1) Crown D150
2) Hitachi MA 7500 (early Mosfet)
3) Michaelson Austin TVA-1 (sadly died may years ago)
4) Yamaha MX800
5) Adcom GFA-535II
6) Rotel 960BX
Current - Threshold Stasis 3 breathed on by John Hillig of Musical Design, Rotel 980BX stock. |
The below list covers a main system in the basement and a bedroom system.
Started with a Fisher Receiver.
Maratnz receiver
Anthem amp
Rotel 1080 receiver
PS Audio HCA 2
Sim Audio W3
Modded Unison Unico SE integrated
Cayin A-KT 88 integrated
RWA 70.2 mono's
Sim Audio W-7
Current inventory in house
Sim W3
Modded Unison Unico SE
Arte Forma I-150 Susan (my brother in law is currently using it)
Aspen Maya (Australia)
Luxman L-507u |
Now have Burmester 911 MK3. Very happy happy.:) |
Added Jeff Rowland M625: 300 Watts stereo class A/B high bias amp. Guido |
I started out with a technics integrated back in 1980, when I was stationed in okinawa japan, got a hold of sansui AUD-11 integrated which is still revered today and a yamaha M-80 amp, another sought after vintage.
Today, I have a combination of carver TFM amps, TFM 753, tfm 45, tfm 35, two tfm 500x, two 1.5t,m-400t,an emotiva xpa-5, sunfire theater grand, carver c-16, c-5 preamps, carver c 4000t preamp, emotiva usp-1 preamp, B&K pro 10 preamp. sunfire TGR 401 ht receiver and a pioneer sc 37 ht receiver. paxhton integrated tube amp, |
Marantz 1060
Harman Kardon Citation 12
Crown D150
Ampzilla
Vsp labs Gold
Classe CA-2100 |
In order of acquisition - I often had more than one amp on hand:
NAD 3020 / B&K 102 / Quicksilver 8417 / Pass Aleph 3 / Pass Aleph 2 / CAT JL2 / Quicksilver V4 / First Watt Aleph J / Pass XA30.5 /Music Reference RM 9 Special Edition / Atma-sphere M60 / Music Refererene RM 10 MKII
Still own the last two. |
I started reading Stereophile back in the late 80s, when I couldn't afford the good stuff. My first amp was an Adcom GFA-545, followed by a Parasound HCA-800. Next was a B&K ST-202. Lastly, I'm enjoying a Bedini 150 MkII I recently aquired off ebay for $350. I'm pairing it with an old Lazarus Cascade Basic preamp and love the combo! I still can't afford the good stuff, but ebay makes it easier to afford the used stuff. |
Like many people here I started reading about high end audio gear before ever owning any. My uncle subscribed to Stereo Times, Stereo Review, and Audiophile and passed them to me when I was 14....and I devoured these magazines and dreampt of owning hi end gear one day.
My parents gave me a Fischer receiver from the late 1960s as a teen, and I recall it sounding amazing (Fischer?!?) Since that was over 20 years ago...I can't accurately remember how it compared to newer gear...but I'll never forget it. It was so clear. But I only thought of Fischer as cheap gear, and I eventually sold it real cheap. Now I don't care about anything regarding audio gear except how it sounds to me. Period.
I remember reading rave reviews of the Yamaha M-80 Power Amp as a teen and bought one in my early 20s. Coupled with a HK preamp, it was very nice at the time, but it didn't live up to its rave reviews....or that old Fischer.
At 25 I bought an entire used system that blew me away. It included a B&K ST 2020 power amp with a Conrad Johnson PV 8 preamp (with B&W speakers, Klipsch dual 15" powered sub, and other treats). I consider that to be my first 'good' stereo system. That was the first time I heard soundstaging in my home. I kept that setup for a few years, needed money, and sold the BK and CJ....and listened to garbage for years. I eventually forgot the MAGIC that a good stereo adds to LIFE.
