Amplifiers:A Keeper for Life. Do you know of one ?
Just wondering, with this audio merry-go-round of buying and selling, if anyone has an amp that will be a keeper for life. I haven't yet but came verrrry close once...
My Jolida 211 monoblocks has become a pair of treasure since Bob and Gary and RHB sound design modified the pair. I am certain that most true music enthusiast that have had any work done to their system by these guys will vouch for them.
The Coincident Frankenstein Mark2, 300b SET monoblock with 8 watts per channel.It`s an extraordinary sounding amplifier for high efficiency speakers.It has the least electronic-mechanical coloration I`ve ever heard, just a pure and natural tone.
I'll add mine. I just finished breaking in my Manley Neo-Classic 300B SE/PP monoblocks. LOVE them. Now if I can just afford 2 pair of Sophia Royal Princess 300B's to put in them :)
Seriously, no desire to upgrade these amps. All the flexibility that I could want: SET or PP and variable feedback. I may upgrade my speakers and change out my sources, but I'm done with the amps unless someone is willing to give me some Lamm monoblocks.
Yes I have 2 My Ming Da MC34AB.. which is soon to be given an upgrade to components. And DEFINATELY my TRI (triode corporation of japan) M88SE mono blocks!!!
I will have to second the Burmester 911 MK3. Has all the virtues of tubes, and all the best virtues of SS, and all in a beautiful modern design. 2 thumbs way up!!
The problem with the question is that I don't know if I have heard an amplifier I would want to keep for life. There are so many great audiophile and professional amps out there and I have not heard near enough yet. I do know one thing, it will a Class A or A/B design. Most every amplifier named in this post is either a Class A or A/B design. I have not owned any of the new Class D to T amps that for me are even in the running so far. I've owned over 40 different amplifiers so far and the only ones I seem to keep are all Class A or A/B designs.
Short list: Pioneer Sony Tandberg Nakamichi Yamaha JBL Crown NAD Acurus Music Hall QSC Carver Audire Hafler BGW Digital Phase Audio Zone Tripath Bel Canto Audio Analogue Audio Flight Creek Atoll Aragon Quad Threshold Spectron Parasound AVI Monarchy Krell Bryston Unison Research StereoKnight
Very hard question...depend of your budget and your personal taste, otherwise we will have only ONE reference... In my personal experience in a midle-hight range cost of power amp. as Halcro, Gryphon, Vitus, I have no dubt: B O U L D E R !
With the right speakers, there is no reason to ever replace the Atma-sphere M60s, though I will hold on to my Music Reference RM10 MKIIs for as long as I listen to music. I thought my CAT JL2 was a keeper for life, and if they did not weigh 200lbs, I probably would have kept them, but their weight and heat got me into the Atma-spheres and when an OTL works with a speaker, I've not found anything better.
I have owned a few pretty good SS amps (and one hybrid). I am not sure whether I will ever have a "keeper for life," since there are other amps I would like to try, but I consider the following amps (at least close to) keepers. My order of preference of those that I have owned is; 1. Clayton M300 monos (my current amps) - Class A purity and a window to the source, with excellent power and authority. 2. Lamm M1.1 - Rich, textured, and dimensional, with excellent mids, slightly fat bass and rolled off top end. I could live with the slight darkness, but not the absence of air at the top. 3. Cary 500MB - Great power, only moderate build quality, but nice sounding at all frequencies, especially mids, and leaning slightly toward the warm rich end of things. 4. McCormack DNA500 500wpc, a powerhouse with good sounding bass and mids, but IMO slight issues at the top end, a touch wispy or not exactly pure compared to others. 5. Clayton M200 monos - In my system these offer about 85-90 percent of the M300's. May be better with less power hungry speakers than my Aerials.
Amps that would probably work with my speakers and my budget, and that I would like to try and/or own (no order): Lamm M1.2 Reference Lamm M2.2 Lamm ML1.1 VAC Phi 200 monos or 300.1 CJ Premier 350 Cary CAD-211 AE Pass XA160.5 or XA200.5 McCormack/SMc Audio DNA 225 Platinum Monoblocks
There are other amps that likely sound great, but I have included only those with enough power to work with my 90dB dynamic speakers (no set, etc.), and I prefer to stay with fairly well known American companies.
