1953: The year I was born my Dad broght home a monophonic Grundig receiver with LP player. It lasted until. . .
1967 Christmas: Braun 30W stereo integrated;
1977: Sony ST5055(?) integrated, which moved with me when I moved out of my parent's place;
1981: Luxman 40W receiver -- my first independent audio equipment purchase;
1987: Aragon 4004 stereo;
1998: Jeff Rowland Model 7M monos;
2008: Jeff Rowland 312 stereo. |
1970 Soundesign "stereo" record changer and speakers
1979 Technics SA 200 receiver
1981 Hafler DH 200
1982 Hafler DH 220
1984 Hafler DH 500
1985 Adcom GFA 555
1993 Aragon 4004 MK II
2001 Mark Levinson 23.5
Random spares and/or bedroom:
Naim Nait II integrated,
Behringer A500s,
Quatre "Gain Cell",
Marantz AV receiver,
Vintage Marantz Receiver
Hmmmmm......I think I am ready for new amps! |
1982 - Onkyo integrated
1983 - Accuphase integrated
1985 - ARC D115
1987 - VTL 225
1989 - Krell KSA80
1990 - Classe DR8 or 9?
1991 - Rowland Model 8
1992 - Mark Levinson 23.5
1992 - VTL 300
1993*- FM Acoustics 611
1994 - VTL Ichiban
1995 - VTL 90 (W.E 300Bs)
1996 - Cary 805 (211 SETs)
2000 - ARC REF600 mkI
2002 - Jadis JA200
2005 - ARC REF600 mkIII
2008*- FM Acoustics 611
(Tried, tested and proven--alternating with my 'various others' for the last 15yrs--still the one to beat! Sold the rest)
2009 - FM Acoustics 1811
(Hopefully, when I get a windfall..) |
GE Stereo built to look like component receiver.
Pioneer integrated amp - SA8100 (I have had it since 1975 and can't bear to part with it though it no longer works.)
A couple of different Pioneer receivers (probably a step back in retrospect.)
Marantz 1040 (I think) Amp
Marantz MA500 mono blocks
Parasound HCA-1200
McCormack DNA 0.5 |
What are you referring to Jaunpablocarlo? |
watch out for step backs. |
1999 clayton s40
2000 bat vk60
2001 rowland model 10
2002 belles 250 int
2003 rowland concerto int
2007-present shindo montille |
Here's my amp/int amp/rec'r journey from 1984 to 2008:
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
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 (tuner fabulous but early SS harsh sounding amp)
|
Onkyo 504 RS
Symphonic Line RG1 mk II
BAT VK 200
Perreaux 350P
Pass Aleph 30
Leak stereo 20
OCM 500
Leak stereo 20
PrimaLuna Dialogue II
Plinius SA50 mk III |
McIntosh MA-6100, Harman Kardon Citation 16A, Phase Linear 400 Series II, Carver M-400 (two, strapped in mono), Yamaha M-40, McIntosh MC-2300, Harman Kardon Citation 16A.. which is where I stop. Without question, the Citation 16A is the best balanced amp I have ever heard. I always end up going back to it, and it always reveals something that the other amps I have used failed to do. I know its old school, but it's got an indescribable magic to me. |
My list of amps I haved owned is short but maybe non typical....Phase Linear,Accuphase P300,Hafler 500, Platinum Model Two's,VAC 70/70 and finally a pair of VAC 140's.
You notice I went from SS to tube....but I still have the Accuphase,Platinum,and all the VAC's. The VAC's to me are a step and a big one at that above all the rest. It's probably one or two of the greatest amps ever produced IMHO. I doubt they will ever be duplicated again. |
This will make the third time I've posted to this thread and each time about a 2 year interval. Again, I've sold off the entire system and now have a Blue Circle integrated. I just wasn't listening that much lately but when I do, still want a good listening session. I'm very happy with this set-up.
