Personal amp evolution


Seeing the over night success of the speaker evolution thread, it may be interesting to see what type of amp(s) we have all run. Same deal as the other thread-we will sort of create a puzzle of our systems you'll have to visit multiple threads to put everything together!!! ;)
For me I started:
Adcom GFA-565 monoblocks
Rotel RB-990bx
Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 5
Balanced Audio Technology(BAT) VK-60

either a CAT JL2, BAT VK-75se or Tenor 75Wp on the horizon.
tireguy
started with hafler dh 200,moved on to denon poa-2200,moved to tubes dynaco mark 3s,to bob carver prototype 180s,to logan labs a1-70,s,hooked on tubes
Quicksilver Silver Monos
B@K 4200? I think?
Parasound HCA 3500
McCormack DNA 225
hmm, lemme see if i can remember:

Marantz 1115 reciever
Harmon Kardon something - 80wpc, sounded nice
Sumo 9 - Class A
Cyrus Straight line - [*embarrassed*]
GAS - son of ampzilla
Mark Levinson No.27
Pass Labs Aleph 5 - better than all the rest

what's next???
hopefully an XA.5 series!
1989 B&K st 140
1990 B&K ST 202
1999 Pass kit a40
2005 Sim Audio w-5 still awesome amp, great synergy with ------------Calypso
2008 Atma-sphere M-60
2009 Conrad Johnson Premier 4
Optonica something (out of college)
Denon rcvr
Naim Nait 5i int-amp (sweet .............!
Marantz 2250b (sweet ........!)
Paradigm Studio 20s (first "real" speakers)
Not an audiophile, more of a musician, I guess.
Early 1950s: Army issue hand cranked record player
1958 Went electric with a console mono player
1960 First "stereo" long gone.
1964 Dyna SCA 35
1966 EICO
1969 Tired of tinkering, bought McIntosh 5100
1989 Mac dies after 20 years of daily use, bought MC 7270
2005 Needed amp for second house, bought MA 6900.
2010 Listening mostly to Miniwatt through 40 yr old spkrs.
Next will be a reasonable SET outfit. Can't believe I wasted all that time on SS.
Well..Ive been all over the place with amplification...but I think Ive found my sonic pot-o-gold-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow... with the MC2000.

1977...Technics SA-200

1978...Sanyo DCA311

1983...PIONEER SA-9500

1990's...Musical Fidelity A100/A1000

Bryston 4B-ST/4B-SST

Krell KSA-250/FPB 200

McIntosh MA6200

2000's...McIntosh MC2100/2105

McIntosh MC352

Present..McIntosh MC2000
Wow, this is a great thread to really go back in time and see all the things done.
1. Onkyo reciever, not sure the model back in late 90's though.
2. Conrad Johnson MF2250
3. Rotel RB 1080
4. Conrad Johnson MF2500
5. Conrad Johnson Premier 350 (demo for couple months)
6. McIntosh MC2301
7. BAT VK600M-SE 600 watt mono blocks

The two I enjoyed the most prior to the BAT was the Premier 350, just an amazing SS amp for sure. Then the Mcintosh 2301 was very nice as well. I would still like to hear the premier 350 with better gear than I had when did the demo on it. That amp was very, very nice indeed.