I have kept the same amp and preamp for eight years, and will die before they do. The H2O plus stable mate H2O Fire preamp were designed to grow into better systems. They never quit improving with great add on components. It took 8 years with careful system matching to bring out reproduction music I had never the quality dreamed of. Now, music is my only interest.
A QUAD is FOREVER! (Untill manufacture was shifted to China, when it became just another import. Quad, made in Huntingdon UK, closest aproach to the original sound, amplified by the fact that even it's origins were close, just up the road in fact. So, the closest aproach is now as redundant as Quad's workforce!) My 34/306 will last me out, I've been using it since '86 and it still doesn't `clonk!' when powered up. would I recommend it? Unreservedly YES! It more than rocks, it's a classic. I only wish I'd bought the tuner too with the stand.
Hey Gaslover! I haven't heard a Grandson yet, but I've acquired four Sons, an AmpzillaII, and a Gas 500. I've had them all recapped and gone over, with two of the Sons bridged. They are all fabulous, but the amp that knocks my socks off is, believe it or not, the Leach Low TIM amp. I found a pair of original LSR&D "Superamps" on Craigslist, had them redone and they beat the Ampzillas hands down. Speed, detail, linearity, but above all, truly flat response equate to extremely fine and precise transients. They simply display the particular recording you're listening to.
I've been through quite a few power amps in my lifetime up to about $12K, but it looks like the Mingda MC300845AB monoblocs (about $5K) are keepers. These are 76kg push-pull Class A tube amps producing about 90w/ch, a pair of 845B output tubes driven by TJ 300B meshplates in turn driven by a 6SN7 ...great line up of tubes and great sound!
These amps appear to be able to drive almost any speaker, have a thumping tight bass, a clear and lucid midrange, a sweet tinkly treble, high on transparency and unusual for a valve amp sound extremely clean with none of that mushy overhang to musical notes.
The Mingda 845 amp is a great match with my Supratek Grange preamp, which is also a keeper.
I'm not giving up my Spectral DMA50 any time soon, and I'm always on the look out for another as spare or for bridging. I've had a Luxman M12 since new, and it's not going anywhere either. I just got a pair of B12s (mono versions of the 12), and if they prove as musical & reliable, then I'll have another "amp life partner". Cliff
I aquired a Luxman M-4000 recently and although I only have about 40-50 hours of listening on it, I am smitten! I don't think it will ever leave my house. And frankly I don't ever want to carry it upstairs again either.
Nagra VPA, i'm using this beautiful design with my SF Strad., i'm thinking of a great transistor to try:Gryphon Antileon Signature,Burmester 956 or Devialet.
this is a funny thread, it seems that all are invited to list their current amps. of course the one you have right now should be the best due to you own requirements. okay let's complete the list... what is missing...
My Pass Volksamp Aleph 30 I'll probably keep for life even after I purchase a newer Pass amp just because it's so smooth and relaxed. I would bet most Pass owners remain loyal to the brand and with good reason.
My "keeper for life" amplifiers are the next amplifiers that I am going to buy. For now I am using Supratek Malbec. I am still looking for that perfect sound.
My keeper for life is my Pass Labs X350.5. I am very happy with it and see no reason to upgrade until a new breakthrough in amplifier design. Long live Super-Symetry.
Musical Fidelity KW -500 ( 2 piece integrated 510wpc ) Redgum Audio RGI -120enr (integrated 215wpc into 8ohm ) A.M.Audio PA-100 (Integrated 100wpc running class A 1st 5w) love all 3 of these .
Dynaco st-80 (don't laugh!!!) (original early solid state from the 70s.) This is NOT the same as the st-120. Unlike the 120, this has a simple unregulated power supply, a single pair of quasi-complimentary transistors per channel and BIG output coupling caps. Also, the st-80 does NOT use the induction coil as part of the feedback loop. Open, effortless sound, good bass, natural mids. Amazingly good after simple cap upgrade, I've compared to Belles Gala, Van Alstine, Pass x5, various EL34 imports, etc. I own just a few amps now, this one is a keeper. An all-purpose machine, drives everything from tang band se drivers to big old ARs and everything in between.
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