So much gear to choose from and not enough time to play with it all. |
Advent 300 receiver
Hafler DH-200
Linn LK280 |
I now have the Norwegian Hegel H4A amp.Incredible!Why they do not market here in the US is beyond me.Voted best amp in Norway and Japan. |
Forgot my Crown D150:
KLH Model 11 portable record player
Eico kit amplifier
Dynaco Stereo 120
Harman Kardon Citation 12
Phase Linear 400
Crown D150
Audio Research D76
BRB Systems Model 200
Audio Research VT100 II (since 2002) |
I don't think that is the first time I've made that mistake about the NSX, perhaps it is me looking into my crystal ball and seeing your future :) |
Tim, Yes once you are audiophile, the curse remains-always. Well, it is nice to have some free time and relax and enjoy life. Me, I have to wait till I retire which is decades away.
Things are great with me, still in California, driving a 2002 triple black Boxster S and 2005 black G wagen. Never had a NSX, but that was my dream car in the 90's, still like the look of it though- a classic look.
I highly recommend Zanden 9600 monoblocks, a little pricey for a casual search, if you are in the market for a great amps.
Good luck with your search. |
Brian, of course its really me :)
Nil, I very seldom lurk, let alone post these days, I just happened to pass through the forums and saw your reply was the most recent and thought I'd say what's up! I've missed a few updates, but am casually on the market for a new amp right now, I just want to try something different - as much as I claim to not be an audiophile, the curse is still with me. Life has been great on my end, sold my business a little over a year ago, have a few small projects going now, nothing that takes much time though, I've been focusing on catching up on the time I lost with my former crazy work schedule. Planning on moving in about a year to a slightly warmer climate, driving a S2000 with not a care in the world, it's glorious. Still have the NSX? How's things with you??? |
Hi Tim, glad to hear from you too. I can't say I have seen your posts here at Agon lately. Keep them comin'. How you been and if you have made any changes ? (to amps to keep in line with thread subject ;-)) |
EICO HF52 (mono integrated amp)
Dynaco Stereo 70
Dynaco Stereo 120
McIntosh MC 250
McIntosh MC 2100
Crown D150A
Apt One
Perreaux (forget model)
Audio Research D79C
Goldmund Mimesis 6
Bryston 7B ST monoblocks
The Brystons are my "keep forever" amps.
Apollo66 |
Tireguy (Tim) Is that really you? :) |
Nil - You've sure had some changes since we last spoke! Glad to see your still into the hobby. |
Yamaha A1 1990
Classe CA 200 1997
Classe CA 400 1998 (awesome for the price)
Added one more Classe CA 400 2000
Jadis Orchestra Ref ( 2004- still have it for bedroom system)
MBL 9008a monoblocks - 2007
Zanden 9600 Monoblocks - 2008 ( In current system- Put everything else to shame!) Here to stay for very long long time |
I tend to hang on to my equipment longer than most others it seems.
First system was a Sound Design for $100 out of the catalog when I was 16.
Next Harmon Kardon Quad receiver, I don't remember which one.
Then the Pioneer Spec series amps for 10 years.
Carver 1.0T for 20 years.
Cary SLI-80 for the last year and a half.
Recently added a Mac 7270. |
Sansui AU 9900 Int
Carver M1.5t
Carver M1.0t (2)
Apt 1
B&K M200 Sonata Monos
VTL 50/50 (P.O.S.)
Anthem Amp 1
B&K 2140
McIntosh 7100
McCormack DNA 125 |
Marantz 4430
Technics SA-something
Fisher (offshore period - poor)
Yamaha AX-something (not at all bad)
Dynaco ST-120 (blew it up while modding)
Jolida 302 (one of the first made; enjoyable)
Golden Tube Audio SE40 (pair running as mono blocks; pain to live with but sounded superb; let the Marantz go)
McIntosh MA6500 (easy to live with but I prefered the sound of the the GTAs) |
NAD 208 Thx
NAD 218 Thx
Parasound 2205a
Parasound A21
Parasound 1206 (still have)
McIntosh 502
Bryston 14 SST
Innersound ESL 300 MKIII (great amp, still using)
Musical Fidelity NuVista 300 (Bi-amping Maggies with the Innersound and this)
I need to add:
Spectron Musician III
Bel Canto Ref 1000 (current) |
Densen B300 stereo
Cary V12 mono
Jeff Rowland 501 mono
Theta Citadel mono
Jeff Rowland 301 mono |
My first (integrated) amp was a Sansui AU 9900 which I still have. From there I had several Carver separates which for a kid in high school wasn't too bad. Those were replaced by an APT Holman pre and APT 1 amp. I then had a pair of B&K M200 Sonatas for about 10 years. After that was a VTL 50/50 which was the most unreliable component I've ever had. The VTL was soon replaced by an Anthem Amp One which was a great amp. Next was a McIntosh MC150 which was recently replaced with my current amp a McCormack DNA 125. |
I guess I'll update my list too:
Kenwood Receiver ** long gone **
Phase Linear 400 ** sold **
Parasound HCA 2200 ** sold **
B&K M200 Sonata ** Started with 2, now have 4. ** sweet!
