My Long List of Amplifiers and My Personal Review of Each!


So I have been in a long journey looking to find the best amplifiers for my martin logan montis. As you know, the match between an amplifier and speakers has to be a good "marriage" and needs to be blend exquisitely. Right now, I think I might have found the best sounding amplifier for martin logan. I have gone through approximately 34-36 amplifiers in the past 12 months. Some of these are:

Bryston ST, SST, SST2 series
NAD M25
PARASOUND HALO
PARASOUND CLASSIC
KRELL TAS
KRELL KAV 500
KRELL CHORUS
ROTEL RMB 1095
CLASSE CT 5300
CLASSE CA 2200
CLASSE CA 5200
MCINTOSH MC 205
CARY AUDIO CINEMA 7
OUTLAW AUDIO 755
LEXICON RX7
PASS LABS XA 30.8
BUTLER AUDIO 5150
ATI SIGNATURE SERIES 6005

With all that said, the amplifiers I mentioned above are the ones that in my opinion are worth mentioning. To make a long story short, there is NO 5 CHANNEL POWER AMP that sounds as good as a 3ch and 2ch amplifier combination. i have done both experiments and the truth is that YOU DO lose details and more channel separation,etc when you select a 5 channel power amplifier of any manufacturer.
My recollection of what each amp sounded like is as follows:

ATI SIGNATURE SERIES 6005 (great power and amazing soundstage. Very low noise floor, BUT this amplifiers NEEDS TO BE cranked up in order to fully enjoy it. If you like listening at low volume levels or somewhat moderate, you are wasting your time here. This amp won’t sound any different than many other brands out there at this volume. The bass is great, good highs although they are a bit bright for my taste)

NAD M25 (very smooth, powerful, but somewhat thin sounding as far as bass goes)
Bryston sst2(detailed, good soundstage, good power, but can be a little forward with certain speakers which could make them ear fatiguing at loud volumes)

Krell (fast sounding, nice bass attack, nice highs, but some detail does get lost with certain speakers)

rotel (good amp for the money, but too bright in my opinion)

cary audio (good sound overall, very musical, but it didn’t have enough oomph)

parasound halo (good detail, great bass, but it still holds back some background detail that i can hear in others)

lexicon (very laid back and smooth. huge power, but if you like more detail or crisper highs, this amp will disappoint you)

McIntosh mc205 (probably the worst multichannel amp given its price point. it was too thin sounding, had detail but lacked bass.

butler audio (good amplifier. very warm and smooth sweet sounding. i think for the money, this is a better amp than the parasound a51)

pass labs (very VERY musical with excellent bass control. You can listen to this for hours and hours without getting ear fatigue. however, it DOES NOT do well in home theater applications if all you have is a 2 channel set up for movies. The midrange gets somewhat "muddy" or very weak sounding that you find yourself trying to turn it up.

classe audio (best amplifier for multi channel applications. i simply COULDNT FIND a better multi channel amplifier PERIOD. IT has amazing smoothness, amazing power and good bass control although i would say krell has much better bass control)

Update: The reviews above were done in January 2015. Below is my newest update as of October 2016:



PS AUDIO BHK 300 MONOBLOCKS: Amazing amps. Tons of detail and really amazing midrange. the bass is amazing too, but the one thing i will say is that those of you with speakers efficiency of 87db and below you will not have all the "loudness" that you may want from time to time. These amps go into protection mode when using a speaker such as the Salon, but only at very loud levels. Maybe 97db and above. If you don’t listen to extreme crazy levels, these amps will please you in every way.

Plinius Odeon 7 channel amp: This is THE BEST multichannel amp i have ever owned. Far , but FAR SUPERIOR to any other multichannel amp i have owned. In my opinion it destroyed all of the multichannel amps i mentioned above and below. The Odeon is an amp that is in a different tier group and it is in a league of its own. Amazing bass, treble and it made my center channel sound more articulate than ever before. The voices where never scrambled with the action scenes. It just separated everything very nicely.

Theta Dreadnaught D: Good detailed amp. Looks very elegant, has a pleasant sound, but i found it a tad too bright for my taste. I thought it was also somewhat "thin" sounding lacking body to the music. could be that it is because it is class d?