That said the BAT is now here to stay for a while and it is one great pair of amps. Quick and powerful and flawless in delivery IMO.
1980's: Sony receiver, Carver m1.0t
1990's: Yamaha
2000+ : Threshold Stasis 7.0, Hafler
Currently: Threshold S/500 II, Wolcott CA-250 Instrumentation-Grade Monoblocks.
Marantz 2020B 40 watt reciever
Nacamichi Reciever
Yamaha integrated amp 65 watts
McIntosh reciver 1700
B & K 202 Plus
McIntosh MC206
quad 405 stereo version
adcom gfa 555
threshold 400a
threshold SA/3
threshold s300
marantz 170 dc
dynaco mk iv monoblocks
dynaco mk iii monoblocks
harmon kardon citation ii
VTL 300 deluxe monoblocks
threshold t200 white audio labs a100 mk ii
I have been through a few more, so an upgrade....
Fisher Receiver- not one of the classics :(
Sansui Receiver- worked great and got me through college
NAD3140 Integrated - a classic, still powers my garage system
NAD2150 Bridged w/3140(still works great)
Adcom 5300- thin and strident, one of my least favorites
Acurus A250- an ok lower end choice
Acurus A200- actually preferred the older A250 by a little
Aragon 4004MkII- a very nice ss amp for the money
Classe DR25- more refined and musical than the 4004MkII
McCormack DNA 2- outstanding bass, otherwise unremarkable
BAT VK-500- nice mids but veiled and not that good at the extremes
McCormack DNA 500- excellent for the money, nice midrange, juicy bass, musical across the board, and never runs out of steam, high frequencies don't quite hang with the best
Cary 500MB- nice midrange for SS and pretty good across the board. The McCormack had better bass and the Cary was a bit noisy in comparison.
Lamm M1.1 - These amps showed me what music in your home can really sound like, rich, dimensional, dynamic, with deep powerful bass and an in-the-room holographic midrange. Extremely easy to listen to and never fatiguing. Sonic weaknesses included a darkness of tone and somewhat rolled off high frequencies, lack of air, and limited soundstage although these were slight and in no way did they overwhelm the positives. I understand these issues have been rectified in the M1.2, which I would love to own.
Herron M1 - Very nice amps with a musical and dimensional midrange, excellent sweet high frequencies, and good but not great dynamics and bass. I understand the attraction to these, but ultimately I need more "meat on the bone" and more powerful deep bass.
Clayton M200 - Initially had trouble integrating these into my system with my single-ended preamps until I interfaced with Jensen PI transformers and now the background is black/quiet. These are the real deal in just about every way, with clarity, neutrality, and excellent deep bass. They may ultimately lose out to the Lamm M1.1's in the areas where Lamm's are strong, but they are at least close in every way, and better in the areas where I listed the Lamm's having weaknesses. One of the best SS amps available.
Oldelf1, it's awesome to see someone post here who built original Scott Kits. I had a LK-150 but had to sell so that I could move on. Wish I still had it!
I'm updating this. Things have changed.....again.

Arcam Alpha 10 integrated -New
Classe CAP-100 integrated -Used
Audio Research D130 -Used
Sonic Frontiers Line 1 + Plinius SA-100MkIII -Used
ARC LS-16 Mk1 + Plinius SA-100MkIII -Used
Rega Elicit -New

In Near Future - LFD, Luxman or Accuphase
Lemme see, I believe I started with ... Yamaha 420 receiver, NAD 3020, Harmon Kardon PM655 integrated, Rotel 110 watt integrated(can't remember the designation), Manley StingRay, Musical Fidelity A308, a Musical Fidelity KW500 and right now, KW500 that's been back to the UK for MF Fine Tuning! It was great fun getting here.
my ist power amp was a threshold 400a.paired with a infinity fet preamp.wish i had them back.currently have a luxman M-120 MK 2, AND A AB INTERNATIONAL 422, THIS ONE IS A REAL SLEEPER. LOOKING TO ADD MONO BLOCKS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
As a kid I began with a mighty Panasonic! Heh heh! Then moved on to three generations of JVC receivers, the last of which was RX-10VBK which I bought used after reading a few reviews so I could run 8 channel analog discreet from my SACD player. But I soon wanted more power to my mains and stole a Carver M500 for cheap. That lead to a Carver M500t and to running both Carvers in mono. I might well have stopped there but for acquiring a pair of the new Carver hand built tube monoblocks. That lead to wanting new speaks and a successful quest at landing a pair of Amazing Platinums. I also now have a Sunfire Ultimate Receiver.

The tube amps are not to be believed.
Scott? Never heard them? Will have to try.

Just found my dream machine: Robertson 6010.
my first stereo amp was a scott lk150/lc21 preamp.i built both from kits.both still working, only new amp outputs tubes all other tubes original. both circa 1963. latest is a signature sunfire 400x7.
I have now compared the ML 23.5 and the Robertson 4010, and I have to say that the Robertson proved too subtil for the ML, whose power was impressive but this amp. lacked nuances.

On my system anyways.

Best,
Well, this is very interesting. I wonder if after all our personal "sonic" evolution the "perfect" sound tends to be more and more similar between audiophiles or if it continues to vary widely.

Anyways, I started with Japanese equipment, then moved on the Quad 33 and 303. Decided that the preamp was weak so changed it for a Qued. Upgraded the Quad amp. and kept it for a while then changed it for a Rega. Liked it so bought the preamp. and the their big CD player and floorstanding speakers (with the Rega speaker cable).

