Rotel 930
Micromega Minium
Sim I 5080
YBA Integre DT
Monarchy SM 70 with Bellini pre
PS Audio HCA-2 + Bellini
Quad 909 (CDP99 direct)
Cayin AT88
Linar 10 5.1ch - a keeper
Looking to add a 2ch tube amp to have best of both worlds:
VTL ST 150 or Manley Snapper or Cary CAD211/V12R or Jadis DA7. Preamp is McCormack Micro, a gem. |
NAD 3055
Aragon 4004
Classe M-700 monos
Pass Aleph 2 monos
ARC VM-220 monos |
Getting to this thread late. My quest for that "Holy Grail" started back in 1979 when I purchased a 100 watt Hafler amp coupled with a NAD Preamp running that through Snell C's. Of course there was no Cd's so a turntable was used. From there is has been one amp after another. I did evolve early into tube when the Music Reference RM9 was first introduced in the early 80's. Got some Magnapans MGIII's the tubes couldn't handle the load so went to the Krell KMA 100's. I did not stay there long, I liked the panels so I bought Quads and whet back to tubes, this time an Audio Research SP10 preamp with a D125 amp. I went through the whole SP series of pre's (10,11,12, and 14). That is when I totally had had it with tubes, traded my whole system for a Meridian Digital system. Had that for several years but lost interest in the whole hobby and really did not listen to my stereo for much.
The bug struck again, I bought a Wheatfield tube headphone amp that sounded so much better than my big system, the quest again began. I remembered, so I thought, how good that Music Reference RM9 system sounded I again bought one and mated it to some Martin Logan SL3's. I moved from one amp to another within the Audio Research, and Cary line. In 2002 at the CES show I heard my first SET amp. I was blown away with the whole presentation, the best I had heard, even in a very poorly set up room. I bought Cary 2A3 amp mono blockds only to realize that now the speakers needed to replaced. I bought some SET friendly speakers, I went from the 2A3 amps right to the Cary 805c's, from there to Sophia 845 based amps. The 845 tube just did not seem to have the magic that the 2A3 tube had so I tried a pair of Welborne 300b amps. Used them for awhile. I was invited over to a guy's house that had an actively bi-amped SET system. I went straight home and turned my system on, nothing, total disappointment, now what? I now have an actively bi-amped system. An Art Audio Carissa running my mid-base and a 2A3 amp driving a pair of ribbon tweeters. An expensive journey for sure but rewarding. I can't so the search is over but I do know that I will be actively bi-amping for sometime to come.
I'm sure I left out some amps that were shoved in during this journey, it has been fun and am looking forward to the continued saga...................Bob |
In my last post to this thread back in Oct. '02 I had moved to a bigger room and switched from a CJ MV-55 to a pair of VTL MB-185s. These were the only tubes left in my system after changing to solid-state pre and phono amps. Latest power amp switch this past summer was to a McCormack DNA-500, so no tubes left at all. Sonically I don't miss them with this amp; reliability wise I'm enjoying my newfound freedom from care and problems, which translates into more listening to music. |
Rotel 991
Proceed HPA 250
Gamut D200 MkII
Rogue M150
Scott 222C Mapleshade modified
Rogue Cronus highly modified |
Sansui Integrated Amp
Michaelson & Austin TVA-10
Spectron |
1.Onkyo integrated something or other.
2.Conrad Johnson solidstate stereo amp(MF something or other)
3.Pass Labs Aleph 5(?),the 60 watt stereo model(should have kept that around).
4.Wavelength Cardinal X-1
5.Viva Solista integrated(for 1 month,after which I went running back to...)
6....Wavelength Venus Copper mono amps(45s at 2 watts per channel)
7.Wavelength Signature 45 silver/cobalt (which I thought would be my last amp)
8.Tom Evans Linear A stereo amp(which really rocked my world for a while)
9.Shindo Cortese stereo amp (F2a) which is best I have ever heard and which I am currently groovin' to.
10.If I upgrade again,will be the Shindo western electric limiteds(but in no hurry to do so). |
1. 1990. Proton AA-1150
This was a great little amp for college. Good sound, good looks, and impressive amounts of power.
