Marantz PM94
Tandberg 3016
Spectral DMA50 |
Creek 4330, Cary SLP-50b/Linn LK-85's active, Cary SLI-80, Vaic 300b SE. I think I will live with this for some time. 15w SET amp with 302b output tubes. |
Dynaco Stereo 400 - 1975
SimAudio Moon I-5 - 2003
Tend not to fix what's not broken. Now, if we were talking cars or computers or wives or jobs or... |
Adcom GFA 5400
Eico HF87(with upgraded caps of course)
Not going back to SS after hearing the Eico with my B&W's.
Awesome sound. |
Amber Series 70, Adcom 545 (succumbed to hype alas), Bryston 2B, Forte 4a, Golden Tube SE100 briefly, Conrad Johnson 11a (VERY nice!), Conrad Johnson 12 monoblocks (WOW). Then tried to downsize: MD 208 receiver, Audio Analogue Puccini (nice), LFD Mistral SE (very nice), Plinius 8200 II (very very nice, still not up to my CJ 11a), now settled in on Cary SLI-80 (triode mode, this is the one to "marry"). Sticking with tube integrateds for now, as the smallest footprint (financially and physically) that I can be really happy with. (with fond memories of my CJ days...)
Art |
This may take awhile, over the last 17-20 yrs in high end I have owned the following: (not in any particular order)
Krell KSA 80
Mission Cyrus integrated
Golden Tube SE40
Rotel RB980?
Quicksilver M60's
Quicksilver V4's
Audio Research VT100 MKIII
Audio Note SE40 integrated
MasterSound Due Venti 220SE
Cary SLM 100's
Odyssey Stratos monoblocks
Odyssey Stratos stereo extreme (current amp)
VAIC 300B integrated (current amp)
I have also owned several mass market receivers and amps prior to this. |
McIntosh MA-5200, HK Citation 12, Hadley, Threshold Statis 3, Bedini BA-801, Blue Circle BC22 MkII |
From 1980 till now:
Akai something-or-other
Naim Nait (the first version)
Musical Fidelity A1
Cyrus II/PSX
SimAudio 4070
Sugden Au51P
KR18 BSI (300BXLS SET integrated)
Coincident MP300B monos
Wavelength Triton Blue monos |
This is going to be fun - a real memory test for us 'old' guys.
1962 - Magnavox console stereo. Chuck Berry, etc.
1964 - Magnavox portable (not really) stereo with removeable speakers that were hinged to swing out or be lifted off and placed where wanted. Rock & roll just started.
1971 - Zenith mini-stereo. Poor Navy man.
1976 - Harmon-Kardon receiver. First 'real' system when back in college. Original inverted dome tweeters.
1978 - Yamaha CR-820 receiver.
1980 - Pair of McIntosh MC-60 amps (do I wish I still owned - you bet)
1985 - Pair of Bryston 2B-LP running in bridged mode - what a great sound!! Kept for almost 12 years they were so good.
1996 - McIntosh MC-300. Nice sound, but Mac makes terrible preamps.
1996 - VTL 150 mono-blocks. Worst amps I have ever owned!! Pieces of junk and sounded like it. Kept for about two weeks.
1996 - McIntosh MC-275 reissue - end of tubes for me.
1997 - McIntosh MC-500 wonderfully powerful and sweet sounding amp. My third favorite after MOSFET & 2B-LPs.
1999 - Sony TA-F808ES MOSFET class A integrated amp. My introduction to that wonderful MOSFET sound.
2003 - Sony TA-N90ES MOSFET power amp. As good as the TA-F808ES was I wanted to try the same thing in balanced mode. The best, to-date. |
Just upgraded again- Parasound JC-1's are now gracing the presence of my listening room :) |
Okay you asked for it!
B&K ST 140
Adcom GFA-555MkII
Carver Magnetic Field something 1.0t
Krell KST-100
2- Krell KST 100's
Acoustat TNT 200 Twin Transnova(run with 1+1's)
McIntosh 7270
Conrad Johnson MFA-2300(lasted 2 days in my system)
Quicksilver M-60's(now were talking)
ARC D-200
ARC VTM 120's monoblocks AHHHH thats better.(currently)
Like a lot of you guys, "been there done that" and done that again!, and again! someone stop me!!
