Should i buy tube amp or "normal" amp?

[5ergo]

Id like to buy stereo amp for my Dynaudio42.My budget is 630 Euros and i was wondering what is better choice:
Analog audio or Unison Research tube amp OR
NAD stereo amp, probably the C372 model.

This is the offer in my country.I heard Quad is good but no dealer here.
So please advise which one and why.My speakers have 86dB sens.

[alexs2]

If you can get Unison amps into your budget,then you've got a very good amp,but obviously at that price range,you'll be looking at one of their lower powered offerings,which should sound lovely,and even a 20W amp would produce up to 99dB with your speakers.

Run within their limits,a valve amp should sound good,and from a company like Unison,you'll have no need to worry about reliability or spares.

Just depends on whether high power or possibly better sound quality is your first criterion....do you have any opportunity to try all of those amps,as if you do,you really should try all of them with your own gear.

[5ergo]

Prices:
Unico P (2x50W) = 625Euros
Unico (2x80W) = 917Euros
NAD C372 = 708Euros

And no i cant try any of them on my gear, thats why i ask.
I listen to rock and metal mostly.Although music is the most important ill use these speakers for movies as well.
I just want music to sound realistic.Guitars, drums etc...

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by 5ergo

Prices:
Unico P (2x50W) = 625Euros
Unico (2x80W) = 917Euros
NAD C372 = 708Euros

And no i cant try any of them on my gear, thats why i ask.
I listen to rock and metal mostly.Although music is the most important ill use these speakers for movies as well.
I just want music to sound realistic.Guitars, drums etc...

Ok...Both of the Unison amps you've mentioned are actually hybrids with a tubed input stage,and MOSFET output stages to allow good power output at a reasonable price.

Much of the cost of a good valve amp is in the output transformers,and this neatly avoids both that,and low power outputs at lower price ranges.

MOSFETs have a sound not dissimilar to a number of valve amps,with a softer and more relaxed sound than bipolar transistors,and are generally credited with a nice sound quality(I've had a few MOSFET/V-FET amps over the yrs and would agree with those general observations myself).

The NAD I have no personal experience of,but it obviously does offer a good deal more power at the price,although in reality it will only translate into 3dB more at your ears,against the 80W Unico.

[Mr Cat]

I've read the the nad c372 isn't that good...but the c352 has had rave reviews...

[5ergo]

Thanks guys i already decided for NAD its just that C372 abviously aint the kind of amp that it should be.
So im going to read some more reviews about C352 and C372...

[Londondecca]

I would suspect the Unison Dynaudio combination would be very effective