I’m 68 and have always had solid state amps (currently 2 set-ups, one NAP500DR and the other SPL monoblocs). I’m delighted with both of them. But I am curious to know what valve amplification may, or may not, add to my musical pleasure. I’m not interested in used as the risk of buying trouble puts me off. I would not want to spend a fortune. I would be grateful for the Forum’s view (even if it’s “don’t be so daft”) and any suggestions for what to try.
I moved from Naim to valves with a solid state backup (Rega io).
The first question to ask really is what is it you think you’re missing? Is this urge because you feel something isn’t right or just an urge to try something different? Why power? Why not integrated or pre and power? Knowing what the thought process is would help here.
That said, an awful lot of people will tell you what valve amps both can’t do and can’t do in relation to Naim amps. You can safely ignore both assertions. We live in an era where solid state can be tuned to sound like valves and vice verse. The cliches about soft bass, lack of PRaT are not accurate. Sure, you can have that with valves but it’s not compulsory. My 300B has ludicrous amounts of super tight bass and PRaT, which perhaps falls short of the best of Naim, but by so little, and whilst adding other things, that it’s of little relevance.
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I would first avoid cheap tubes amps which can lead to problems and no reliability, as for example Prima Luna.
Then avoid those who focus on midrange but lack involvement and dynamics, as Conrad Johnson, Air Tight or Jadis.
Then avoid those who sound more solid states than tubes, like nowadays Audio Research, Leben…
Other are great but very expensive, as Kondo, Wavac…CAT, or Wavac.
My recommendation, because they match well with Naim, would be Ear Yoshino, as the Ear 890, which goes very well with your 552. Or Ear 534 that I have.
Some British companies too, as Icon Audio or Pure Sound.
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Sorry - I only told half the story. I use Linn Klimax DSM as source and pre-amp for both set ups, delivering the signal to the power amps. I have Dynaudio Heritage Specials in one room and Dynaudio Confidence 20s in what used to be my garden office when I was working. That’s why I’m not interested in an integrated amp as the Linns feed the power amps directly
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After 3 decades of Naim amplification I’ve recently ventured into valves and am currently using an Audio Research VSI integrated, I was really taken with the different presentation so have recently sourced a pre/power Audio Research combo and am really enjoying the change
I’m sure I’ll be back in the Naim fold eventually but kind of enjoying things as they are at the moment
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