You dont even want the complete speaker list!
Sincerely,
Still looking! |
Okay you asked for it!
B&K ST 140
Adcom GFA-555MkII
Carver Magnetic Field something 1.0t
Krell KST-100
2- Krell KST 100's
Acoustat TNT 200 Twin Transnova(run with 1+1's)
McIntosh 7270
Conrad Johnson MFA-2300(lasted 2 days in my system)
Quicksilver M-60's(now were talking)
ARC VTM 120's monoblocks AHHHH thats better.(currently)
Like a lot of you guys, "been there done that" and done that again!, and again! someone stop me!!
You dont even want the complete speaker list!
Sincerely,
Still looking! |
1968 Sansui integrated,sent back from Nam,then a Pioneer integrated,NAD,Threshold,Levinson 27& 29,Btyston 4B,Counterpoint sa-12,now have sa-20,modded by Mike,life is good....Bob |
Harman Karden integrated
Luxman integrated with the tubes in the preamp section
Adcom 545
GAS Ampzilla
Melos MAT-180
Karan Acoustics KA-i180 integrated |
Heathkit Receiver Kit Model ? (that was 25 years ago)
Pioneer SX-650
Yamaha Model ?(the one that had the auto class A)
2 Carver M1.0t (in bridged mode)
Audio Research D-10
Adcom GFA-535 w/Musical Concept LX Platinum Mod
2 Adcom GFA-565 Monoblocks w/Musical Concept LX Platinum Mod
Bryston 14B-SST |
|
You want a hernia, try lifting the Boulders. I don't think my floor could support the monos.
David |
What about the Boulder monos? Maybe there's one more stop on the upgrade train still to come! ;-)
Updating my evolution, I've replaced my Jadis amps with Lamm ML1s, though the JA80s are still on the floor in my listening room, in part because I have a hernia and can't lift them and in part because I really can't bear to sell them. |
|
I'm finally off the upgrade train with a Boulder 2060 stereo amp. The sound is absolutely fantastic. Rich, detailed , layered, it's all ther.
David Shapiro |
since my last post on this subject i have,once again,changed amps..this time from the tenor 75 wi's to a goldmund mimesis 29m.this amp does everything the tenors did,and does it as well, but drives my piegas' much more efficiently and effortlessly.i also changed preamps to an audio tekne 'simona' tubed piece which gives a great combo sound.this time,i think,i am keeping this amp 'for a long time'. |
Oh wow...
Packard Bell tubed stereo (60's)
Pioneer reciever (early 70's)
Tanberg reciever (still running! mid 70's)
Audible Illusions mini-mite pre and power Kit (1980?)
Various SS amps: Amber,PSAudio, Threshold,Phase Linear,Carver etc(80's)
Van Alstine hybrid,Sonographe (early 90's)
Atma-sphere, Spectral, Bryston SST, Spectron (now)
Present iteration is Levinson CD, feeding Spectral, Feeding 4BSST. By far the best balance of dynamics and tonal color I have ever heard. (No free lunch!) |
Nad C-340
Bryston 3bst / C-340 as preamp then Audio Research LS-15
Nad S-300
Unison Research Unico |
1. Yamaha DSP-A1
2. Accuphase E407
3. Sim Audio Moon W5
4. ML 432 |
From first to last and worst to greatest
1. Fisher
2. Denon
3. B&K 4420
4. Jolida 1000
5. Pass X150
6. Pass X600
7. eAR 2 MKII |
In order of use and rating based on max of 10:
Carver 705X (6/10)
H/K PA5800 (7.5/10)
H/K Signature 2.1 (7/10)
Citation 7.1 (4/10; note - gave me an earache)
Chiro C-500 (8/10)
H/K Signature 1.5 (8/10)
Bryston 4BST (9/10)
Marsh A200S (8/10)
Innersound ESL (10/10)
The Innersound ESL is as close to a perfect amp as I have found and anyone looking for the best in high power and transparency should definitely give it a listen, and especially if they use electrostatic speakers, but it is great with regular speakers as well. |
my evolution:
sony integrated amp
adcom 555II
music concept mod hafler XL280
Symphonic Line RG1 MKII
Symphonic Line Rg1 MKIII now
I am considering uprgrading to RG4 or kraft 250 in the future. |
got my audio note conqueror stereo 300b single ended amplifier...finally...worth it |
Can't believe I missed this thread...