In 2006 I got a bonus at work on a whim one Saturday I bought a Musical Fidelity A3 integrated amp. I WAS VERY PLEASED. The magic was back, in a big way. I could live with that litle amp now and be very happy if I had to.
I liked it so much I traded it for an A3cr power amp (which I like just as much as my friend's Nu-Vista integrated) and ran it with no preamp. I bought a Jolida JD 700 tube cd player (it does play dvds too which I know is audiophile blasphemy, but I prefered it to the JD 100, and I trust what I HEAR now). The JD 700 has a volume control, and it sounded so good to me (utterly transparent) that I thought using any preamp would be a step backward. I tried a older CJs and Classe', but preferred no preamp. It's that nice.
Three weeks ago I got another bonus at work and decided to get a preamp, thinking that even if the system didn't improve, it was practical. After debating it, (I considered selling the MF and buying a nice $2,000 integrated, either a Jolida tube or whatever) I bought the Jolida Fusion preamp which just came out. It's simply a superb combination. I couldn't be happier. The only change I can forsee making in amps anytime soon is getting another A3cr and bi-amping it.
I apologize for rambling, but this was a fun trip down memory lane! |
I started with a 25 watt Sansui in 1973 then a Fisher 100 watt reciever,SAE,Nakamichi 600 then Carver dual cubes and finally my favourite PS Audio 200c great power and build. |
Asterisk for "why did I sell it"
These only make sense in the context of what speakers I had at the time.
Dyna ST 35
Dyna Pas 3 and MK III s *
Dyna Pat 4 and ST 120 (Big mistake)
Sherwood integrated
Hafler 101 and 110 into DH 200 with mods
Flame Linear 400 (another mistake)
NAD 1020*
YBA Integre DT *
Meridian amp ? model
Krell 7B and KS 80 (to drive 'stats)
Threshold
Pass Kit
Audio Note 300B
Audioquest EL34 *
Conrad Johnson PV 11 with whatever 60 watt amp they were making
Jeff Rowland Concentra 2 *
Saunders MK 1 (to drive another 'stat)*
Tact S2150
Leben CS 300* |
Marantz receiver mid '70's, Bryston 2B a short time later and Hafler 9180 ever since 1995. I regret ever letting go of the Marantz. At that time in audio history Marantz owned a lot of the market in it's niche. The Bryston had too little low end as it was 50W, but I liked it otherwise. The Hafler 9180 is a GEM of a performer. Never fatiguing. Never had one problem with it or any other of my amps for that metter. Rockford Fosgate is holding on the the Hafler name and patents and will not re-start the line. I have asked. If I have to ever replace the Hafler (will try to get it fixed first) I will stay with MOSFETS and go with the B and K 200.2. A MOSFET higher watt/current amp running in Class A at low listening levels. Want one NOW but $1600 is too much at this point in time. |
Sony receiver
NAD 40 watt
Carver m400?
Carver m500
Rotel 980bx
Conrad Johnson MF2500
Creek integrated
McCormack DNA 0.5
MCCormack DNA 1
Nuforce Ref 8.5
Upgraded to
Nuforce Ref 9 V2
PS Audio HCA 2
Belles 150A Reference
Musical Fidelity Nu Vista M3 Integrated |
Sony Receiver ->
Carver M500t ->
Carver M1.5t ->
Adcom GFA-555 ->
Levinson No. 27 ->
Levinson No. 334
I've had the 334 for a little over a decade and aside from Pass Labs haven't heard much that makes me want to upgrade.
