Best Amp for Timbre, Depth and Spatial Resolution?


I have an Ayre CD player, BADA Alpha DAC, deHavilland Mercury pre-amp, CJ MF-2500A amp and N802 - am looking to upgrade amp.
Would like to hear views on Best Amp for Timbre, Depth and Spatial Resolution.
Not married to tube or SS..
Always wonder about Stereophile recommended components such as Aesthetix Atlas, Parasound JC-1, CJ LP-125 and the likes. I would pay about $5k on Agon so there are some limitations.
Thanks.
johnmc67

Showing 6 responses by zd542

Yes, but with TV's, the salespeople usually adjust the TV's they want to sell as best they can, and "detune" the other ones.
I should have asked in my 1st post, but what is it that your system lacks? Is there something you need to improve or are you generally happy and just want to improve without loosing what you already have?
Ayre V-5. But it will work best for what you are asking if you remove your dac and preamp. Keep your CD player and put something like a K-5 or Calypso in between them.
"09-15-13: Jburidan
SS amps and PP tube amps don't do timbre -- for that you want 300B SET, IME."

Doesn't the design have, at least, a little to do with timbre? I can tell the difference between a piano and a violin with both my SS and PP tube amps.
What Musical Fidelity products are you talking about Bo1972. A few years ago, I tried a MF A3.5 integrated. I was very surprised with it. No question that is is a very powerful amp. It will drive just about anything. Also, the sound was very fast. If you like what the Naim does with the quick pacing or PRAT, the MF did it better. In my opinion, though, it went too far. The highs were a bit harsh and there was no body or fullness to the sound. Kind of like old Krell but without the good midrange. Not 2D but not 3D. Maybe 2.5D. I thought I would like it but it was just OK. Not great. It was one of the first units to come from Asia and not the UK. Maybe that was the problem.
How do you connect the Behringer amps to the B&W's? Can you use regular speaker cables?