NAD 3020 integrated
Bryston 3B
Krell KSA 50
VTL ST-80
Sunfire
Air Tight ATM-1
BAT VK-60
Spectral DMA-180 II
Cary Rocket 88
Evry time I leave tubes, I have to come back! Spencer |
Started in 1976:
Son of Ampzilla
Grandson of Ampzilla (2, bridged)
ARC D-120
Counterpoint SA-100
Electrocompianet A100 (?)
Levinson No. 27
ARC CL-120's
Ayre V3
Might go back to tubes as soon as I can afford one. Never looked into SE & will do so. |
1. Southwest Technical Products home-built (loaned by a friend)
2. Marantz Stereo 140 (cool blue meters!)
3. Dynaco ST-416 home-built
4. Adcom GFA-555s, run as monoblocks
5. Classe CA-150
6. Bryston 9B-ST
7. Bryston 7B-ST monoblocks |
Pioneer SA8100 integrated which I then used the preamp of to drive an used Marantz 1040 power amp. Now have Marantza MA500 power amps. Have also had Pioneer and Technics receivers at various times in the past.h |
1. Panasonic 4 wpc mini-receiver with ic amp section.
2. Pilot 25 wpc integrated solid-state amp
3. Yamaha CR640 40 wpc receiver
4. Nakamichi 630 100 wpc class B solid-state power amp
5. Mitsubishi DA10 100 wpc solid-state power amp
6. Hafler DH200 100 wpc solid-state power amp kits - bought, built, modified, sold several
7. Robertson 4010 60 wpc solid-state power amp
8. Audio Research D115 Mk. II 100 wpc tube power amp
9. Spectral DMA80 100 wpc solid state power amp
10. Music Reference RM-200 100 wpc tube/solid-state hybrid power amp
All served their purpose admirably. The last two were by far my favorites. The last one very much so. |
Cambridge Audio receiver (circa 1973)
Pioneer 626 receiver
Onkyo int amp (25WPC)
Pioneer receiver (100WPC)
Parasound 1200 stereo amp
Parasound 750 stereo amp (2 run as monoblocks)
Bryston 4B ST stereo amp
Bryston 7B ST monoblocks
Krell 400cx stereo amp |
This is my evolution:
Carver “The Receiver 150”
Yamaha RX-V 590
Yamaha RX-V 990
B&K Ref 20 (pre)
ATI 1505
VTL ST 85
Adcom GFA 5500
McCormack Deluxe 1
McCormack DNA 225
Perreaux E160
EAD TheaterMaster Ovation (upgraded to Ovation 8){pre/pro}
Cinepro 3K6 Mark II
EAD PowerMaster 6300 |
Hey RWD..."My morning smile"!!! I forgot to list the late great ARC D-115[ my all time favorite muscle amp in its day] as well as a pair of the original Mark Levinson ML-2 monos,to this day,still the sweetest solid scrape amps I have ever heard![ At 25 watts/channel no less]They could drive the Dayton Wright E-stats to higher SPL's than the 700 watt/channel Phase linear 700b! Sounded phenominal on the Quad 57's or anything else for that matter.I should start a new thread on preamps as I noticed you listed yours.IS there a thread already? |
Here is an update on my amps! See below.......
