My Coincident Frankensteins II definitely! |
My Manley Neo-Classic SE/PP 300b amplifiers, they love me back. |
Anybody listed all the amps to keep for life? |
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I've tried numerous lower priced tube amps such as Golden Tube Audio, Dynaco, Jolida, and Cary Rocket 88. All were pretty good, but each has faults, as can be expected at these price levels. I also have several years listening experience with various Adcom amps, mostly the 555. I think that the overall best bang for the buck comes from McCormack. I owned th DNA .5 Dlx for about a year, and then bought a DNA 1.0 Dlx which I used for about 11 years. Outstanding products IMO. I am currently using a Wyred 4 Sound ST-500, which sounds great, but I've only had it a week so I need more time with it. Happy listening! |
I guess FM Acoustics. I used to have a 611. I'm kinda sorry I sold it. Because now the prices are way outta my reach. I was able to buy a new car and pay rent for a year, lol. Oh well, c'est la vie. |
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I'm pretty sure that amps have not hit the point where they can't and won't be improved upon. But, while I'm sure I'll find a better amp, and am currently looking...I'm keeping my MF A3cr anyway, because I would rather have that amp then the $600 I could sell it for. So it's a keeper. The same goes for my B&W 640s. I already upgraded to new speakers, but I'm not giving up the B&Ws for the $400 they sell for used. They're worth a lot more than that to me. Maybe I'd sell them to a friend over give them as a gift, but other than that, they're both keepers. |
Carlbecker: I was right where you were with the Berning. Thought I was done with amps for my Quad ESL57s. Then I bought on a whim the Rogue Atlas that Mark makes specifically for Quads. It's sort of half way between a regular and a Magnum. Now, upgraded with KT120s, I have my final amp because I'm never buying a ARC Ref Amp which is the only thing that sounds better based on my listening. |
McIntosh 275 or 4200; Luxman 590. |
Is this the Holy Grail?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MCINTOSH-Buy-It-Now-39-ITEMS-Liquidating-A-Large-Collection-Excellent-GEAR-/150767675171?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item231a742723 |
Conrad Johnson Premier 350 for SS! I sold mine years ago but needed to buy it back even I already have two other tube amps! Lucky I found one as it does not come too often in 2nd hands anymore! |
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Mesa Baron. With adjustable feedback, various triode/pentode choices, capability to use different tubes, it can be adjusted to suit the music or the moment.
Doesn't mean I do not want others, too! |
I love my Krell FPB 400cx It can drive any speaker out there. |
This feels a bit like grade inflation where half the class gets As. |
My Densen B-275 Super Leggera is for life as its lifetime warranty.
Regards, |
Audio Note Meishu, without a doubt. I ditched the merry-go-round, the last iteration of which was Revel/Bat/Rowland, and went all Audio Note and have never looked back. It's been 6 years of Audio Note and I haven't even had the urge to upgrade! |
Does anyone know about Denton Clarke NRG? There is alot of good designers of equipment that are keepers for life.It depends on your listening.You do not have to go super audiophile to get a great audio piece. |
Quad 34/306's are often a `keeper', the vast majority of these amps stay with their owners for their lifetime, with only a small percentage finding their way onto the s/h market where they can command a good price if in good condition. I like the slightly warm sound and the ability to power almost any speaker combination. It can really rock, or be consumately classical. It's styling is so discreet and refined while maintaining it's unique individuality, you don't need to read it's name.......you can see it's a QUAD! I've owned mine for over twenty years and am still enjoying owning what I think is the RR of HiFi and it's an all English product too. |
I'm awfully happy with my Classe 15, and will never replace it unless it dies. Very strong, but also a bit on the warm side (which I prefer). |
Yamaha B-1, the VFET piece de resistance.
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My very own 8417 OTL Class A,even a Class A OPT will not come close. |
I have heard most of the amplifiers listed here and enjoy the sound of many of them. I have recently had the pleasure of dealing with Tom Tutay. His signature product is the remanufacture of the Altec model 1570 high power 811b tube mono amplifier. I have a pair in my system now and can not imagine putting anything else in my system to replace them. These things are built like tanks and produce a sound in my system that I have long sought. I have owned ARC amplifiers and preamps, orginal Marantz (7c and its companions) Krell and other well known equipment. Just glad I have them. |
One's taste may change with life experiences, so there is no one answer for all. However, if you pursue for absolute sonic beauty, you should look into direct heated triode tubes, namely 300B/845/45/2A3 etc.
