[crowdedthehouse]

Hi everyone, a bit of a long post, (skip to bottom for TL;DR) but the short of it is I  want suggestions on what amp to buy. I am looking for a nice tube amp and possibly DAC combination. This amp will be powering a pair of LCD2s yet I want it to be versatile enough to use with a pair of UM Merlins.
 
Most of the time I will be using the LCD2s but sometimes if I have a lady friend over, I don't want to disturb her sleep and then I can switch to the Merlins. My budget is $850 AUD or so, which is roughly $800 USD.  I was looking at the Woo Audio WA7 but missed out on picking one a second hand one on eBay where my bid was pipped by $10 and went for $810 AUD. Reading reviews, this would have been perfect for what I wanted.
 
I don't think another one will pop up at that price for a while so am looking at my alternatives. I am also acquiring an RWAK120-B and ALO Rx Mk III B+.  I was thinking of using the DAC from the RWA and pairing it with a good quality desktop amp, and that would negate the need for spending on a DAC. 
 
My next choice would be to purchase a Schiit Lyr2 and bitfrost combo, but adding the USB feature brings the new price close to $1000. I could search for a used combo which pops up on the for sale threads here more often than a WA7, but I need the 230VAC version here in Australia, which then makes that a waiting game.
 
I could also run my RWAK120-B in combination with the Lyr2, but I would prefer the synergy of the two Schiit units, otherwise I could step up and pair the RWA's DAC with a Mjolnir.
 
I saw someone selling an RSA Raptor (220V) for $800 USD. Could that be a good option or would this be too much for the UM Merlins? As a worst case scenario, I have a pair of Sennheiser Momentum over-ears that I could run instead of the Merlins.
 
Some of you may suggest that I just use the RWA + ALO combo with the Merlins, but I have too much music on my computer and I REALLY like to listen to random songs without being restricted to what can be held on the RWA  (I have 3TB of music I personally ripped from a large CD collection. Yes this took forever)
 
I do prefer the warmth of a tube amp, but am open to suggestions on solid state amps. I like a large expansive sound stage. I prefer to buy used to keep costs down and give me more options. Need 220-240V as I am in Australia and do not want to us a step down transformer
 
 
 
 
TL;DR-
Want: Tube amp to power LCD2s and UM Merlin CIEMs, Maybe DAC combo, Ideally $800 USD, alternatives to Woo Audio WA7, Schiit combo
Have: RWA-120-B, Audeze LCD2, UM Merlin, ALO Rx Mk III B+, Sennheiser Momentum
 
Thanks in advance, Head-Fi!

 

[crowdedthehouse]

This might be a stretch, but I could now contemplate a Chord Hugo if I sell the ALO Rx MKIII and also a Fiio E17 and EK09 combo I have, and maybe downgrade the RWAK120 to a standard AK120 and stretch my budget up a couple hundred dollars?
 
Would the Chord Hugo run the LCD2s as well as an $800 desktop amp paired with the WM8741 DAC in the RWA?
 
Maybe the RWA with ALO Rx MkIII B+ is good enough as it is and not worth spending another $800?
 
I am so torn.. Maybe I should sell everything and go back to my Sansa clip + rockbox and a pair of Apple earbuds, then spend the money on strippers in my upcoming trip to Vegas... This at the moment seems the most logical  and reasonably sound option.