2 of them modded at Musical Concepts
B&K Ref 4420 ** sold **
Bedini 100.100 MkII ** Sold **
Conrad Johnson MF2100 2 of them vertical biamp. ** sold both **
Ayre V3 ** sold **
Electron Kinetics Eagle 2a ** sold **
Electron Kinetics Eagle 2c prime - ** really sweet amp. **
Electron Kinetics Eagle 4 - I have 2 of them - pretty much the same as the Eagle 2C - except the face plate
>> I use the Eagles in my home theater.
TAD 60 - first serious venture into Tubes. Excellent
Manley Stingray - Excellent integrated
Fisher 30a - 2 of them. vintage 15 w/c mono blocks that I bought and refurb'd. Nice little amps - surprisingly nice. |
Wow I can't believe I just left off where I did! Since last I wrote several years ago I can't really keep track of everything but after the c-j 11a it went something like this:
1. c-j 11a
2. Air Tight ATM1
3. Cary 300B Sig monos
4. KR Audio VT320
5. Graaf GM5050
6. Deja Vu Audio Push-pull EL-34 Custom Amp (Current)
That is my total amp evolution after my c-j. In the interest of time, reader boredom, and writers cramp I'm leaving out preamps amd sources. I hope I can stop here as my system sounds great, but..... |
KLH Model 11 portable record player
Eico kit amplifier
Dynaco Stereo 120
Harman Kardon Citation 12
Phase Linear 400
Audio Research D76
BRB Systems Model 200
Audio Research VT100 II (since 2002) |
I started with a Marantz 2270 receiver, a Linn LP12 turntable, a Technics 5 disk carousel player and Ditton 66 Studio monitors. The Dittons were fed with 18 feet of AR 12 gage "wire", and Monster cable interconnects. |
Thought I might as well update my last post since 2004.
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 |
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 (this is the amp I've been waiting for!) |
Denon 3805 receiver
Bryston 4BST
Krell Theater Amplifier Standard
Sunfire Signature 600
Cary CAD 500MB
Dodd 120's
Moscode 401HR
VAC PHi 300.1
VAC Phi 300.1 Monoblock's (coming in March) |
Pioneer 626 receiver, Sansui whatever, Hafler dh200, son of Ampzilla, Audiosource tripath, homemade Hypex UcD 400. I still have all the amps but the sansui, I don't know why. |
-Yamaha receiver
-Nikko stereo
-Yamaha intergrated
-PS Audio Delta 250 stereo
-Levison 335 stereo
-Levinson 33H monoblocks |
It is interesting that many of us started with a Pioneer receiver (or at least had at one point one early on.) I remember reading Stereo Review and being inundated by the ads for Pioneer that made them look like the cat's pajamas. When I went to Hillcrsst High Fidelity and walked past the McIntosh Audition Room after gawking at the seductive blue glow of the monster components that I saw in the living rooms of some of my rich friends (where they sat virtually unused, but off limits to our sticky hands.) There on the wall stack high with receivers sat a new line - "Sony." The salesman gave a hard sell on the Sony, but I wanted the well-marketed Pioneer. A concentration camp surviving cello-playing academic colleague of my father warned "they are pushing Sony equipment - don't trust them, that stuff is made in Japan." (Like Pioneer wasn't?)