Those direct heated triode tubes, with exception of 845, are of low power. That require efficient speakers or at least easy to drive speakers.
Most audiophiles do not have horns, it would be worthwhile to look into Sophia Electric's solution for those without efficient speakers:
Sophia Electric 126S tube amplifier with close to 30W x 2 of tube power to drive most speakers above 86dB in the market with magical sound. Earlier, Western Electric had 124 and 142 tube amplifiers for those who can't live with WE 91 amps. Those WE amps are in 35-50K price range, they make Sophia Electric 126S a real bargain.
Those amplifiers available today with great sound, great workmanship and good looks will be tomorrow's collectables. So A keeper for life is a beauty for life, an art for life and a love for life.
Wil
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Audio Research and Ayre....greatly protected by wonderful customer service, and wonderful performance. The companies are stable and not going out of business. |
I don't see me replacing my BAT REX mono-blocks anytime soon. Can't believe there hasn't been more people exposed to them. These are incredible sounding amps!!! If you get the chance give them a listen.
enjoy,
Tom |
Sold my luxman m-4000 many years ago and still regret it. |
Chalice Audio 'Grail' SET monoblocks....possibly the best SET made |
My Eagle 2a, not the best but a great amp the will never justify selling. Small, powerful enough and just all around good. |
I love my Decware SET tube amps.
Decware amps also come with a lifetime warranty for the original owner.
A Tube Amp manufacturer can only offer a lifetime warranty on their products if they believe that their products are very reliable. |
I auditioned the new Decware amp a few months ago. Amazing build and sound quality, with a lot of useful features. Music floated in space, and there was great drive and dynamics. I think if Decware sold through dealers it would cost at least 2-3x the cost they charge direct. Amazing value and I love how they let you configure on the website to your exact requirements.
For me, the merry go round stopped when I found VAC. I just sold my VAC 300.1a amp and am awaiting my VAC 450S. It nails harmonics, speed, resolution, musical drive, timbre...when I listen to VAC it stops being an electronic reproduction of something, and I immediately see the instruments and vocalists. Kevin Hayes at VAC, to my ears, has reached audio nirvana with offerings. My solid state amp is the Conrad Johnson Premier 350, which is definitely a keeper...so much goodness in one enclosure. |
I've been into hi-fi since the early 70's have owned more gear than I like to think about. Don't know if there is such a thing as a keeper for life. My most recent plunge is a Will Vincent upgraded ST-70. Have always owned SS amps, this is my first tube power amp and I must say it sounds night and day from any SS amp I've had to date! I've owned the big ones in SS such as the Rotel 1090 which is a respectable piece. But I must say that this tube gives such depth that no SS I've owned comes close! Is it a keeper for life, don't know, but I do know that I've never owned a SS amp that I considered a keeper for life! |
Yeah, the Atma-Sphere M-60 is a very special amp. I was not at all impressed with Odyssey, sorry. Couldn't wait to get it out of my rack, ick! Easily found a better sounding solid state amp then, have since moved on to tubes. I was in the Odyssey room at RMAF last year and that was pretty underwhelming, too IMO.
My speakers were Vandersteen 2's, now Merlin VSM. |
My like new, refurbished Krell KSA250. Sounds about as good as it gets to me. Also, it just looks cool knowing you have a massive power amplifier that will drive any known speaker load on the planet. Overloading this monster is just about inconceivable! |
Edge NL 12.1s are definite "keepers". I have owned two, still have one after the move from HT+2channel to 2channel a couple of years ago and have not heard anything in the solid state world that approaches it for the sound quality and musicality I want in my system. This, at least to me, is a 'destination' piece of gear. |
I've had this amp for about 15 years and still love it. I use it purely via the CD inputs with passive preamp in front of it thus cutting out the preamp circuit in the amp. I also have a bass amp on my subwoofers and the crossover lightens the bass burden on the amp.
