Nad C-340
Bryston 3bst / C-340 as preamp then Audio Research LS-15
Nad S-300
Unison Research Unico |
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!) |
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'. |
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 |
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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. |
You want a hernia, try lifting the Boulders. I don't think my floor could support the monos.
David |
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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 |
Harman Karden integrated
Luxman integrated with the tubes in the preamp section
Adcom 545
GAS Ampzilla
Melos MAT-180
Karan Acoustics KA-i180 integrated |
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 |
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! |
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! |
Just upgraded again- Parasound JC-1's are now gracing the presence of my listening room :) |
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. |
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 |
McIntosh MA-5200, HK Citation 12, Hadley, Threshold Statis 3, Bedini BA-801, Blue Circle BC22 MkII |
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. |
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 |
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. |
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... |
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. |
Marantz PM94
Tandberg 3016
Spectral DMA50 |
Denon POA 2200 amp. I got this in 1990. It was a good amp.
Carver Lightstar 2.0. This amp was amazing. I still have it. One of favorite sounding solid state amps.
Meridian 557 amps bridged. These amps bridged sound great.
Lamm 2.1. These are the best sounding amps I ever heard. |
From Denon AVR-4800 to Aragon 8008MK2 paired with ASR LS-15 preamp. |
Denon receiver, Classe CAP 151, Parasound JC-1's |
Great Thread!
Sony receiver - STR 2020?
Universal Tiger
Crown DC-300A & AMCRON (Canadian nameplate for same) DC-300A
Mark Levinson ML-11
VTL Tiny Triodes
ARC VT-100
ARC VT-100 MK II |
You think I have a good memory.
NAD
Adcom 555 2 in Mono
B&K ST2140
Musical Fidelity A308 Integrated
Remember to take the system as a whole. |
Okay...this will tax my memory:
-one of those all-in-one Sony receivers with record player on top and de-tachable speakers
-Pioneer SX 650(?) receiver
-Kenwood KA-9100 integrated
-Hafler DH 220
-Hafler DH 500
-McCormack DNA1
-McCormack DNA1 upgraded
-Audio Research D400 Mkll
-Musical Fidelity A308CR |
Forgot an Adcom GFA 555 between the Hafler and MaCormack |
4th grade - Show n' Tell until 9th grade. I acutally used to listen to Led Zeppelin on this thing!
10th Grade - Marantz 22 receiver
18 years old - Onkyo integrated (model eludes me but my uncle still owns and uses it over 20 years later!)
HK Receiver
Yamaha reciever
B&K EX4420
Rotel RMB100s (definite step down)
Anthem MCA-2
BAT VK500
Aragon 8008BB (best SS amp I've owned)
AES Sixpacs (kickin!) |
Sansui receiver
Audire SS stereo amp
Modified Hafler stereo amp
Adcom 555 stereo amp (for electrostatic speakers)
Conrad Johnson MV45 tube stereo amp
Mesa Engineering tube stereo amp - the big one, can't remember model name
Cary 572 SET tube mono amps
Cary 2A3 SET tube mono amps
Transcendent Sound OTL stereo tube amp
AirTight 300B SET stereo tube amp
Sticking with the AirTight and just looking for better match speakers. |
My AMP evolution
Pioneer VSX -xxx receiver
Bang and Olufsen Pentas (the speakers have built in amps)
Macintosh MA-6500 Integerated
Bryston 3B ST
Decware SE 34 Integrated
Cayin Audio Tube 860 Monoblocks |
Started with the humble Musical Fidelity B200 integrated.
Jumped to McCormack TLC-1 driving Music Reference RM9s.
Then Diva Classic 100 driving Unison Research Smart845 monos.
Changed the Smart845s to Lazarus H-1B Hybrid.
Finally upgraded to a full Diva amplification :
Diva Classic One pre, driving Diva Blue Sky Signature. |
Stereo: NAD receiver, HK receiver then McIntosh power
AV: Onkyo 787, Rotel 991 + 993, Bryston 4B ST + 3 Powerpacs 120 |
Built a Dynaco Stereo 120; bought, blew up (flames!), and had rebuilt a Phase Linear 400; went to college, blacked out and woke up with a Counterpoint SA-12; had a protracted drinking binge and paid full retail for a Golden Tube Audio SE-40; had so much fun fixing it, got another and went dual mono; then, recently, added a YBA 3a after eating too many freedom fries; now, am tri-amped and tired. (There might have been a Sumo, an ARC, and some others in there somewhere, as well, or, perhaps it was all some kind of crazy dream.) |
McIntosh MA-5100, HK Citation 12, Hadley, Threshold Stasis 3, Bedini BA-801, Blue Circle BC-22 (later upgraded to MkII). |
Boy, my list is pretty pathetic compared to some of you guys out there, but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth.