Sansusi 800
Sansusi 8 (Still working in my cousins system)
MacIntoch CS 32 (pre-amp)
Mac 2205 Power amp
Mac 5100 (in another system I had)
Phase Linier 400 (power)
GAS Ampzilla ll (amp)
Therdra (pre)
Levinson ML-1 (pre)
ARC SP 6/SP 6A/ SP 6B (all great pre amps)
Conrad Johnson MV 75 (2) (power)
Conrad Johnson PV-5 (pre)
ARC SP 8 (pre)
Bryston (power)
ARC D 115 (power)
ARC SP 9 (pre)
ARC LS 25 (line)
ARC PH 3 SE (phone)
ARC VT 100 ll (power)
Replacing the Perreaux 2150B is the Perreaux 3150B AND replacing the ARC VT100 mkll is the ASL Hurricanes. |
1967...Dyna st-70 made from kit in grade 10 electronics class,still use today in kitchen.
1969...Dyna mk-3 monos from kit also.
1972...Quad 2 monos
1975...Phase Linear 700b,ampzilla,Kenwood lo7m's....Blew them all up trying to boogie with the Dayton Wright XG-10 electrostatics!
1976...Audio Reasearch d-76,Macintosh 275.
1982..Grant Lumley m-100's prototypes[still in family]
1985...Audio Research D-79b[ foolishly shipped to Japan
last year]Lumley gl-50[another beauty that got away] 1990...MFA 120b's
2000...Atma-sphere 2.2 mk2's,
2001...Antique Soundlab 1009 monos,Antique SoundLab 1006 monos.
Back in my college days I ran a disc jockey company and used mainly high powered solid scrape stuff from bryston,crown,and phase linear. |
1975 - Rotel RA712
1985 - Audiolab 8000A
1990 - Audiolab 8000P (bi-amped with 8000A)
2000 - TAG Mclaren 125M monoblocs (bi-amped with 8000P)
2002 - Lumley Reference M120 monoblocs
it took me 27 years to discover tubes. Better late than never. |
Pioneer integrated
Sony
NAD
Sansui - I still like their clean DC sound
I use as 2 ch. Home Theatre with radio shack
lineum tweeter (pretty pleasant + transparent)
Do we need 6 speakers?
Marantz 2270 20 years old Receiver - nice warm sound
Quad 405II - nice liquid tube like mid
Old tube amps - getting into tubes |
This list gets long-starting in about 1977
Pioneer-SX636
Pioneer-SX450
Technics-SA616
Pioneer-VSX5000
Sansui-Q800
Adcom-535
Pioneer-SPEC2
VTL ST50
Dynaco ST70 3ea with active xover to tri amped home builts
NAD 2200 NAD 1700 front end
Dynaco ST410 2ea for subs
Grommes LJ-5 mono in the shop |
I have resisted answering this thread for sometime now because I wasn't sure if I had really found my audiophile stride, but, now, I think that I have: I'm a tube guy. I think that I have always been but just didn't realize it.
So here goes:
--Sony integrated (not sure of the model or specs---maybe 25 watts/chn)
--Fisher integrated (when I was in college--back when all I thought I had to do to get high-end sound was go to the Good Guys and buy anything w/ 100 watts).
--Cambridge Audio A3i (bought new on Audio Advisor)
--Mistral Integrated (bought a demo from AA)
--Pass Labs Aleph 30 mated to a VTL 2.5 pre
--PS Audio HCA-2 with the VTL
--Rogue 88 w/ Electro Harmonics kt-88s with the vtl.
With that last set up, I have finally found what I'm looking for: Tubes. About the only thing I feel like I want to try is a VTL amp(s) of some stripe.
I don't think that I'm going to be spending much more money, though. Well, okay, I just thought of one more possibility: the SET mono 300b thing. But, still, I'm going to hold onto the Rogue until I know that whatever I buy next actually sounds *better* and not just different.