Still going strong... but then again, I'm an oldtimer!
Steve Silberman |
Unfortunately the perfect amplifier does not exist like everything else ,, however the best for the price I have found is the New Quad QSP but it does not like being switched off directly from a wall socket in the UK unlike any other amp that I have tried. Also I recommend avoiding Class D amplifiers. |
For me, a McIntosh 2105. I have had several other amps, (other Macs, Pass Labs, DeHavilland and Quicksilver) and I'm sure that I will have others, but it is such a soulful amp, and I have had it for so long that I will never part with it. Classic. |
Roxy54, I've always wondered how the 2105 sounded. Have thought about picking one up many times but have not pulled the trigger. Have you ever put it up against a tube amp? |
Ces4x4,
Yes, I have. I was able to compare it directly to Quicksilver 90 watt silver monos for several months, using Spendor SP100 speakers as well as Celestion SL6s monitors.
The quicksilvers gave a singers head a more 3D quality, which was good. The downside of the Quicksilver (besides frequent blown fuses) was that the tonal balance was so colored compared to the Mac. Plummy bass, and slightly rolled off highs. (and believe me, the Mac is rather mellow)
I think that what I missed the most was the overall "architecture" of the sound. Compared to the Mac, all other amps I have tried lacked the sense of solidity, maybe you could say gravitas, of the Mac. I owned an MC 300, and it was the same story, only since the MC300 was a much newer design, it had a lower noise floor, and was a bit silkier, and I would say the 2105 is a little more midrange-prominent, in the way that tube amps sometimes seem to be. Also, compared to the 2105, the Quicksilver was lacking in image height. The overall picture seemed to be a little vertically compressed.
In comparison to a Pass Labs 250.5, it sounded rich and colorful, while the Pass amp, with 4 different speakers I owned, sounded thin and sterile.
I'm sure that you have noticed that these amps still command prices up to 2x their original retail. Some of that is simply a collector's nostalgia gone wild, but there is also a good solid reason. It is a classic amp because even by today's standards, it sounds great.
I would also like to mention that last year, I had it fitted with abn IEC outlet so that I could get rid of the ancient zip cord that was originally used. I now use a Pangea AC-9 SE. The amp is quieter, and the bass is more powerful.
Pull the trigger- you won't regret it. |
Stephenss,
You didn't say what kind of amp you have! |
Well, I am hoping that my CODA 15.0 lasts me the rest of my life. I don't feel as if it is lacking in any area. I am exceedingly pleased with it and have no plans of looking further. |
I Just bought a pair of LAMM M1.2 Reference monoblocks which have replaced my ARC Ref 210 monoblocks. The LAMMs leave the audio research amps for dead. I have also heard the Ref 5 SE / Ref 250 combo and again the LAMMs are clear winners. I have never heard an amp which sounds so realistic. I will be keeping these amps for a long time ( or until the next stroke of genius from Vladimir Lamm). |
Spectron Musician III MKII with Bybess and Vcaps. |
At the lower end of the price range, I would say the old classic Audiolab 8000A.
In the middle, I would nominate the Naim SuperNait.
At the upper end of the scale, my vote goes to any Accuphase Class A amp, starting with the E-560 integrated. |
Currently own four different power amps, modified versions of the adcom 555II, hafler dh220, rotel 951mkII, and Will Vincent st-70. Have owned several carver amps, a mac integrated, auditioned a mc2200 and bryston 3b in my current system. When it comes to vocal reproduction and soundstage nothing to date beats the st-70 in my system. The moded 951mkII comes in second, nice soundstage with the vocals a notch or two behind the st-70. The moded 555II is a power house no doubt but is very two dimensional and weak in the vocals. Much to my amazement the mac 2200 and bryston 3b were the worst both brittle in the top end and flat in the bass! Before the mods the little 951mkII was not listenable imho, replaced the filter caps with nichicon ones and all circuit board caps with elna silmic II's. Big difference, stock caps were terrible. I'll keep the st-70 and 951MkII for some time but can't say the same for the others. |
Keepers for life...Krell FPB 750mcx...classic brawn |
My Audio Research 600 mk3 mods,cannot beat them,big and heavy and keeps room warm in winter |