Krell Duo 300: Good amp. Nice and detailed with enough power to handle most speakers out there. I found that it does have a very nice "3d" sound through my electrostatics. Nothing to fault here on this amp.
Mark Levinson 532H: Great 2 channel amp. Lots of detail, amazing midrange which is what Mark Levinson is known for. It sounds very holographic and will please those of you looking for more detail and a better midrange. As far as bass, it is there, but it is not going to give you the slam of a pass labs 350.5 or JC1s for example. It is great for those that appreciate classical music, instrumental, etc, but not those of you who love tons of deep bass.

 It is articulate sounding too
Krell 7200: Plenty of detail and enough power for most people. i found that my rear speakers contained more information after installed this amp. One thing that i hated is that you must use xlr cables with this amp or else you lose most of its sound performance when using RCA’s.

Krell 402e: Great amp. Very powerful and will handle any speaker you wish. Power is incredible and with great detail. That said, i didn’t get all the bass that most reviewers mentioned. I thought it was "ok" in regards to bass. It was there, but it didn’t slam me to my listening chair.

Bryston 4B3: Good amp with a complete sound. I think this amp is more laid back than the SST2 version. I think those of you who found the SST2 version of this amp a little too forward with your speakers will definitely benefit from this amp’s warmth. Bryston has gone towards the "warm" side in my opinion with their new SST3 series. As always, they are built like tanks. I wouldn’t call this amp tube-like, but rather closer to what the classe audio delta 2 series sound like which is on the warm side of things.

Parasound JC1s: Good powerful amps. Amazing low end punch (far superior bass than the 402e). This amp is the amp that i consider complete from top to bottom in regards to sound. Nothing is lacking other than perhaps a nicer chassis. Parasound needs to rework their external appearance when they introduce new amps. This amp would sell much more if it had a revised external appearance because the sound is a great bang for the money. It made my 800 Nautilus scream and slam. Again, amazing low end punch.

Simaudio W7: Good detailed amp. This amp reminds me a lot of the Mark Levinson 532h. Great detail and very articulate. I think this amp will go well with bookshelves that are ported in order to compensate for what it lacks when it comes to the bass. That doesn’t mean it has no bass, but when it is no Parasound JC1 either.
Pass labs 350.5: Wow, where do i begin? maybe my first time around with the xa30.8 wasn’t as special as it was with this monster 350.5. It is just SPECTACULAR sounding with my electrostatics. The bass was THE BEST BASS i have ever heard from ANY amp period. The only amp that comes close would be the jC1s. It made me check my settings to make sure the bass was not boosted and kept making my jaw drop each time i heard it. It totally destroyed the krell 402e in every regard. The krell sounded too "flat" when compared to this amp. This amp had amazing mirange with great detail up top. In my opinion, this amp is the best bang for the money. i loved this amp so much that i ended up buying the amp that follows below.

Pass labs 250.8: What can i say here. This is THE BEST STEREO AMP i have ever heard. This amp destroys all the amps i have listed above today to include the pass labs 350.5. It is a refined 350.5 amp. It has more 3d sound which is something the 350.5 lacked. It has a level of detail that i really have never experienced before and the bass was amazing as well. I really thought it was the most complete power amplifier i have ever heard HANDS DOWN. To me, this is a benchmark of an amplifier. This is the amp that others should be judged by. NOTHING is lacking and right now it is the #1 amplifier that i have ever owned.

My current amps are Mcintosh MC601s: i decided to give these 601s a try and they don’t disappoint. They have great detail, HUGE soundstage, MASSIVE power and great midrange/highs. The bass is great, but it is no pass labs 250.8 or 350.5. As far as looks, these are the best looking amps i have ever owned. No contest there. i gotta be honest with you all, i never bought mcintosh monos before because i wasn’t really "wowed" by the mc452, but it could have been also because at that time i was using a processor as a preamp which i no longer do. Today, i own the Mcintosh C1100 2 chassis tube preamp which sounds unbelievable. All the amps i just described above have been amps that i auditioned with the C1100 as a preamp. The MC601s sound great without a doubt, but i will say that if you are looking for THE BEST sound for the money, these would not be it. However, Mcintosh remains UNMATCHED when it comes to looks and also resale value. Every other amp above depreciates much faster than Mcintosh.