I put together a complete Pioneer system using all the money I earned on my $1.50/hr summer job stocking shelves, slicing watermelons, waxing apples, and bagging grocks in Ryder's Grocery in Estes Park Colorado upwards of 72hrs a week. The 3 months of weary labor under the irritable eye of the owner of poorly accessible and easy-to-drive-right-by=without-noticing family-owned grocery store in a tourist town full of barefoot campers and hikers .
It was all worth it when I got the system home and cued up the first LP that I ever owned - Jethro Tull's Living in the Pat that I got for $2 from a cut-out bin at Walgreen's (I still remember my mother saying "why are you wasting your money on *that*?) - then I played my other *first* record - Itzahk Perlman's Paganini Caprices. I remember thinking "is that what a Strad really sounds like? or is he playing a cheesebox strung with hand-dried cat-gut?"
But I was in music heaven. It sounded so much better than my parent's no-name console that they picked up at the Dallas Train Wreck Salvage (that was the actual name of the warehouse store that was filled with deeply discounted cracked, dented, and broken items. I feel fortunate to have survived a childhood feed by badly bent and dented cans of food. My mother used to say, "don't worry, the can will swell up if it is contaminated by Botulism so I think this one is OK. Just make sure you let me know if your jaw begins to lock up."
Music was so much enjoyable when it provided a brief respite from the childhood fears of razor-blade ridden Halloween apples, practicing surviving nuclear attack by cowering under desks during air-raid drills, dental fillings performed without novocaine by our WWI era dentist who had a faded and yellowed "50 years of Dental Practice" certificate on his wall, and the near constant vigilance for Lock-jaw.
It is sort of a strange evolution that I now constantly search for better and more refined sound in order to capture the immense joy of discovery that early equipment provided.
I am coming to realize that it isn't that the POC Pioneer receiver sounded good. I believe that I used to *listen* better. I enjoyed cassettes recorded off-the-air played back on a $20 portable panasonic tape recorder placed on the seat next to me as I drove my parents Galaxy 500 station wagon. Perhaps it is about nostalgia, desire to regain innocence lost, a search for the lost idealism of youth...
So perhaps this amp evolution is driven by an attempt to chase down, and maybe even overcome, the creeping evolution of our jaded ears. |
Very slow and slight evolution for me.
Pioneer SX3600 receiver
NAD 3080 (out of a friends garbage can)
NAD 2150
NAD 3150
hiatus of 4 years then entry into HT
Marantz monoblocks (5)
Carver TFM15CB for rears
NAD 2700 THX (still have and love)
Adcom 5503
Rotel 1095 (current HT amp)
NAD 7000 receiver (current living room system)
What can I say; i love the sound of NAD equipment |
Yamaha Reciever
AUDIOPHILE BUG
Arcam Alpha One Integrated(35 wpc)
Arcam Alpha Seven Integrated(45 wpc, needed the remote)
Bryston 3B ST (150 wpc)
McIntosh MC402 (400 wpc) |
1. Yamaha receiver (don't remember the model, but it was the first year Yamaha used a "digital" tuner")
2. NAD 3140 PE
3. Arcam Delta 90
4. Rogue Audio Cronus |
I posted in 2002 and updated in 2004 and it is time for another update.
2002 post:
Technics integrated -- approx. 1986
Denon PMA 300V int. -- late 80's
Heath amp -- late 80's or 1990
Forte Model 6 -- 1991
Meridian 557 -- 1997
Mark Levinson No.383 int. -- 2000
Moscode 300 (modified) -- 2001
Mark Levinson No.383 int. -- 3/2002
2004 post:
Innersound ESL -- 2/2003
Bat Vk-200 -- 2/2003
Jeff Rowland Concentra II -- 6/2003
Pass X150.5 -- 12/2003
Since then:
Classe CA2200 -- 8/2004
Musical Fidelity kW500 (integrated) -- 4/2005
McIntosh MA2275 (integrated) -- 1/2006
McIntosh MC402 -- 5/2006
* Tried a Jeff Rowland Concentra II again in 11/2006, but much prefered the MC402, which I still use. |
Wow some great collections there.