Of note is I do NOT like the Levinson sound since the move to the West Coast. |
1970-Dynaco SCA-80 integrated (40wpc)
1971-Sony Power TA-3200F (one of the best vintage amps)
1989-Nakamichi Reciever III (37wpc)
1997-Nakamichi Reciever II (50wpc)
1998-Adcom 545II (100wpc/160wpc)
2001-Jolida 302 (40wpc) "human sounding"
2003-Linn Majik (33wpc/66wpc) "spectacular PRaT"
2003-Linn LK 100 (60wpc) "not as good as Majik amp section"
2004-Linn Klout ( 80wpc/160wpc) "simply stellar, my favorite"
2005-Pass Labs Aleph 30 (30wpc/45wpc) "clean and detailed"
2007-Classe CA-100 (100wpc/200wpc) "very musical, powerful full bodied"
2008-Audio Electronics Super Amp MkII (20wpc in Triode) "Cary tube amp, airy musicality" |
Here's my amp/int amp/rec'r journey from 1984 to 2012:
1. yamaha M50, crown straight line 1 preamp
2. Sansui AU717
3. NAD 2155, Luxman preamp, Acoustat TNP pre
4. B&K ST140, Acoustat, TNP pre, Music reference RM5 mkII pre & dyna PAS 2
5. Dynaco ST70, Dyna PAS 3
6. McIntosh MC225, Music Reference pre
7. B&K EX442 Sonata - sounded almost exactly like the Paoli's), Music Ref pre
8. Paoli M60 monoblocks, Music Ref pre
9. cj MV50, Music Ref pre
10. Music Reference RM9, Music Ref pre
11. AMC CVT-3030
12. Mac 1900 Rec'r
13. Mitsubishe DA-R7 rec'r
14. Creek 5050 int.
15. Acurus A80, Hegeman Hapi2 pre
16. Early Korneff 6bq5 SE int.
17. John Ecklund PP6bg6 triode
18. Custom KT66 SE int (from ebay)
19. Onix OA-21s
20. ads A-2
21. JVC 80 watt class A int.
22. Musical Fidelity B1
23. Kailin 6bq5 int
24. Rawsonte Brick gainclones, Superphon Rev. Basic Dual Mono preamp
25. Audio Space Mini-Galaxy II
26. John Ecklund PP6bg6 triode - moded
27. Tandberg 3030 receiver
And the most memorable/best sounding: Mac MC225, Korneff, 6bg6, Onix, the B&K's, Paolis, gainclones
And the worst sounding/bigest disappointment: cj (just didn't mate up with the MR preamp & wish I had a PV5), Musical Fidelity B1, Kailin (fans just too darn loud), MAC1900 (great tuner but early SS harsh sounding amp) |
Pass X-150
Quicksilver V-4
ARC VS-115
Joule VZN 160 MKlll Grand Marquis
Joule VZN 160 MKV Grand Marquis Musicwood
Spectron lll Mk2 (owned for 1 week) reinstalled the Joules
The Joule amps sound is so to my liking I think they will be difficult and most likely expensive to replace. |
I had the Denon PMA 2000 AE (great entry level integrated, I used it with the same B&W 803D I have today and they sounded good!), now I have the Luxman 509u and I don't find any reason to change it! |
Adcom 555 mono blocks
Bryston 4Bst
Bryston 6Bsst
Krell MDA 500's
Krell FPB 700cx
Krell FPB 750mcx |
Late 80s: Tecnics class AA integrated, good loud amp for college
90s - 00s: Yamaha recievers, Arcam integrated and a Linn Classik that I still have in my bedroom
Late 00s: Tried the Dared 6 channel tube hybrid, wish it had a bigger footprint with better speaker wire connections and more inputs
Present: Audio Refinement Multi5 with a Pre5, which sounds great and beat out a Rogue Cronus Magnum that I had for a month and returned.