2. 1992. Parasound HCA-2200
This was to be my main amp for a small home theater system in college (yes, I was ambitious and already saving my money for a LaserDisc player). This poor amp was a big dud. It hummed like a banshee, but on a very irregular basis. I did not discover this issue until it was too late to return it to the dealer. I wonder if I just had a lemon or if the Mk II fixed an issue with the Mk I.
3. 1993. NAD 208 THX
This was an awesome amp that I held onto for 13 years (I just recently sold it to a friend). This amp was quiet, clean, had lots of power, and never gave me any trouble.
4. 1994. NAD 2400 THX
I still have this amp, currently in use on a pair of subwoofers. I have also used this amp in various applications like surround speakers and a 2 channel office system. Like the 208, it's a quiet and trouble free amp. It prefers small speakers though.
5. 1999. Bryston 4B-ST
This amp is still in service in my home theater. You simply can't go wrong with a Bryston.
6. 2003. Bryston 14B-SST
This is a bruiser of an amp, currently used in my 2 channel bedroom system. It has ridiculous amounts of power and is the quietest amp I have owned (until ASR came along). It will soon be displaced to the home theater by an ASR Emitter I.
7. 2003. Bryston 6B-SST
Currently driving the front three channels of my home theater, this guy is the little brother to the 14B. No complaints here.
8. 2006. ASR Emitter I Exclusive
Currently waiting for Christmas to come a few days early. I'm not sure how to upgrade from here... |
H.H.Scott 210-F (2)
MARANTZ 2235
DYNACO ST-70
NEXT? MAC 275 |
First 'real' amp was a Rotel RA 820. Then came a Mission Cyrus One, a NAD 317 with an Rotel RQ970 phono-pre, then came a self built Class A power amp/Musical Fidelity X-Pre, X-LPS and X-PSU combination. Then the Musical Fidelity's changed into an Aragon 24K pre, which eventually got company from a Threshold S/300 poweramp. Now I'm saving for a Threshold S/200 poweramp to bi-amp.......... |
Allied 395 reciever,Marantz 240,Phase Linear 700B,Carver tfm15, Carver tfm35,Mcintosh MC2120,Mcintosh MC352 and MC 275 biamp setup.still using MC2120 and tfm15 for HT. |
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
Latest update-
Accuphase E-308 intergrated (2nd system)
McIntosh MC 2007
and two MC 352's |
I've been doing a lot of "evolving" in the last few years
Kenwood Receiver ** long gone **
Phase Linear 400 ** sold **
Parasound HCA 2200 ** sold **
B&K M200 Sonata ** Started with 2, now have 6. ** sweet!
2 of them modded at Musical Concepts
B&K Ref 4420 ** sold **
Bedini 100.100 MkII ** Still have ** - sweet amp
Conrad Johnson MF2100 2 of them vertical biamp. ** sold both **
Ayre V3 ** sold **
Electron Kinetics Eagle 2a ** Still have 2 of them **
Electron Kinetics Eagle 2c prime - ** really sweet amp. ** |
Fisher receiver(don't even remember the model)
Carver A500x
Adcom GFA-555
McCormack DNA-0.5 Deluxe
McCormack DNA-125
McCormack DNA-225
McCormack DNA-225 Gold + Edition
Pass Labs X250.5 |
starting in mid-70s,a series of receivers:
Fisher,Sanyo,Onkyo
then preamps:Rotel RC-970BX,Adcom GFP-750-both with
Rotel RB-990BX power amp
recently have used various combos of GFP-750,Dynaco PAS-2,
PAT-4,& PAT-5 w/the RB-990BX or a pair of McIntosh MC-60s.
just got an Anthem Pre 2L & am trying it with the RB990BX
also have a NAD C320BEE integrated & a Fisher 700 receiver
in other systems |
NAD 3020, college days
Pass Labs Aleph 3, first step into high end
Pass Labs Aleph 5, more power
Pass Labs Aleph 2, more power, needed monos
Pass Labs XA 160's, delivery due this week
More power, more heat, more money, better sound. |
THANK YOU Mr. Frank Van Alstine ...
1. Kenwood receiver - served me well (I thought at the time) for many years.
2. Opera Consonance a120 Hybrid Integrated - my first foray into hi-end. Thank you Mr. Stephen Harris (playhouseaudio.com) for your kind intro to hi-end sound. But I later decided I wanted more power for my large room, so ...