I started with a Pioneer amp when I was about 15, it was about 20wpc from memory.
Followed this with a Technics 40wpc amp with needle power meters on the front.
Can't remember model numbers for either of these.
Moved up a bit and bought a Luxman L215 over 20 years ago.
The Luxman blew after many years of service so I replaced it with a Rotel RA980BX bought at a reasonable price off EBay.
However, the bug had bitten and while all the above were second hand I decided it was time for a new amp.
Last year I replaced my ancient Rectilinear speakers and a week ago I bought my first valve amp: a Melody I34 which is the new model with a remote.
Must say I'm very happy with the new amp, a definite step up, but it has been quite a ride for many years.
DS |
Gosh, I went from:
Pioneer silver face reciever to:
Adcom GFA-5500 to:
Kinergetics Chiro C200 to:
McIntosh Mc 250 to:
Musical Design D75 in stereo and then monoblocked to:
Lazarus H-1A hyrid to:
Altec/Dynaco trannied 6550 OT monoblocks to:
Berning EA-230 in stereo then mono to:
Berning EA-2101 to:
McIntosh Mc40 monoblocks to:
Bottlhead Paramour 2A3 monoblocks to:
vintage Ampex and Gott monoblocks to:
McIntosh Mc275 MKIV to:
Bel Canto SET40 monoblocks "Orpheos"
McIntosh Mc240 to
Red Wine Audio chimp amp to:
Moscode 300 in stereo and them in mon to:
Pilot 246B el84, Pilot 245-A and 240
i know I dont remember some, ! |
Musting be getting a bit senile. I'd have to do research for some of the model numbers. Anyhoo here's the list (integrated where indicated)
1977-78 Sansui Model ? (little integrated guy)
1978-85 Onkyo A-10 (integrated)
1985-86 Harmon Kardon (SS)
1987-90 Denon (SS)
1999-92 Dynaco ST70i (Van Alstine Mod)
1993 harmon Kardon HK II
1994-2007 Van Alstine Omega 230 (SS)
12/07- present BAT VK-60 |
Sansui model 400 receiver
Marantz model 1120 int. amp
Pioneer Spec 2 amp
Marantz 2330 receiver
Marantz 1250 int. amp
Phase Linear 700 Series II amp
Pass Labs X250
Used the 1250 as a preamp with the Phase Linear. For some odd reason I decided to get a nice preamp (Classe DR-5) to use with the Phase Linear. I wasn't prepared for the drastic improvement! Then I had to see how it sounded with a nicer amp (Pass Labs X250), so then I had to.... you know the rest.... |
1) Sansui (integrated, can't remember the model designation)
2) Luxman L410 (integrated)
3) Audio Exclusiv P2 (pre) + Luxman M363 (power)
4) The P2, an award collector in the early 80s, was the first used gear I bought; impressively as its musical performance was - especially phono - , it soon showed it had really been used ("worn" rather) and needed to be replaced by: T+A P1200R (pre) + Clearaudio Basic (phono)
5) Thereafter I ventured into surround and replaced the Luxman M363 by T+A A1520 (2 channel power) + T+A DD1510 (decoder + 3 channel power amp)
6) Replaced the T+A 1200P by T+A 1230P (huge change)
7) Replaced the Clearaudio Basic by Quad P24 (tube phono)
8) Dropped surround altogether and replaced everything by Tidal Preos (pre including phono) + Tidal Intra (power)
second system
1) Unison Research Unico SE (hybrid integrated)
2) Unison Research S2K (single ended, class A tube integrated) |
Pioneer Receiver >
Onkyo Integra Receiver >
Sony TA-N9000ES >
Rotel RMB 1066 >
Bryston 5B ST >
Bryston 3B ST >
Sun Audio SV-2a3 / JE Labs 300b / JE Labs 45 >
Lamm ML2.1 |
Rotel 1080 nice but it kept blowing out a channel
Parasound A21 very nice with a little warmth
Pass Labs XA 160 not quite my cup of tea
Ayre MX-R...hopefully done for now!!!!! |