I might try consolidating down to the Audio Refinement Complete Alpha integrated since I am only 2 channel. How much punch, soundstage, etc would I lose doing this? Or anyone have an AR Multi2 or 3 in black that wants to trade? |
My first love some thirty years ago, a Pioneer SX-525 receiver, held in my lap all the ninety mile way home. A Yamaha CR 1040 receiver. NAD then Carver Cube with the later addition of Carver TFM 15 amp. Acurus, my first "high end" the ACT Five. Which lead to my first tube integrated amp the SQ-88 by Quest for Sound. Tubes are indeed sweet. My best so far and dream come true, a McIntosh MA 6600. And just because a Marantz PM 8004. All have been a true joy. I love this stuff. |
Well, I'm discovering this forum a little late but here is my "amp evolution":
1987: NAD 7220PE Receiver(my first component system which also consisted of a Dual 505-2 turntable and Boston Acoustics A40 speakers)
1999: NAD C740 Receiver. Bump up in power and sound quality. At this point also had NAD 502 CD Player and 614 Dual cassette deck)
2012: Rega Brio-R. By far the best bump-up in sound quality. Much more depth, detail and clarity with the Rega. But note this is also coupled with a prior upgrade to the Rega Apollo CD player and Rega P2 turntable (bias-2 cartridge). The Brio-R is bringing alive all of the detail that my P2 and Apollo is capturing. |
really digging mcintosh. been through a couple of systems for my studio and by far the sound is consistently clean at the loudest output. cant complain with that when youre in the rock business. |
1. Kenwood Receiver (early 90s)
2. Magnum (British made audio company that is now out of business)
3. Pioneer Elite Receiver
4. NAD Stereo Power Amp
5. Jeff Rowland mono amps
6. McIntosh 5100 Integrated
7. McIntosh 2105
8. Jolida 502P (Tube)
9. Jolida 1000P (Tube)
10. Bob Carver Cherry 180M Tube Monoblocks
Of course I am sure I forgot some. |
Pioneer ~20W integrated - 1977
JSH pre, Dynaco ST-60 - 1979
NAD 3020 integrated - 1983
...got the bug again 5 years ago...
Hafler DH-110/Apt Holman pre, Hafler DH-220 - 2007
Luxman L-505u - 2012
Now restoring a pair of Heathkit UA-1 monoblocks (12W EL84 PP) to go along with a pair of original Quad ESLs! |
Adcom Stereo Amp >>>> Bryston 4B ST >>>>> ARC VS 115 >>>> ARC REF 150 >>>> done! Fully evolved, maybe. |
Creek Destiny
Ps Audio HCA
Ayon Spirit II
Pass Labs Int-150
Bottlehead Paramour 2a3
Usher R 1.5
Rawson F3 Clone
Bottlehead Paramount 300b
Ps Audio GCA 250 |
Rowland Model 5B
Krell KSA300S running Apogee Studio Grands
Sierra Denali
PBN Audio Olympia HRX mono-blocks
Burmester 956 Mk II
Burmester 911 Mk III - done for a long time...unless I add a second 911 and run as mono-blocks |
Well, my Burgess built RL12T15 monblocks (Loftin-White circuit) driven by Burgess 76 preamp...The amps are killer, with O'Netics transformers. These things have finesse and slam. |
Concord 880 (4-channel, sound-on-sound reel-to-reel, 22Watt tube amp)
Lafayette (Pioneer) integrated amp 35 watt?/Bose 501/Pioneer PL-10 'table
Pioneer SX-838 (still have), Dual 1228 w/Stanton 681-EEE /Infinity RS-6
Haffler H-1 preamp/Luxman MB-3045 monoblock
McIntosh MA6600/Klipsch Cornwall/VPI Scoutmaster w/Grado Sonata |
PRE
Nikko Beta II, Apt Holman, ARC LS2, Anthem Statement D2, LFD LE IV, Pass Labs XP-10