What's cool is that this whole thing, on balance, has been fun. I haven't really bought anything and felt that it was a "mistake." But fun is what it's all about, right??? |
I got a suitcase style record player when I was 12
Bought a Pioneer SX-535
Sold the SX bought a Yamaha CR-820
Brought the CR-820 back (didn't sound right)got an Onkyo A-7
Sold the Onkyo and used my Dad's Radio Shack reciever 10wpc
Bought a Hafler kit combo built the preamp amp never came
so I took a Nakamichi 600 series amp in its place which I
didn't like so I traded that for a GAS Son of Ampzilla
Had a borrowed Arcam A60 in mt system for a while
Bought a used Ampzilla IIa from a competing store for $100!!
Bought two Citation 16as in 2001 and 2002
The Ampzilla has a blown output stack which I'd like to fix
The Son is working but currently not in a system
The Citations are used to drive my Vandersteens
Thinking of Bryston or Audio Research amps or maybe a second Ampzilla |
Started with a Yamaha CR-820 receiver in 1976. Excellent product.
Next was a pair of Bryston 2B-LP amps running in bridged mode for each channel. Terrific sound. Still about as good as I've heard.
Then have gone all over the map.
A McIntosh MC-300, then an MC-275 followed by a pair of VTL 200 monoblocs (all the tubes I would ever need) and then on to an MC-162 followed by an MC-500. The MC-500 is one of my favorite amps. Very big balls and microdynamics to die for. Had everything. Very sensitive to the correct preamp though (and McIntosh has never made a good one). Tried a Sony TAN77ES (very nice) and am now hooked on MOSFETs. Best of tubes and solid state. Downsized two years ago to move into a condo at the shore. Bought another Sony, though this time it was their largest MOSFET integrated amp, the TA-F808ES. Runs class A up to 25 wpc and then AB to 100. Wonderful sound. Am now thinking about bi-amping with an Aleph 30 for the top end. Any thoughts out there? BTW, I enjoy Stereophile. Has lots of info as long as you pay little or no attention to their BS. could do without Art Dudley, the putz supreme. |
It's been up and down for me over the decades (yes, decades)
Looking just at the amplification side:
Magnavox receiver (I was a kid)
SAE (can't remember the model number any more)
Golden Tube 80
Electrocompaneit
Now moving back to tubes with a Manley Stingray or a modified JoLida 302B
F7 |
Over the last 20 years:
Some nondescript Akai integrated
Naim Nait (the first one)
Musical Fidelity A1
Mission Cyrus II/PSX
SimAudio Celeste 4070
Sugden Au51P
KR 18 BSI
Coincident MP-300B
My preferences have now come into sharp focus. I'm a tube person, and I'm not likely to leave the land of the glowing botles any time soon. |
Fisher 400 tube receiver, Amber Black Series 70 (early model), Adcom 545 (inadvertant downgrade - I read too many reviews!), Bryston 2B, Forte 4a, Conrad Johnson 11a, Conrad Johnson Premier 12 monoblocks..
Then, after reading so many great reviews of integrated amps I decided to see how far I could down-grade and be happy. Close - these are excellent amps but not quite my resting point - were Magnum 208, Mistral LFD SE, Plinius 8200 II (VERY CLOSE).... Now I seem to be quite content with my Cary SLI-80 running in triode, although Tuesday my friend is bringing over his BelCanto SET40i ... we shall see.
BTW, preamps include early Amber and PS Audio models, 3 generations of Audible Illusions (great stuff!), CJ 17LS (wonderful!), and then, ohhhh, and then, I tried the First Sound Deluxe (whatever that $4000 model is called). WOW.
If I do go back to separates it will be to use the First Sound to drive damn near anything.....
Art |
CITATION 12 1974
KENWOOD LO7Ms 1979
CLASSE DR10 1991 |
JVC RX-8 receiver
Carver 1.0
Counterpoint SA-220
Melos stereo 200 triode
Audio Valve Balduar 240's triode
Conrad Johnson premier 12's [loaner]
BAT VK-120 Mono's
Conrad Johnson premier 8's used to wish I still had these until getting the 750's.
VTL 450 signature's
VTL 750 REFERENCE |
kenwood system
Sansui amp
Yamaha RX750 receiver
Acurus A80 amp
Bryston B60 integrated
Bryston 3BST
Would like to eventually get a Bryston 4B |