I then heard a Naim system and liked it (250 amp, 102 preamp with highcap and Naim speaker cables. Kept it for 5 years. I then heard the best amp. I had heard so far, the Robertson 4010 coupled with a Conrad-Johnson PV1 and B&W DM-4 speakers. I liked it so much that after a few listening sessions I sold all my Naim stuff and bought just that, a Robertson 4010, with a Conrad Johnson PV14sl2 and DM-4 speakers. Meanwhile I had discovered the Audionote DACs and got rid of my CD player (vastly inferior to the DAC).

I've been looking to match the Robertson 4010 musicality and natural qualities, but could not so far. I just bought a Mark Levinson 23.5 amp. but have not had the time to listen to it enough to judge. I've got a Robertson 6010 being repaired (I've been told that it was more musical than the 23.5).

I will have to compare the three of them (if I ever managed to revive the 6010) and decide which I prefer; but I tell you, the 4010 is difficult to top (for a suitable room for this amp. that is), but the ML, from my preliminary sessions looks very good).

I've made speakers myself and sold some. I've heard many kind and size of speakers, but none so far beat my DM4 (for the size of room I have). I've maid a pair of speakers with an engineer friend with Scanspeak 10" woofer, its little brother (4") as a midrange driver and a Revelator as a tweeter. We play this in a 80'x30'x20' room and we travel at the speed of light.

My interconnects are Audioquest Colorados and my speaker cable are Kimber 8tc.

Best regards,
not nearly as experienced as many here, but...

denon integrated
pioneer elite integrated
levinson no.29
atma-sphere s-30

i can't imagine wanting / needing anything more that the S-30...
Added a Wyetech Topaz 211 A amp.
This is a single ended 18 watt stereo amp.
Who said that SET are flea powered.
This one weighs in at 110 lbs.
Audio Note output transformers.
Along with the Wyetech also picked up a Supratek preamp.
Don't remember dates but started about 1974
Harman Kardon HK 430 Reciever
Yamaha CR2020 Reciever (1977)
Harman Kardon HK 770 Stereo Amp
Harman Kardon HK 775 x 2 Twin Mono Amps
Conrad Johnson MF-200 (1990 to present)
Bryston 4B-ST (2009 to present)
Marantz 2270 receiver (1974 - present)
Harmon Kardon HK 430 receiver (1980 - 2002)
Hafler DH 220 (1981? - 2002)
Yamaha 770? receiver (1996 - 2002)
McIntosh 275 reissue (2008 - present)
Cary SLA 70 Signature (2009 - present)
Heh - a strange combination of history here:

Dynaco 70
Scott LK-72
Dynaco Mark IV monoblocks
Marantz 250
Harman Kardon Citation V
Heath UA-1 monoblocks
(yet another) Dynaco 70 refurbished/upgraded
Dynaco Mark IIIs refurbished/upgraded
Threshold S/500 (!!)
Started in 1973 with
Tandberg Huldra 10
Tandberg TR2080
Sony ES
HK PA 2400 Signature upgraded
HK AVR8500
Bladelius Thor 1 (good soundstage, but to week for demanding speakers)
Soon Mc Cormack DNA 500
Future PBN AX and HT4 combo in sorround.
Pair of 5 watt Lafayette tube mono amps
Dynaco SCA 35
Dynaco Stereo 70
Pioneer SA 9900
HK Citation 12 Kit
Conrad Johnson 75a
Audio Research D-79b
Audio Research D-350b
Custom Dyna MK III dual Mono Stereo amp (No dyna circuitry)
Modded CJ 75a, different input circuitry, KT-77s
HK Citation V
Custom MK IIIs monoblocks

Consonance Billie, 300b SET, highly modded*

Consonance Cyber 211, bought based solely on glowing reviews, Tried all the NOS tubes recommended, soft bass, somewhat veiled, and lack of treble. Very pleasant sounding though, which in some systems could be a plus.

Gotham 39s, modded, Mundorf silver/gold in oil caps, Same circuitry as Canary 339s, other than output transformers, 45 vs 50 watts, and caps.

