My VTL 300s. Followed by my Threshold S/300. |
I remain a VAC fan. I recently heard what my 450IQs can REALLY do and they were just jaw-dropping. It was great to hear them doing what they do best, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Obviously this is very subjective. :-) |
Life is too long to settle on one....that being said....one needs a great tube amp, Class A SS and massive SS amp. Pick your favorite manufacturer....there are many good one's to choose from. |
I think the answer is system dependent to a degree especially the speakers that are being used. I love my Magico S5 speakers and have owned many amps the last few years:
- CJ Premier 350
- Hegel H30
- VAC 300.1a and 450S
- Constellation Centaur
- Air Tight ATM-2
- Marantz MA9S1 monos and MA9S2 monos
The S5s sound their best through the Marantz monos which I tried on a fluke not thinking anything could rival the Constellation which beat all comers with the Magicos.
All great amps but the least expensive won the day - go figure. |
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Maker Audio NL14 Stereo or Monos...just put a stereo version in my system,....cold, OOTB, "WOW" is the word that comes to mind. |
any one listed the Dan D agostino momentum componet's here? |
The krell 700cx stereo amplifier. |
For life? Not sure if there is one. Depends on what comes out next. |
I have owned a first generation Jeff Rowland Concentra for many years, and see no reason whatsoever to change. I'm not suggesting that there aren't amps that are better, but rather that the sound of the Concentra is so good within the context of my system, and the machine is so finely made, that there is no real incentive to try and squeeze a bit more out of an upgrade.
Regards,
Tony C. |
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Audiophiles are fickle and I might well change my mind someday, however fact is, that I have been listening to Ralph Karstens gear for years now. (Atma-Sphere) |
I have the McIntosh MC-302,very nice amp with amazing sound. Works effortlesly to reproduce your music. An absolute keeper. |
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I'll be honest, my McCormack DNA 125 is a great amp, and I thought it would stay in my system for a while.... in fact I wasn't even looking to replace it, however on impulse I bought a pair of Quicksilver Mid Monos from an A-Gonner that ended up living about 10 minutes away.
What great little amps !!! I don't have enough superlatives to describe how they transported my system to the next level. I've owned a number of amps over the years both SS and tube and these are the quietest amps I've ever had in a system. I actually thought it was my Conrad Johnson Classic 2SE that was responsible for the slight hiss I got when muted but it wasn't, together they have the blackest most quiet noise floor I've never heard before.
Amazing sound and incredible value, not to mention they are built like a tank. They're keepers, at least until my daughter graduates college in a few years!!! |
Tobb
You're killing me....
And I thought I was done chasing the dragon this year...
Damn. I know I'm going to check them out now.
Looks like everyone's getting socks for Christmas! |
@Oblgny if you like Pass check out Coda.
Two of Nelson's former employees at Threshold formed Coda
about 30 years ago.
Pass makes great product I just think Lauchli and Dale operate on a higher level of practicality which spells better value for the consumer. |
Audio research reference 250 for me and I have tried the following amps before
ARC reference 75
Parasound jc1
Ayre v1xe |
I know I'll regret stating this BUT...my newly purchased Pass Labs X150.5 tops my list of amplifiers - and it's a 30 year long list of Carver, Marantz, Conrad Johnson, McIntosh, Emotiva, Adcom, Rotel, Cayin...Audio Research.
Unfair to claim that this is my absolute favorite since the above list testifies contrarily to similar claims made in the past, but I will state that this won't be leaving my possession. If I tire of it for any reason or just get the "bug" again any time soon, this one will find good company along with my beloved Pioneer SX950 and my Marantz 2250b. Just can't let em go. |
I have had experience with a ton of amps NAD,Marantz, Mcintosh,Einstein,Electrohome,Yamaha,Tecnichs,
Ayon,Leo Research,Bryston,Meitner,Coda TS,15,15.5 and the S100,
The S100 tops the list. It's pretty close to the best of the tubes and Iam not replacing tubes every 1600-2400 hrs |
My Neodio NR-600 Signature integrated amp. Tube sound without the tubes. Uses the Lavardin memory-distortion elimination technology. 100 wpc with remote control, and built like a tank. Preferable to any amp I've owned in the past 35 years (tube or solid state). |
The semiconductors for the Eagle are getting harder to find. Some of them were tricky ten years ago. These days if you have an Eagle, consider that you may want to have the filter caps replaced in the next few years- they are now about 20-25 years old. |
The Eagle 7 is a very good amplifier. I owned one and wish I had kept it. |
John G. Iverson Eagle 7 amplifier.