1)Luxman LV-103(You don't even want to know the rest of the system!)
2)Bryston 4B (old style 4B, but with toroidal transformers)
3)Bryston 7BST monoblocks(figured that I would get something that sounded good, but could drive any speaker that I would consider in the future- I get my tube fix from using a Golden Tube SEP-3 pre-amp). |
Telefunken with wire recorder. Actually worked rater well. |
Old Lloyds (Someone gave it to me when I was 10-12y/o)
Sony Integrated
NAD 2150 & 1020 Pre
Carver R900 Receiver
Kenwood L-07 MKII monos (w/mods)
Bryston 4B Pro (old one with iron core x-formers)
Nakamichi PA5
Bryston 4B NRB
Next in line will be either a pair of used 7B ST's or new Simauio. |
Sansui AU5500
Denon PMA 550
B&KST140
B&K EX4420
Classe CA150 |
Starting with a 45wpc Technics receiver then to a
Nikko 85wpc integrated amp
My first "real separate" was a Sumo Model Nine (60wpc) then
a B&K ST 202 (150 wpc?) on to a
Counterpoint SA-100 (a nice little amp and 100wpc), then an
Aragon 4004 Mk2 (200wpc), great bass and I was definetly "getting there". Next
an Electron Kinetics Eagle 7A (approx. 350wpc) and quite a piece. Followed by a little Jolida SG 302? (or some similar model #)at about 50wpc, which was my first plunge into tube amps (liked it a lot)..
a visit back to solid state with a Pass Labs Aleph 3(30wpc)
that I also liked a lot (especially for a solid state considering I was bitten by tubes w/ the Jolida), and finally to my current VTL MB-125's which I adore... (125wpc in tetrode, about 55wpc in triode). By far the best I've had and am quite happy with. Perhaps the VTL 450's someday or maybe a try of the OTL (Atmasphere or Joule) worlds, or maybe an SET? It's a great hobby. Happy lissnin. |
Throw in a Hafler 100wpc between the Nikko and Sumo (I forgot to mention). |
dynaco st35(1rst amp given to me by my father when i was 15 in '71 wish i still had it....), pioneer sa8100, pioneer sa9500, h/k(forget model), dynaco st70, proceed hpa2, dynaco mkIIIs, scott 299, dynaco st70 curcio premium mod(still have),AES sixpacs(running currently).... |
1951 Telefunken. Electromusic Leslie amps, Metron Power amps,Allen 100 watt tube amps, Converted radar amps, and now,,NAD . Ah well, I have been at this for 45 years now so I only mentioned my favourites. |
Well I forgot to update my response since I've evolved some more. Went from an Air Tight ATM1 to a pair of Cary 300B Signature monoblocs and I love 'em! |
My evolution has been both progressive and regressive - some regrets but...here it is
Arcam Alpha 3 integrated
Acurus DIA 100
McIntosh MC2100 (bought two and ran them bi-amped)
Apt Holman Amp 1 w/ Holman Pre-amp
Conrad Johnson MF2100 - w/Sonic Frontier SFL-1
McInstosh MC225 tube amp (really regret selling this one)
Now trying the Century 21 A45 Class A integrated (really quite impressive - from China)
Thanks, |
I haven't had as much experience as most of you but here's my personal amp evolution:
Adcom 535 Mk II (gave this to my brother and its a classic IMHO)
Plinius 8150 and then upgraded to 8200 (have this in a second system)
Mark Levinson 383 (have this in my main system)
I would like to try something else in the Mark Levinson line perhaps a 334, 335, or 336. Ultimately I would like to own a pair of 33H's when I can afford them :) |
Mine from start to finish is much simpler than lots of guys listed here:
Sansui integrated amp(don't remember model no.)(sold)
Akai integrated(don't remember model no.)(sold)
Harmon Kardon HK6200 integrated(sold)
Sonic Frontiers Line 1 (sold)
Sonic Frontiers Power 1(sold)
Denon AVR2802 (home threater)(in use)
Rogers E20a tube amp (2 ch, in use for 2nd sys)
Musical Fidelity B2 integrated (in use for 3rd sys) |
I must ad,,,I sold my McIntosh MC250, and replaced with a class A 50 w/ch Lazarus hybrid amp,,,,I am very impressed with it! |
