High end amp - my last step


I would like some opinions on buying an amp.

I have some unusual constraints, but a pretty healthy budget.

The constraints:

1) I'm in the UK - 230/240 volts must be available - even if a second hand model has to be sent back to the manufacturer.

2) The amp / amps must live in a space in a well ventilated cabinet, open back and full grill to front plus much ventilation above and below. Space is about 24 inches wide, 30 inches deep and 14 inches high for a mono. Height can be doubled for a stereo amp, e.g. a VTL s-400 will fit but Seigfried Monos will not. Heat should *not* been seen as much of an issue, size should - eg a Krell MRA would drop straight through the floor into the utility room.

3) Power should be enough for a dynamic sound in my 89dB efficient Sophias, but just enough is good enough as these will probably be replaced in the future.

4) Aggravation free, long warranties are good and local dealer support good too - so would demonstrations.

I don't mind tubes, solid state or hybrids. I mostly listen to jazz, indie and pop - actually anything apart from opera.

The budget:

$30,000 - I will consider second hand and I will consider cheaper if I can find it :o)

My own suggestions:

VTL s-400 or 450 monos. (UK distributor - DCS - is less than 5 miles away and will be able to demo at home during April)
Lamm 1.2 ref (No representation in uk :-( )
Audio Research 600's
Dartzeel - (My Wilson dealer carries them, and they look like they won't break, I should get a demo)
Other ideas MBL, Boulder, CAT

I'm not in a rush, probably want to buy in June, but I want to sort out some listening sessions. I *do not* intend to ever buy another amp, so it should be good for (or servicable) for next 20 years!
dmurfet
My recommendation for that kind of money would be McIntosh´s MC501 monoblocks, which would be even less than your budget, but sonically at the top, not running hot, being servicable in the long run
Have you had a listen to Chord Electronics? They are made in the UK. I'm running a pair of the SPM 6000 monoblocks driven by their CPA4000.Speakers are a tough load,B&W800. The amps once warmed up are glorious.All the detail and soundstage without grain delivered with a tubelike smoothness. Build quality to survive world war three and georgeous to look at.
Another vote for Pass Labs. They work well with Wilson speakers. The Vienna Philharmonic use this combo. If you like classical music the sound is amazing.
I think you should seriously consider OTL amps in the form of Atma-Sphere MA-2 Mk. IIIs. They'll deliver 220 Watts per chassis into 4-, 8-, or 16-Ohm loads and are VERY transparent, being without output transformers or output-coupling caps. US$30K per pair. http://www.atma-sphere.com/products/ma2.html

Another OTL to consider is the Berning ZH270. It'll deliver 70WPC into 8 Ohms and slightly more into 4. Its channels are parallelable to make an at-least-140-Watt mono amp with lower output impedance. I believe they're priced at around U$5500 per amp with high-end options. http://www.davidberning.com/zh270.htm

Personally, I believe my amplifier quest stopped at a pair of new Antique Sound Lab Hurricane monoamps, 200Watts per mono chassis in ultralinear (or, as a wag on the Audio Asylums calls it, ultraNONlinear) or c. 120 Watts in triode. US$5K per pair. . http://www.divertech.com/aslhurricane200dt.html . Equipment reviewers as different as Harry Pearson of 'The Absolute Sound' and Arthur Salvatore of high-endaudio.com love this amp. http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Amplifiers.html

Response Audio in New York is an ASL dealer and offers a seriously upgraded version for, I think, US$11,000. http://www.responseaudio.com/extreme%20asl%20hurricane.htm

I'm upgrading mine gradually and have replaced the 20 coupling caps, with positive results.

Enjoy your quest.
.
yep abundant choices alright.

I tried to do a little research on the FM acoustics, but it would appear almost no-one has ever heard them, and those who have would probably not want to sell them. If they're good enough for U2, they're good enough for me!

hehe

Bill - I don't think my budget would quite stretch that far - plus I'd have no fall back if it broke!

I am trying to follow up on those amps mentioned in this thread - but it is growing quite quick (quicker than I had imagined)!