3. Van Alstine Fet Valve Ultra 550 - power, finesse, extension, and musicality. Color me done. Thank you Mr. Frank Van Alstine for the last amp I'll likely ever own. |
I started in 1974 with a Pioneer SX-727 receiver. When I discovered the high end in '78, that was replaced by a GAS Son of Ampzilla, which was in turn upgraded around the mid-80s to a B&K ST-140, which I still have as my main power amp. I've recently added a cheap demo pair of Antique Sound Labs WAV 25DT monoblocks (with their matching preamp) just to see if I can recapture some of what I remember of the magic of tubes from back in the day. If that little experiment turns out successfully, I may look into a PrimaLuna Prologue 1 or 2 integrated. |
OwnedÂ…
Onkyo 105-watt integrated
Modified Dynaco ST70
Modified Dynco MkIII monos (regret selling these)
Cary SLM-70 monos
Cary SLM-100s
Atmasphere MA100Â’s MK II
Manley Reference 300B Retros MK II
Manley Ref 250Â’s
Cary SLAM-100 (modified with XLR inputs)
GamuT M200 Monos (current)
Also tried in my systemÂ….
BAT VK500
47 Labs Gaincard S
Spectral DMA100
Sunfire MK I
Cary 805-C
ASL Hurricanes
Plinius SA102 MK II
Goldmund M28 |
My evolution began in 1969 with a GE portable record player, the headshell of which was frequently weighted with a penny to prevent skipping. Next came my initial foray into components: an EICO integrated (can't possibly remember model number--this was the 60's, after all) with about 20 watts per side. I built a Dynaco Stereo 120 to replace that. After the Dyna failed about 10 times, I replaced it with a Marantz 250, then a Crown 150. I ventured into dangerous waters with the purchase of a GAS Son of Ampzilla, of which three different units never worked properly. In frustration, I traded for a Luxman integrated. Once I had the means, I finally got a Threshold 400A, which I kept for almost 20 years. The next amp age began with an Aragon 8008BB, which was a very nice advance from the antiquated Threshold, but not nearly as good as the BAT VK-200 which replaced it, with Clayton M100's in between. Only one direction left to go, and that was BAT VK-120 monoblocks, which were wonderful in every respect. I couldn't afford the power needed to run them, however, so now I have the Channel Islands D200's. I am still not completely satisfied, so the evolution will continue as time and budget allow. |
Realistic receiver circa 1971,Pioneer receiver,Yamaha integrated,Nad 3020,Hafler st70,Amber stereo 70,Sumo 9,Bryston 4b,Spectral(100 watt)Grant Lumley,Michaelson and Austin TVA 10,Conrad Johnson MV75a,VTL st 85, Bel Canto EVO 1,Atmasphere s30,Meitner m100 monos,B&K st 200 monos,Sugden ,Creek integrateds, Bell 2418,Blue Circle original mono amps (BC2?),Classe DR 8 mono,and then the ones I have forgotten. |
Onkyo integrated
Densen Beat 200+300
Cary V-12
Jeff Rowland 501 monos
Theta Citadel monos |
First was a Scott reciever, then:
Kenwood reciever
Marantz 19
McIntosh:
2105
2205
2255
MC500
Currently:
MC1000
Fi 2a3 Monos
Welborne DRD300b
Art Audio Symphony,Diavolo,Carissa Sig
Omega Lotus (Tripath based chip amp)
Bedini 45/45 pure class A |
Pioneer integrated AV amp
AMC pre and power amp
Audio research SP-8
Then I am happily settled with Audio research SP-11
and Audionote 300b conquest monoblock |
Craig all in one unit (high school graduation gift)
Marantz 2230 receiver
Nikko amplifier
Sansui AU9500 amplifier
Yamaha home theater receiver
PS Audio Delta 250 monoblocks, 3 channel Chiro amp
McCormick DNA monoblocks, Cinepro 3k6 channel
Cinepro 3k6se gold, aragon 4004mkII
Acoustate TNT200 x 3, McCormick DNA monos, Citation 5.1 |
Marantz 1060 integrated amp, B & O integrated amp, Krell FPB 300, and probably soon, Krell evo series 402 |
I sold the big Ayre earlier this year & wound up with a BAT VK-200 after trying a handful of amps, including tube monoblocks (which were very nice!). I actually sold my entire system and it wasn't because I was unhappy with the sound. The VK-200 is paired with a BAT pre and I have to say this system is quite enjoyable. I've purchased/acquired more CD's so far this year than the previous two, so I've been trying to make more time to listen than before. One thing I've learned over the years is that a good amp design, be it SS or tubes, is a good amp design & will give you quality sound. A bad amp will do the opposite, period. |
Yamaha integrated years ago. Can't remember model number but I still have it. Stored it at home during my college days.
