30 Amplifiers Totaling $428,740.00 In Search of Audio Nirvana


Yes it’s true! I have both owned and auditioned 30 of the top selling amplifiers Totaling $428,740.00 in search of that secret sauce called Audio Nirvana. All though there is no one size fits all, they all have their own special touch of magic for someone at a price point and sound signature that will be a fit for your musical listening taste. With that being said, this long list of amplifiers ranging from $2500.00 MSRP to $85,000.00 is what I experience through trial and error while running the gamut of Class A-AB-D and Tube Amplifiers from a variety of the top Amplifier Make and Models listed below.


Anthem Integrated 225

Adcom 575SE 

Audio Research 160S

Bell Canto 600M 

Block Audio

Bryston 7BSST2 

Divalet Expert Pro 220 

Gryphon Diablo 

Krell Evolution  

Hegel H30 

Luxman M900U 

Merril Eliment 118 

McIntosh 452 

McIntosh 601 

Octave Audio V110  

Musical Fidelity Titan 

Parasound A21 

Parasound JC1 

Pass Lads X250.5 

Pass Labs X350.5 

Pass Labs XA160.8 

Pass labs XS300 

Plinius SA-250 

PS Audio BHK 300 Signature 

Primaluna Premium HP 

Primaluna Prologue 

Sim Audio W7 


I actually couldn't believe it myself until I looked at my spreadsheet 5.5 years later and said WTF have I done? All that said I can truly say it has been one fun ride! 

The purpose and goal for posting this long list is of amplifiers was to share my thoughts and experiences with you from a unbiased point of view with Absolutely No Quid Pro Quo :)


Cheers




 

128x128blumartini
I had the BHK 300 mono-amps and BHK preamp. I compared them to my Jeff Rowland 625 S2 amplifier and Corus preamp. I also used the BHK 300s with the Corus.
The rest of the system: Monitor Audio PL500 II speakers,  Chord Dave DAC,  Antipodes DS GT music server,  Torus RM20 power conditioner,  Clarus Crimson speaker cables,  Wireworld Platinum series 8 XLRs, all Audioquest Hurricane power cords.  My room is 20'x26 and treated with GIK Acoustics. 
The Rowland has better detail across the Audio spectrum. The soundstage is both wider and deeper, with better front to back placement. 
My point is every system is different. What works well in one system, may not work well in another. In another system I may prefer PS Audio.

@ricred1
Wireworld Platinum series 8 XLRs, now that is a wow factor. I remember auditioning those cables and it made me go wow that is a significant bump in clarity and separate.
Can you please share your impressions between Parasound A21 and JC1? Also the Parasound vs Anthem ?
I currently have A21 and planning to upgrade to JC5. Thanks in advance! 
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