That said, my future purchase (when i can find a steal of a deal) will be the Pass labs 350.8. I am tempted to make a preliminary statement which is that i feel this amp could be THE BEST stereo amp under 30k dollars. Again, i will be able to say more and confirm once i own it. I hope this update can help you all in your buying decisions!


128x128jays_audio_lab

Showing 50 responses by ron17

I think what this exercise might reveal is that we prefer tubes on some source material, and SS on others.

Here's my detailed analysis.  I preferred these presentations with the music played.  It's possible I would choose differently with different music selections.

 
Vid1 - 1

Vid2 - 1

Vid3 - 2

@grey9hound

I analyzed the 3 videos the same way you did.  I couldn't tell by keying in on the bass through youtube and my playback system so I concentrated on soundstage, tone and reverberation time.  I picked the Soulution / Gryphon presentation every time although to be honest I thought I was picking the VAC system.  Those Mephisto Solos are really something. 

Jay your description of the stock vs Transparent Opus PC's was exactly what I heard and posted....

"Presentation #2 sounds clearer, sharper and more transparent and I think for the short term I would choose #2....however with long term listening #1 would be easier to listen to and less fatiguing. Boulder gear is just so transparent it seems difficult to improve on the sound with aftermarket PC's and isolation."

You didn't say which presentation YOU preferred though.

@kren0006,
My pick of Jay's next speaker was based on the last 6 months of private talks with him and what he thinks he would like to try next. I wasn't trying to copy your pick.  
haha...all good.
 
BTW with all of the information coming out of the back of that speaker not sure if Jay's room is big enough. But I'm sure he has considered that.
Hmmm....Sonus Faber Aida 2 weighs 365lbs ea. x 2 = 730lbs.  1,100lbs - 730lbs = 370lbs / 2 = 185lbs per empty crate....kren I think we're still in there.
Actually....doing the math on the list of speakers and the total weight (including crates) of 1,100lbs, the only other speaker on that list that would fit would be the Magico M6. A pair of M6's =780lbs. 1,100lbs - 780lbs = 320lbs / 2 = 160lbs per wood crate. Jay has had (2) M3's in the last couple of years so the next logical step within the Magico line would be the M6.

Very nice review of the Nordost Qkore6.  I really love mine.

Man you have hit the road running in 2022.  The very high end SS vs tube comparison was unprecedented.  Really looking forward to the VAC Master preamp / Mephisto Solos video.  Your content just keeps getting better and better.  

haha...I was thinking more of the Essence stereo for me although I would be interested in hearing the Boulder 1160, the 1161 and the Constellation Taurus stereo.  All in the 20-30k range.
You are probably right but I will wait until I get the speakers I'm thinking of upgrading to before I decide.  The Essence is 50wpc vs 250wpc for the Taurus and 150wpc (1161) and 300wpc (1160) for the Boulders.  Not sure the output differences would be a big deal with my room, the music I listen to and the low to moderate levels I listen at.  Also I have not heard the Constellation Taurus and would like to.
I very much enjoyed the last video (Round 1: Pass labs XA60.8 with Nordost Odin Speaker cables & Boulder 2110). I decided to cue up the same song ’Liberty’ with a previous video (Dan D Agostino Versus Gryphon Mephisto!). This is a very good back and forth to do because everything (components, cabling, preamp etc...) was the same. I listened back and forth between these two presentations and immediately heard the differences....Yeah I realize there is a 40k+ difference in retail price between the Mephisto stereo amp and the Pass Labs 60.8 monos.

I think the thing that stuck out the most for me was the noise floor between the two presentations. 3/4 of the way through ’Liberty’ when the sax comes in I found myself turning down the volume on the Pass presentation...not so with the Mephisto. The Pass mono’s had a thicker warmer (a little unnatural for me) sound. Also balance was different. Sound effects, piano, percussion and sax seemed to be more pronounced with the Pass amps where the Mephisto was a more even sounding recording. When Anette Askvik harmonized (second vocal track) with the melody (first vocal track) the separation was so clear...together yet separate through the Mephisto it just sounded so right. Through the 60.8’s you can hear it but nowhere near the refinement of the Mephisto. I know I am probably in the minority but I prefer the Mephisto to the Boulders. The Mephisto is so forceful yet so delicate and refined.