The two starred amps are simply superb, the best I have owned. The Canary 309/339s are grossly underrated by the audio community, and do give you glories of the SET sound, with more muscle.
Aljordan,
I would be very interested to read your impressions of the H20 Fire and the Pass XP-10 in your system with the Pass amp. Thanks.
Peter
A complete update of my amps so far - just switched from 2A3 SET to Shindo PP amp:

1988-93 Pioneer A-656 MKII (ALR Nummer 3 stand speakers)
1993-97 Harman Kardon HK1400 (ALR Nummer 3 stand speakers)
1998-03 Rega Mira (Original) (Mission 751 monitor speakers)
2003-04 Linn Classic (Mission 751 monitor speakers)
2004-04 Linn Wakonda/LK85 (Mission 751 monitor speakers)
2004-05 Jolida JD302B (Mission 751, Spendor S3/5, Omega Super 3)
2004-04 Audio Aero Prima (very nice, but returned due to problems)
2004-04 Unison Unico (awful sound, sold after 3 months)
2005-06 Sonic Impact T-amp (Cain Abby)
2005-06 Fi Y pre and First Watt F1 (Cain Abby)
2005-09 Fi Y pre and Super X 2A3 amp (Cain Abby)
2005 Bottlehead S.E.X amp (Cain Abby, now headphone amp)
2009 Shindo Monbrison preamp and Montille 6v6 tube amp (Cain Abby)

The amps I have kept the longest so far are the Harman, Rega, and Fi amps, each about 4-5 years.
Hi Vince,

My S250 does have the Sonicap bypass caps and the latest modules. And yes, I did buy an NOS DAC or two, and really find them extremely musical (MHDT Labs Havana, recently replaced by a Wavelength Cosecant V3).

I don't think the Pass amplifier was designed to run extremely low impedance loads like your Apogees, so it would not be an ideal fit. I think the H2O S250 has about the most well controlled bass I've ever heard from any amp in my system. Still, my speakers are not nearly as difficult to drive as yours, and in my system the Pass X250.5 has more life and presence in the midrange / lower treble, and a more expansive sound stage than the H20 amplifier. I still enjoy the H20 amp in my bedroom system, but I think the strengths of the H2O amp probably shine with more difficult loads.

The Fire is, without a doubt, the finest preamplifier I've had in my system. It mates beautifully with the Pass X250.5 (except for the problem of too much overall gain). I have compared it extensively with some very good preamps from Cary, Audio Research Corp, and BAT. While I probably could have lived happily ever after with the Cary, the Fire is less colored, reaches deeper in the low bass regions, and throws such beautiful midrange and high frequencies that its hard to believe its a solid state preamp. It is the most transparent yet engaging preamp I have come across. As I write this, I am listening to a recording that I have always loved for its composition and melody, but has traditionally been a little harsh through even some very pricey preamps. It sounds great through the Fire.

I still haven't received the Pass preamp yet, so I can't comment on a comparison. It should be coming tomorrow evening. I would think the Pass preamp will have the advantage of being the latest of a design specifically mated to the same company's latest series of amps. However, the Fire seems to offer so much more for the same amount of money. I would be kind of surprised if the Pass can stand up to the Fire's power supply and regulation. Still, I wouldn't have to be making this comparison if Henry could do something about the overall gain of the Fire. I won't trade sound quality for convenience, but I'll see in a couple of days.

Alan
Hi Alan,

While I respect your choice, I wonder if you ever soldered Sonicap Platinum bypass caps on your H2O amps? Have you auditioned any NOS CDP? Those two changes, and the copper ribbon speaker cables transformed my H2O sound from rather SS like, to profoundly transparent and musical.

I use to own Pass Labs amps, the X150, and X600. Most recently I heard the X600.5 and XA100 monos. Both amps have certainly been improved over the ones they replaced.

Still, I would not consider trading the H2O for any Pass amp. The difference is not small. either. I am talking about my system. I mentioned a couple winning improvements I made.

I bet the Fire really helped the Pass amp. I also tried the Pass XP10. It was pretty darn good, but I was happy to keep my Fire.
Starting in early high school 29 years ago and I still have the sickness.

- HH Scott tube receiver
- Techniques receiver
- B&K ST 140
- B&K ST 202 Plus (still own it)
- Arragon 8008 (borrowed long term from a friend)
- Bryston 4B ST
- H2O Audio S250 Signature (still own it)
- Pass Labs X250.5 (still own it)

Out of the bunch of amps above, the Pass X250.5 stands out above the rest.