Small pocket cassette recorder during my college days (very poor at that time but constantly surrounded by live music!) No, I don't have that any longer.
Back to the Yamaha integrated for a number of years until I could pay off some of that college debt.
=== and then came a real job...and real money!!! ===
Rotel power amp for my start into higher end audio. Again, I can't recall the model number, but I still have it sitting around. I had this hooked up to a nice N.E.W. P3 tube preamp and it sounded fairly nice...for a while.
Proceed Amp 2 was the next venture into power amps. Sounded very nice connected to the P3 preamp. But I wanted more!
CJ SA250 Sonographe was next. Liked them alot and they were relatively inexpensive, so I bought 2 of them and biamped my system. Their "tube-like" sound wasn't cutting it for me, so I sold them...back to the Proceed for a while. Then...
I've always wanted an all tube setup, so I debated between the Cary Rocket 88s and the AES AE-25 Superamp that I'd been reading about for some time. I found a pair of Superamp Monoblocks and took the plunge.
Now I have the all tube system that I've wanted for a while. My phono preamp is also tubes and I'm liking it alot. I may have to go for a tube CD player at some time.
I'm still surrounded by some great live music (professional musician) and am cursed by wanting to have my system sound like live music. Is there a system out there that will do that? I'd like to know...but I'm sure I couldn't afford it if it exists. |
well this goes way back, first was a eltravoice receiver back in the 60s, next came a marantz model 30 integrated, then a model 250 using the 30 as a pre, then in the 80s a kenwood basic power amp, i got into surround sound and got a rotel 1075 which i lost to katrina, i started over again with a nuforce ref 9 and just had it upgraded to SE status, glad i got the nuforce gear they are super fine amps top to bottom, |
Started solid, ending in tubes I guess..
Sherwood integrated of some caliber
Harman Kardon Citation 16
McIntosh 240
Harman Kardon Citation II (McShaned)currently in use
Harman Kardon Citation V (To be McShaned)
EICO HF81 (in pieces now) |
Started with;
Sansui model 400 Receiver
Sansui AU222/Tu555
Sansui AU555a/Tu666 (still have)
Dynaco SCA80
Citation 11/Citation 12(still have amp)
Marantz model 15
Mac 5100
Quatre
Dynaco ST70 (still have)
Marantz Model 8B
Tube God ST70 mod (still have the kit unassembled)
Son Of Ampzilla
Kenwood L07
Counterpoint 100
Advent Receiver (still have)
Audio Research D75 (still have)
Fisher Stratakit integrated (still have)
Lux MB3045 (still have)
Golden Audio SI50 MKII (still have)
Audio Research CA50 (still have) |
two years ago...
1. Sansui 7070 (ss)
2. Sophia Baby SET (tube)
3. Audio Odyssey Khartago (ss)
4. Sophia el 34 (tube)
and breaking the pattern...
5. Consonance Opera Reference 6.6 25 wpc (tube)
Thinking about going all digital with channel island monoblocks since I use a computer as my only source.
(all these on Alon Lotus SE's) |
Dynaco, Quad, CJ/Krell, Spectral |
Berning 2100
Melos 220 Gold
Purist Audio 300B
Wolcott Presence monos
Classe CAM-350 monos
"What a long strange trip it's been"(GD)...took me years to find out how good the CAM-350s are. They pretty much encompass characteristics(I like) from all the above amps that I went through, taking the best from them all IMO.