PWR
Mitsubishi DA-A10, Acoustat TNT 120, ARC 100.2, Anthem Statement A5, LFD LE IV, Ayre V-5xe
SPKR
Original Advent Small, Genesis, Magnepan MG1, MG2b, MG2c, MG2.5R, ProAc Response 2.5, Harbeth C7-ES3 |
Hmm - really interesting question reflects lifestyle evolution:
Late 70s-early 80s:
Beomaster 4000 receiver
Braun LV1020s
Mid-80s:
PS Audio 200w
Adcom/NAD (various)
1988 cj MV75 bridged
90s:
1992 Krell KSA250
Downsized
1995 Classe 100
1998 Krell KST100
2012 VAC Renaissance 30/30
Given that I'm pushing 60 and that my life is very stable AND that I was really happy with the KST100 for 14 years - I think the VAC may be with me for a long time. |
2009-2010 - Onkyo NR906
2010-2010 - Mcintosh MC150
2010-2011 - Mcintosh MC402
2011-2012 - Pass Labs X350.5
Currently - 4 X Tact S2150's |
Mark Levinson No. 23
FM Acoustics Res. Series FM 611
Onkyo A-9555
Bryston 4BSST |
Mastersound Due Venti
Mastersound Compact 845 |
to my other amps I need to add:
Rogue 180's
McIntosh MC275's
Cary Audio CAD 500 MB's
Sanders Magtech (current) |
Sansui AU-555 1970 - 1982
NAD 3150 1982-1985
B&K ST-140 1985-2010 one of the best/$
Vincent 226MK 2010 - 2013
BEL 1001MKV current Likely keep this amp for some time. |
Wow this thread has been going on for over a decade. Time to upgrade my old response, slightly.
1972: Realistic STA-14
1973: Fisher 400
1974: Pioneer SX-525
1979: Advent 300 w/ mods
2001: McCormack DNA-0.5DLX
2002: McCormack DNA-0.5DLX SMc Rev C
2006: McCormack DNA-0.5DLX SMC Rev "B+ Gold"
This amp still measures up fine,no upgradeitis any time soon. |
Color me done ... the last amp I'll likely ever own ... Ha! What a maroon! NOW I have the last amp I'll ever own ... NOT! At least I hope not, even though I love my current amps. So, to update my list: 1. Kenwood receiver. 2. Opera Consonance a120 Hybrid Integrated. 3. Van Alstine Fet Valve Ultra 550. 4. Audio Mirror 45 Watt SET monoblocks. |
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
Berning ZH-270
Atma-Sphere MA1 MkIIs
Dehavilland Aries 845G s
Balanced Audio Technology VK-150SE s
and now... Lamm M2.1 s
Cheers,
Spencer |
|
Denon Integrated...CJ MV60 (el34)...Gryphon Antileon...Gryphon Colosseum |
Grundig receiver , 15 watt Pioneer integrated, Yamaha CR 1020 receiver , Nad 3020,NAD separates , Counterpoint SA 100, ARC v70, Pass Aleph 5, Pass XA 30.5, Mcintosh MC 452 |
1977 Sansui 331
1979 Pioneer 40w integrated
1980 Nikko Alpha 2 100w
1991 Hafler 100w
1993 Krell KSA 200
1995 Classe CA-100
2013 (2) Classe CA-100(bridged) |
Yamaha DSP-3090
Sunfire Cinema Grand
Bryston 9B-ST
Bryston 14B-ST
Levinson 33H monos
PBN Denali monos
Lamm M1.2 monos - here to stay |
Going all the way back to childhood (not high end but wtf, it's my list)...
Panasonic console
Kenwood receiver
Carver TFM-35x amp
Forte 1a amp
Pass Labs x250.5 amp |
Kenwood KA-3500
Advent Receiver
NAD 3020
Cyrus 2
B&K ST-140
ASL Wave 8
Musical Paradise MP301
Don Allen Cakepan
DIYTube ST-35 |
Audio Innovations Alto
TAG Mclaren 60i/60p
Audiopax Model 5 and Model 88
Bent Audio Tap-X
Audiopax Model 5 and Maggiore M100 |
Need to add:
VAC Statement 450 monos
Also Melody 845AN Integrated SET (in office) |
2012: Reference amps: Rowland M725 monos.
May 2013: Reference amps: Rowland M925 monos.
|
