period, the fun began: When I first posted on these forums after obtaining my La Scalas last spring, someone responded with the recommendation that tubes go with horns like maple syrup with flapjacks. They weren't foolin'. I have this incredible Nat King Cole record where he plays piano (no vocals this time) with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. The piano sounds so lovely, warm and expressive and when the horns start hitting....wow! As predicted (by Brad and the many reviews I read of the Baby) the mid-range detail is really lovely (tangible and airy) with this pairing, voices, pianos, strings, all sound really beautiful. Also, there is a much better extension into the high frequencies than I was hearing with my old Sony. The squawker and tweeter seem to be coordinating much better now. As for the bass, I think I'm noticing more clearly now (thanks to the Baby) the limitations of the La Scala low frequency extension. Perhaps in the future I will consider finding a suitable sub to introduce into the system. Bass playing is not quite as visceral as I would like, especially for reggae, jazz and dance music. My only complaint with the design of the Baby is that the gold volume knob tends to heat up from being so near the tubes. Not to an untouchable level, but a nice touch would have been a volume knob that doesn't conduct heat so well (perhaps it could be coated with latex or the like, I'm no expert.) All in all, this was a big improvement in my sound for a very reasonable investment. The clarity that I have now at lower volumes (a real limitation of my old Sony) is tremendous. My room is roughly 13' x 13' and I am achieving a very full sound with the volume knob of the Baby just under half way up, and if I go down from there, I am still satisfied with the detail and balance of what I am hearing. Aside from the Nat King Cole, I've so far enjoyed Bobby Caldwell, Ella Fitzgerald, Alberta Hunter, Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone, Burning Spear, Grace Jones, Paul Simon and several dance 12"s that I assume would only interest a small number of you... Lots more listening to do tonight (and on, of course), but let me finish by thanking Brad once again as well as all of you for your sound advice, sound support and collected/collective wisdom and generosity. I'll be sure to post a picture or two as soon as I can pause from listening to get batteries for the camera. Cheers! Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Try some Bob Marley and the Wailers on those Tubes ................. "Easy Skankin' " indeed ......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Hits Posted July 18, 2008 Author Share Posted July 18, 2008 Will do, buckster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Mothership Connection : Parliament sounds good on tubes,too ............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Mothership Connection : Parliament sounds good on tubes,too ............ Feel The Funk!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Feel The Funk!!!! Yup, anytime George Clinton is around ............. heavy bottom end !!!!!! ............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Hits Posted July 20, 2008 Author Share Posted July 20, 2008 Well, my UP FOR THE DOWNSTROKE is not as bottom-generous as I would wish. But my COSMIC SLOP on the other hand... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 A sub woofer will help the La Scala's TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKER .................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Hits Posted July 20, 2008 Author Share Posted July 20, 2008 Yeah, I know. It's my next logical upgrade. Hopefully the fates and finance gods see a velodyne for me in their crystal ball! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Sky, tell me about that picture ................. I have seen it before, but just can't place it, too much skankin' I guess ....... EH !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blvdre Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 oldbuckster, if you're talking about his avatar, that would be King Tubby, producer/ mixer extraordinaire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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