Preamp evolution
- Belles something-or-other (my dad now has it)
- Self designed passive unit (since trashed for parts)
- Audible Illusions Modulus 3A (loved it but it wont drive low impedance loads)
- Adcom GFP 750 (borrowed long term from a buddy)
- Self built Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid (still own it)
- Audio Research Corp LS-26
- H2O Audio Fire (still own it, love it)
- Pass Labs XP-10 (will receive it soon, can't say anything about it yet)

Alan
Marantz receiver (38 wpc)
Yamaha
Adcom
Sunfire
Sunfire Signature (5 ch, gobs of power)
McCormack DNA-500 (2 ch, ditto)
VAC Phi 300.1 (tube magic)
VAC Phi 300.1 (2 in monoblock config)
DONE!!
Hafler DH 220
NAD "Power Envelope" something or other
Adcom GFA 5800
Outlaw RR2150
Primaluna Prologue One
Moscode 401HR
DYNACO 416 with outboard capacitors
then 20 year hiatus of not owning any stereo equipment at all.
Got back in about 2004 with a modest Krell KAV250 then
400cx
then a disastrous two weeks with Edge NL-10
and now krell EVO 402
1984 Technics SA-290 (I think..)
1992 Yamaha (not sure on model)
2004 Yamaha RX-V1600 (still have it as a surr processor)
2005 Adcom GFA-555
2007 Hafler DH500
2008 Hafler 9500
2009 McIntosh MC7200
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
Accuphase E-308 intergrated (2nd system)
ADA PMA60 (running bridged)
McIntosh MC 2007 (for rears)
Bryston 4B ST (running bridged for CC)
and two MC 352's (gone)
Current main amps McIntosh MC1.2KW mono blocks 1200 watts each (sick huh?)
Since 1968....

1) Acoutic Research (AR) Receiver
(early SS sound)

2) Crown D150
(early ss sound- not much better but pretty!)

3) Phase Linear 400
(Hey this is good. Killed the Crown)

4) Phase Linear 700B
(noticeable step down from 400)

5) Phase 400 modded
(2 power supplies, output stage 250,000 uF, all metal films, upgraded caps, no protection circuit - oops....) Fantastic, very good even by today's standards).

6) B&K ST-140
(over-hyped. Whimpy power supply)

7) Hafler DH-200 Kit
(nice & great value but not Sota)

8) Hafler DH- 200
Pooged (much better per Audio Amateur caps,various circuit changes)

9) Counterpoint Sa-20
(very nice - too warm lots of stages & coupling caps)

10) Pass Lab Aleph 2s monos
(a classic)

11) Threshold S/550e
(Another classic but I really hate moving this beast)

12) Counterpoint NP220
(SA20 fully modded) Sweet!
DBX BX-3 My first introduction to audio so I did not have much experience but I could tell this amp could not cut it. Any cheap Japanese amp could best it anytime.

Sony TA-N77ES Powerful, detailed but a little rough on the edges

Adcom GFA 5800 Worst amp ever encountered. No detail at all. Like listening behind a thick curtain.

Onkyo M508 Nice. Detailed. Kind of sweet sounding. I still have this amp

Parasound HCA-220II Another awful amp. No detail, flabby bass. Never want to see it again

McCormach DNA-2 Powerful, warm sounding. Kind of like tube. This is my present amp.