A keeper for LIFE and very up gradable. |
Petero, do you have any experience with the current 8008? Wondering how well it stacks up against the older classic designs. |
I've owned ATI, Adcom, Audio Research, etc (never gone to tubes) and to me, the original Aragon 8008bb and 8008x5 will always be in my lineup. My only concern is whether the caps will eventually need replacement - and where I could get that done! |
A pair of upgraded MFA M120 mono amps w/ Gennie KT88's. I've had 'em since the late '80s and they were upgraded a few years ago. I have neither the money nor the patience to audition anything else which purports to be better although I've recently become intrigued by a few integrated tube amps. |
VAC 450 IQ monoblocs. They constantly surprise me with their speed, range, bass and overall dynamic presentation, along with that sweet VAC midrange. Well-built, well-conceived, well-supported, well-done. |
Chalice Audio "Grail" SET monoblocks... |
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I see no reason to ever replace my MC 275. Makes beautiful music with my Merlin VSM's |
My ARC D-150. Still using. It is so musical you can listen forever. |
Phase Linear 700
2500 watt transformer 24 output devises, an upgradable capacitors to over 100,000uf and 350 watts per channel @
8 ohms and a damping factor to die for.
not to mention the same specs in todays market place would
cost around $10,000. |
I will never let go of my Decware Zen Mystery Amp. 40 watts of tube bliss and the best bang for the buck you'll find. |
One of my favorite tube amps for horn speakers is the Welborne Moondogs 2A3 SET. I saw their is one for sale on the Klipsch website for a great deal especially since it has the ultimate upgrades. These don't come up for sale very often. https://community.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/151402-for-sale-welborne-moondogs-2a3-w-ultimate-upgrade/ |
I am wondering what a pair of McIntosh 60 mono block tube amps would be worth in good condition and recently serviced. Anyone have any idea? bob anderson |
A custom made 70 wpc tube amp, point to point gem which has an all star parts list with Copper VCaps, the best Mile Spec parts, custom transformers, silver wire, hand tuned, etc. Something magical with a pair of kt88's...This is one amp which provides the musical magic of a SET and an iron fist control in the bass. It is so good, I had a dealer request I not bring it back to his shop for an audition. We evaluated it with his 40K amp and it was not even close. |
Grabinsky,
You have been a member for 10 years and only one post. By now I'm sure you know that you should only try to sell here through a classified ad. |
Well, hey -- I don't know of a keeper for life, largely because mine isn't over yet. But, I have had a GAS Grandson AMP (with meters) and matching Thalia pre-amp since they were purchased in 1978 at the Sound Shack in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. Now that I'm old enough to have a grandson, I prefer the GAS power amp -- it shuts off when I tell it to do so. But we're downsizing, and won't have room for the old component system. I might part with it so if anyone is interested out there in cyberspace, do send me an e-mail at grabinsky@aol.com |
Hi TBL_HK...Great comments and interesting reading. And by the way, the Celestion SL700 is a great speaker! Did you keep it? |
Tubes separates:
1. Marantz 8b. Incredible bass. Tunable damping factors. Easy to replace EL34 tubes. Value appreciating constantly. Simple circuitry. Individual bias pots mean no need of matched tubes.
2. Heathkit W2(AM). Representative of the clasic Williamson's circuitty realized with good quality ALtec output tranformer. Power transformer is of real bad quality but replaceable with modern quality units. Incredible musicality rivalling and bettering the EICO HF-81 at similar prices. Output switchable from triode to pentode for different tastes. Highly tunable and customizable with many resources.
SS separates:
1. Nakamichi PA-7 and PA-7 II(2). Recent prices of best have dropped from a high of USD1.5k in 2002 to USD600-900 in 2014. Circuitry easily referenced to Threshold units for upgrades and repair. Famous Nelson Pass design. Comparable quality parts to other High End builders'. Very under-valued even at its height in second hand market. Sound-wise, big bass with good damping. Very articulate sound. Tube-like sound but with precise trebles and huge dynamics. Any Nak with Nelson Pass power amp sections will sound incredibly good, like the humble TA-2 tuner/amp of 50wpc. So the 200wpc PA-7 shocked me when I used it with my Celestion SL-700. Keeper for life with no alternative at this price. Buy two or three for multiple amping!! |
My Classe CA-M600 is almost forever... I'd like to change for a Classe CA-M900 when it be produced. |
I don't see a reason for me to ever sell my Ayre AX-5. I've been on a merry-go-round for a while, but I feel done with that. |
Graaf GM 200 (have 2 of them), Graaf Modena, Acoustic Reality Thaumaturge, Reimyo PAT-777 |
Recently picked up a Threshold S/300 to drive the top end of my Infinities. Very nice amp I think I'll keep it. Once I get my VTLs, LOL, I'll use it for the bass towers. |
I have ~ 200 hrs on the new CJ MF2550-SE and don't see ever upgrading. I love this amp. |
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Edge NL 12.1 in use for about 7 years now. Great power with hard to beat sound. Compared with a lot of amps initially and this consistently came out on top. Using with Edge Signature 1.1SE pre and Allnic H3000 tube pre. |
I've been using (and enjoying) my Classe Audio DR-15 for over twenty years. I finally broke down and bought a demo Mac 275, Mk 6. When I picked it up, it was a brand new, factory-sealed unit. I plan to use it with a pair of Quads. All I need now are the speakers! |
