Another vote for Luxman or Accuphase. I'm biased towards Japanese SS though, as my experience (and ear/taste) prefers the ultra -clean, dead neutral, nothing between you and the music**, yet smooth and silky sound. And I roll with horns, Klipsch Cornwall IV's. Not a hint of brightness, harshness, or "shouty" horn.
I demoed about 10 amps available in my area, Parasound, Pass, Levinson, McIntosh, most of the usual names, and finally chose the Luxman L509X. The others were all nice amps, no bones about it, excepting the Parasound Hint 6 which required volume of 75% to get moderate listening level. Klipsch are extremely sensitive so this puzzled me. The dealer thought it was normal, I thought the amp was faulty though everything appears to work otherwise. The Luxman I bought here and it's just a wonderful, beautiful sounding amp.
** The Klipsch are already unapologetic in exposing the flaws of subpar recordings, and coupled with the Luxman, the effect can be ruthless. Something like Hazards of Love by the Decemberists though? Spectacular...
I demoed about 10 amps available in my area, Parasound, Pass, Levinson, McIntosh, most of the usual names, and finally chose the Luxman L509X. The others were all nice amps, no bones about it, excepting the Parasound Hint 6 which required volume of 75% to get moderate listening level. Klipsch are extremely sensitive so this puzzled me. The dealer thought it was normal, I thought the amp was faulty though everything appears to work otherwise. The Luxman I bought here and it's just a wonderful, beautiful sounding amp.
** The Klipsch are already unapologetic in exposing the flaws of subpar recordings, and coupled with the Luxman, the effect can be ruthless. Something like Hazards of Love by the Decemberists though? Spectacular...