I am thinking of going tube next but it will need to supply lots of juice because of my demanding speaker.
Hafler DH200 driving ADS L980's
Roberton 4010 driving L980's (SS amp w/tubey sweet sound)
PS Audio 200C driving Apogee Duetta's (Ouch!!)
ARC D350 (Never figured this amp out)
ARC D110 (Made my Duetta II's sing!! My favorite combo)
Levinson ML-9 (No power, but super sweet on the Duetta's)
Levinson ML-3 (Found out what the Duetta's can really do)
B&K ST200 & Mirage M3si. (Bad Trip)
Levinson 23 & Mirage M3si's (We're getting there)
--For My First Update since 2003---
ARC D400 Pair (Biamped Duetta II's then Diva's)
Krell FPB 300 (Impressive Bass on Diva's)
Krell FPB 600C (Not even close to the FPB 300)
Levinson 335 Pair (Biamped Diva's & Mirage M3si)
Heathkit AD27 (I still have it) 1969
Dynaco Stereo 80 (I have a NOS ST80 in a box)
Dynaco Stereo 70
Dynaco Stereo 120 (Replaced my popcorn poper)
Pioneer SA-9100
SAE 31b MKII
Technics SE 9060
Phillips AH 578 (lots of slam, HOT,you could fry eggs on it)
Dynaco 400
Kenwood LO-7M
Dynaco Mark III (modified by VanAlsitne) 1980
Audio Research D79 (to many problems but sounded great)
Hafler 500
Threshold 400A
Audionics CC2 (I still have)
Dynaco ST70 (modified by VanAlstine)1984
The birth of my first child 1985
VanAlstine Omega III 440HC 1996
4-Dynaco MKIII (Modified w/Triode Elec. boards, SDS power supply,w/4pr NOS Genalex KT88's)(I still have)
VanAlstine Omegastar EX 440HC (I still have)
VanAlstine Ultimate 70 (this is a great little amp)(I still have)
Audio Research D400 MKII (I still have)
Audio Research VT200 (the best so far)
1. Panasonic (2 years)
2. Pioneer (4 months)
3. Yamaha (3 years)
4. Parasound (8 years)
5. Audio Valve (9 years)
6. Bryston (one month)
7. Krell (2 months)
8. McCormack DNA (6 months)
9. McIntosh 501 monos (1 month)
10. Llano (1 month)
11. Jadis JA-500 (2 years)
12. Lamm M2.1 (1 year)
13. Krell (still)
14. Musical Fidelity KW Monons(2 years)
15. VTL 750 (6 months)
16. Tube Research Labs GT-400 (still)
17. Tube Research Labs GT-800 (keeping it until I die)
Ah, this a great thread.

My amplifier evolution began from an XAM Mk 3 integrated at at age 5.

Since then:

Harmon Kardon Citation 30

Marantz 2230 receiver

Kenwood KA-8100

Belles 1 amp and preamp

Naim NAC72/NAC32.5/Hicap/NAP110 -- later on NAP160, 250, & 135 monoblocks

Other amps/preamps along the way:

Krell KSA 50
Classe DR-4
Classe DR-5
Classe Audio DR-2
Classe Audio DR-3VHC

Audio Research D70MKII

Bedini 25/25 Serial #50 -- one of the good ones before Bedini went to the cheaper version with smaller heat sinks
Every speak with John Bedini? Fascinating guy to talk to -- especially about his free energy experimentation with Tom Bearden.

Electrocompaniet Ampliwire II

Mark Levinson ML-1, ML-6A monoblock preamps with separate power supplies

Paragon E preamp -- neat two piece jobber with a massive power supply for a preamp -- real nice sounding too

Quicksilver 8417 (6) tube version monoblocks
Quicksilver Mini-Mite monoblocks (presently own)

Antique Sound Lab Wave AV 25 monoblocks (presently own)

Naim Nait 3 integrated (had a few of these) My favorite was one I had modified so that the amp and preamp sections were split with a jumper that was added to the back of the unit.

Tremendous flexiblity allowing for use with an outboard power supply like snaps, flatcap or Hicap. Could also be used as a separate amplifier. As I recall it sounded very nice with a Hicap inserted between the NAC 92 preamp and NAP 90MK3 amp -- what the Nait3 really was -- an NAC92 and NAP 90.3 shoehorned into one box. The best sound of course was using the Nait3 as a preamp/Hicap and then your choice of amplifiers.

Naim NAC 42/NAP 110 (presently own plus an olive NAC 62 and original chrome bumper (green light Hicap serial number 44,XXX something).

Presently I use my old Naim NAC42 and NAC62 with a Hicap to run my Electrocompaniet Ampliwire AW65, Quicksilver and ASL tube mono blocks; they sound terrific -- noticably better than with my NAP110 (which while still a cool amp needs a service).

Electrocompaniet Preampliwire IIA (presently own)

Electrocompaniet Ampliwire 65 (presently own)

NAD 3130 integrated (presently own)

Many FM tuners as well, plus a few cassette decks, speakers etc.

Enjoy the music!
JimmyBlues
Streetdaddy,
I think you listed a bunch of amps in a preamp evo thread. You might want to give it another try. Happy Thanksgiving!