The Pass mono’s were definitely elevated by Jay’s system and what a bargain for the price. What a great exercise this was to pair these amps with a system they would most likely never see.

All of these videos have really opened my eyes to what I believe would suit me best. I have a clear idea of what my next speakers will be, same with amps....thanks Jay.
@inna

Thanks for posting your system. I couldn't find anything on your Michael Green speakers. About 35 years ago I had a Nakamichi Dragon. My first real high end piece...I loved that deck! I also have 2 Custom Power Cord Company Top Gun 'Specials' stored in my garage cabinet. They were the first aftermarket PC that really made a difference in SQ for the better. They are so thick and difficult to maneuver I have no idea what to do with them.

It would be very difficult for me to let this grouping of components and speakers go....excellent system synergy.

I had forgotten how good your systems sounded back then...nothing like the latest systems but very good. The new room made a huge impact in overall SQ. Always wondered what the Neo's would have sounded like in the new bigger room...with the Boulders. Whoa
My guess is Jay meant any slight moving of the speakers changed the presentation not moving his head.  
Why don't you shoot a short static video reveal for tomorrow while the integrated breaks in...then next week a music video with the new speakers and integrated?  The Boulder 2110 is gone so you won't ever have an apples to apples comparison.....unless you reacquire the 2110.
I thought Jay's plan with the new speakers was to start all over again with electronics and work his way up as he got a feel for them. So now there is a real uneven ratio (components to speakers). I'm sure he's got a plan for components. Also never been a fan of DAC direct to amp. I always thought going that route lacked body.
This subject has been debated for a couple of years on this thread. A few years ago Jay posted he thought 50% of total system costs should be spent on speakers and the rest on everything else. I personally think that is too much for speakers but lately I'm beginning to re-think that. Maybe with this new speaker I will change my mind.

Man that 2nd teaser is as clear and revealing as I have heard....wow!
Love the speaker choice! Can't wait to hear what it can do over the next few months...
I really doubt there's an argument on which speaker (M3 or M6) is better in every way. As far as finding gear to compliment the M6's.....you had it in your room 2 weeks ago...lol
I have a feeling the Boulder 2110 with the 2150's or the Mephisto would have been 'big boy' good.
Absolutely stunning clarity. Hearing so deep into the recording it's spooky.
Thank you viber for providing 2 links to the same song Alexx vs M6. What I hear in these 2 demos is not what you described. I heard more clarity and focus with the M6's. The Alexx sound somewhat veiled in comparison.  The vocals are slightly forward with the M6's and way more separated from the acoustic guitar. The soundstage was greater with the M6 with accent electric guitars more pinpointed and focused within the soundstage. I heard a little more thump (weight) from the kick drum on the Alexx. The thunder @ around 1:40 was more clearly heard with the M6's. The M6's do sound ever so slightly rolled off on the very top...but that being said I still hear more detail and focus on the top end of the M6's. I much prefer the M6's presentation (on this track).

Good video Jay.  Never owned McIntosh gear but totally respect the brand.  Every reviewer has their own way of expressing their thoughts on products.  Never cared for reviewers that bash gear.   I appreciate the 'pros and cons, and room for improvement suggestions' style you have developed for reviewing gear.

OK inna understood, but I was speaking of the brand Wilson vs Magico in general. I like sealed speakers over ported because of less room interaction. Like Mike said on the latest video, he personally owned the Alexia and tried for a year to make it work in his room but couldn't get the sound to the level he wanted due to his problem room. Some of the best systems I have heard have used Wilson speakers....in good rooms. I went through rear ported, front ported and floor ported speakers and never got the bass to sound right in my room. I now have YG's (sealed cabinet) which are way easier to place in a problem room.
I didn't mention any specific models.  I just prefer Magico over Wilson.  

"But it's nothing for potential buyers, right ?"

I have no idea what that means.
Actually talking about the M6's Mike said "the bass outstanding, world class in here it's phenomenal...it's full it's tight it's fast...I'll give it a 10/10. I don't know how we could improve the bass in here."