Best wishes to all, |
Radio Shack something (late 60s)
Kenwood KA7002 int amp (early/mid 70s)
other stuff (mid/late 80s)
Adcom amp and preamp (very early 90s)
Musical Fidelity A2 integrated (late 90s)
Classé 101 & 151 integrateds (99-02)
Pass Aleph amps (several)(03-05)
Pathos Classic II (05)
Sophia Baby (05)
Almarro 205 (05-06)
Almarro 318 (06)
This is it ... the end of the road. Once I tire of music, I'll not replace anything (system: Cains, Almarro, Lector, Guerrilla silver ICs, DHLabs, Acoustic Zen cords) |
Here we go:
Bryston 3B NRB
White Audio Labs A250
White Audio Labs B300
Krell KAV 250 (had it only a month- amp went on fire)
Proceed HPA-2
Pass X350
Rowland 201 monoblocks
McCormack DNA-500
Vac Phi 220 monoblocks
DarTZeel NHB-108 (Done) |
Pioneer Receiver >
Onkyo Integra Receiver >
Sony TA-N9000ES >
Rotel RMB 1066 >
Bryston 3B ST >
Sun Audio SV-2a3 |
My 20-year list is somewhat long with a (currently) happy ending:
1. Kyocera R-851
2. CJ Premier 11A (I still have it in a second system)
3. Monarchy Audio SE 160 Hybrid Monos
4. Lamm M1.1 Hybrid Monos
5. Stellavox PW1 Monos
6. Van Alstine Ultra 550 Hybrid
7. McCormack DNA-500
Paired with a deHavilland Mercury 2 pre, the DNA-500 is cranking even as I write. |
Update to my system last month.... Still loving the Eico HF87 but have replaced the old Heathkit Preamp with a Decware SE84CSP. Wow! How cool is this! The sound just jumps out at me and images like crazy! I'm now in heaven.
Yaaaaa |
Pretty impressive lists. Anyone know which member has one of the most impressive lists? I've not had a chance to go through all 8 pages.
It'll take me a few more yrs yet to post a list. I'm just starting. :-( |
1. Kenwood receiver (100 wpc, baby cakes)
2. Opera Audio Consonance a120 Hybrid Integrated (sweet)
3. Van Alstine Ultra 550 (hybrid, pure music)
I have no plans on replacing the 550, unless I somehow, unexpectedly, acquire a load of cash, or my wife leaves me for some young, flat-bellied pool boy. I might then want to try a pair of ASL Hurricane 200's. Otherwise, I think I'll be happy with the 550 for the duration. |
Main amp is noe Aragon 4004 MKII but I am years behind most guys here:) |
I have a Bedini 25/25 to go!! |
From old to new
Sony receiver
NAD 40 watt
Carver m400?
Carver m500
Rotel 980bx
Conrad Johnson MF2500
Creek integrated
McCormack DNA 0.5
MCCormack DNA 1 |
-Audio Research D240
-Muse 160
-Bryston 7B-ST
-Krell KSA 250
-Rowland 9T
-Levinson 436
-BAT VK 600 SE
-PASS XA 160 |
Let's see...
My mom bought me a Sylvania Receiver
Then I bought a Yamaha B2
Then Kenwood LO7s
Michaelson and Austin TVA-10 (which I bought from Bill Lowe)
Moscode 300
DK Design VS-1 Mk III
NuForce Ref 9s |
Started with a Hafler DH500, then progressed to a Kinergetics KPA 200, Plinius SA 50 was next, then the Gamut 200, VTL Tiny Triodes, and finally the Edge NL10. |
Let's see if I can remember. . .
1. Hafler (built as a kit)
2. Adcom 555
3. Classe 150
4. Dynaco ST-70 (Rebuilt Van Alstine kit) used as headphone amp.
5. Deja Vu pushpull 45 amp (still kept as backup/alternative)
6. Audionote (uk) Kageki (parallel 2a3 SET) |
>For me I started:
>Adcom GFA-565 monoblocks
>Rotel RB-990bx
That is interesting because that is about how I started. (GFA-555 - I listened to this one level matched in a blind test with GFA-545 and the 555 sounded better - a little less grain.) Then got the Rotel which I liked more, and now am looking at a used Counterpoint. |
UPDATE
Started back when I was in Jr. High:
DeWald integrated tube amp, about 30 WPC (fried it) 1960-1978
Nikko integrated ss amp, 40 WPC (sold it) 1978-1980
Hafler DH-200 ss amp, 100 WPC (gave to my younger brother) 1980-2003
Odyssey Stratos ss amp, 150 WPC (sold it) 2003-2005
Krell KAV-400xi integrated amp 200 wpc (I think I'm done) 2005 - present |
