After 20 years, in the market for a power amp

I have the Coda No 8 V1 driving B&W 805 D4’s.
I wholly agree with audphile1 description “Coda no.8 is another option. This amp is faster, more articulate than the Pass but still retains natural tone and is clear and relaxed sounding.”

Ochard Audio Starkrimson Ultra. FanFET class D is the way to go. Mine is paired with a PS Audio BHK preamp. It sounds great. 

Dude, just go get a Buckeye. One of the best objectively tested amps in the emntire market, without the snake oil markup. Set for life with those. 

I love Parasound but will also submit a vote for the Michi S5 -- outstanding amplifier

As a temporary variety test, a class D amp with switchable gain may be an option worth considering. The two sets  here are Audio Alchemy and Bel Canto. The Audio Alchemy is really nice sounding and has a 20/26 DB gain switch on the front panel. The Bel Canto is also switchable gain yet the cover must be removed to do so. 

Try the Galion TS A75. It matches anything in the 5-6k I've heard and it's 1.5k. It's very musical and sparkles with plenty of space as others have said. Pretty amazing and they have a generous return policy if you're only auditioning it and decide against it. Just shipping and a 5% restocking fee. Many reviews on you tube-check them out- and overwhelming praise. Unless you can spend a helluva lot more you must try it. You might find yourself saving 4-5k for interconnects and cables.

I like the MOSFET solid state amps that's why I have had a Hafler 9290 and still do. But, in the last two months I have graduated to a JC5 Parasound.  WOW!

The detail is incredible with a smooth top end, bass is much more pronounced at lower listening levels since we have much more power than the Hafler 9290.

I love the sound of JFET - MOSFET amps even more than a Primaluna 400 integrated with higher grade tubes installed.

If you can swing a JC5 , I wouldn't think twice.

Anything John Curl touches is phenomenal, from the vintage HCA-2200ii to the newer JCs at Parasound.

The JCs surpass the older HCAs unless you're handy with a soldering iron 🙂

Why not just fix your current amp? Or do you just want something new? 

Will say MOSFET amps sound wonderful to me, have not had the chance to hear any high end Class D, but have not been all that impressed. 

JC5 indeed!

I would definitely call Klaus. I can remember when i had grown tired of my Stratos monos years ago and I called him, as he is always upgrading his offerings. He made me a great offer and said just send them in. So I did and he used off branded Symphonic Line caps, changed the power supplies, changed the point to point wiring, and other stuff that I forgot about. When I got them back I just let them cook for a few days while I was away and when I got back I was very impressed with everything about these things. He builds some of the best value amps on tbe market. I had 3 different guys come over with their high end amps and it was immediate and obvious that there was just more of everything in the monos. I moved these amps into my main system after the mods and they haven’t moved yet. I’m getting a new Don Sachs / Linn Olson designed Raven tubed pre amp to feed these things and I think it will bring these to yet another level.

I’d recommend checking out the latest offerings from Class D audio and do not let the Class D part spook you. 

+1 for Parasound. I recently replaced my A23+ with a Bryston 3b Cubed. One reason I didn't move up to a JC5 was the weight. At 35lbs the Bryston is much easier to deal with for my old muscles. Even the 4B cubed is only 45 lbs. Hard to find another high quality amp below 60lbs. 

++ on the Orchard Audio

++++++1 for the CODA S5.5. 50wpc all class A, more in A/B, and 100 amp capable. Best solid state amp of any type I've ever heard. I have mine paired with an Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp, and they are magic together. Easily drives any of my 4 pairs of speakers, with excellence

I'm sticking with Conrad Johnson because it just sounds right. Besides they are backed up by excellent service in the rare case you ever need repair. Any move from here will be to a class D but will still hold on to the CJ gear.

AGD Tempo or Audions. I’ve had them for a few years now with a Backert Labs Rhythm tube pre. Bought a Coda S5.5 after reading all the raves about it but it just didn’t measure up to the AGDs. Sold it. Expensive mistake.

This has given me a lot to think about. Auditioned a Rogue Stereo 100 today and thought it was a nice little amp, but not quite what I’m looking for. A lot of this has me questioning my approach to power amplification generally. It would help if I could listen to a pure Class A amp.