"Quite right. So if sealed speakers give you that then they are always wrong."
Wow inna....sounds like we have completely different views on how bass should sound.
@techno

Not sure what you are accusing Jay and Mike of doing here. In the video Mike clearly said he stopped by to drop off some 'toys'....a world class amp that he delivered and was going to help set up. It sounded to me like Jay caught him off guard and decided to conduct an impromptu video and get his impression of what he heard. Sounded like Mike was being honest about what he heard with the Pass and Soulution gear....Also whether you are in the Wilson or Magico camp, the M6's have created quite a buzz....a positive buzz.

Seems like you wait just to find something to blow way out of context. If you're not happy with the way Jay conducts this thread and his YouTube channel why waste your time with it? I think you need to find more things to occupy your time.
@ fastfreight

Yes, thank you for sharing. I also have the Mola Mola Makua preamp with DAC option into a Simaudio 870a amp running YG Carmel 2's with (2) REL Carbon Limited subs. Heard so many great things about the Audionet Max's. Also working with Bill Parish was an absolute pleasure.  Looking to upgrade my speakers now.
With all of the colorations in an audio system (your room being the biggest one), I would think a neutral speaker would be an asset.
I listened yesterday and again today to the 'Magico M6: We begin to get serious' and I don't hear what techno and inna are referring to. Everything top to bottom sounded fantastic. No recessed midrange or midrange heavy and the bass sounded just right. Also I read the YouTube responses thinking they would reflect what techno and inna were talking about but there were way more positive comments than negative. In fact out of 26 responses (excluding Jay's replies) I counted 14 positive / 3 negative / and 3 neutral (didn't say one way or the other).  

Music and audio systems are so subjective it's no wonder there is such a split on most every speaker, component, cable and isolation video that Jay presents.
@pokey77

I believe it was inna inquiring about ' dealer's profit margin'. I agree with your response btw.
@inna

"Well, if Soulution 530 is no good to many I will buy it for $5k."

Who said the Soulution 530 is no good?

kren said.... "Speaking of WC’s journey, in contrast to Inna, i thought the Gryphon Antileon was better than the Soulution."

And I said.... "I agree with kren that the Antileon sounds much better than the Soulution integrated with the M6's."

Maybe you need to slow down and read more carefully.
I agree with kren that the Antileon sounds much better than the Soulution integrated with the M6's. In fact I think the Pandora / Antileon / M6 is the best sound I have heard in Jay's room to date. I preferred the Mephisto over the Boulders but think the Antileon is a better match for the M6's.  

@viber
I heard the Mola Mola Kaluga's with my Makua but didn't care for them. I thought the Makua paired with a class A or A/B amp sounded much better....richer, fuller and more lifelike.
Hey Jay, what happened to the rating system on amps? You put a lot of thought into it and modified it but then stopped.
I find it hard to believe that some are saying they like the sound of the Karma/Boulder over the Gryphon/M6. From what I'm hearing it's not remotely close. And this latest vid is 'wow' good. But again...to each his/her own.

I thought the Fyne/Classe combo was very good but was a bit too lean and bright. A pair of AQ Dragon PC's might just balance out the sound....for me anyway.
Good call kren

I would stick to guessing upcoming components rather than college football analogies.....lol
@inna 

"Different approach.
I think, Boulder and Soulution aesthetically match M6 better than others, so they will sound best too."

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
I agree with henry201. I don't feel Jay's journey with the M6's has been a struggle or he has had to wrestle with them. Jay clearly stated when he first brought the M6 in that he was going to start at the bottom with budget amps and work his way up....he's done just that. The fact that the Pass 60.8's sounded so good with the M6's (according to Jay), seems like it's been fairly easy to accommodate the M6's. To my ears the Antileon / M6 is the best sound he has had in his room so far....Of course everyone has their own preference.
I believe I slightly prefer the Gryphon sound over the Boulder sound. The Gryphon’s sound more tonally dense and focused where the Boulder sound more spacious and not quite as focused. My perception might change being in your room live but that’s what I hear over YouTube.

Wow....that last Essence Sara K video was amazing. Hard to believe that is the entry level Gryphon amp. How does the sound change when you insert the Pandora into that mix?
Great shootout Jay.  I'm a guitar player so I always focus on the guitar.   The attack and clarity through the Essence sounds more lifelike and real than the Pass.  I hear more information with the Essence.  I do think the Pass sounded very good but not quite at the level of the Essence.