Power Amplifier - Maximum Resolution & Detail!

Maximum detail and resolution = Benchmark AHB2. I was hoping to use them with my Yamaha NS5000 speaker. However, there was a tiny bit of hardness on top that made me look at other options. My system is neutral with only a bit of warmth from my Holo Serene preamp. So, with a warmer DAC or preamp the AHB2 may have worked. I have used the AHB2 with many systems but the NS5000 is the best I have owned, and it showed some deficiencies in the AHB2.

I now use the CODA #16 with these speakers, and it has almost the same amount of detail and resolution as the AHB2 but with a lot of Class A smoothness. There is no hardness on top. I love this amp, and I cannot get myself to sell it, since I would regret it. The new CODA S5.5 maybe a good option for less demanding speakers. I also think the new CODA System 100 (I think) at $30kish could be a killer amp.

I am looking for another amp to use with both the NS5000 and my office speaker, the Magnepan LRS+. I demoed the new SimAudio North Collection 761 which was a detail and resolution champ. It may have been as detailed as the AHB2. I loved the amp, Though I did have a bit of fatigue. I attributed that to the Paradigm Persona 9H speakers, which has a Beryllium tweeter and mid. I think the not bright and very revealing Zylon drivers on my NS5000 would sound amazing with the SimAudio 761.

I also demoed the Luxman M10x amp and remembered how much I loved the older Luxman m900u. I think the M10x is more detailed and better for my needs than the m900u. I think the CODA #16 and the Luxman M10x are rather close in sound. This makes me think the 761 maybe what I get, but that Luxman really gets me into a good place.

Decisions, decisions. Luckily, I am broke for now.

I forgot to mention that I also heard the CH Precision top of the line amp with the top end Clarisys speaker. That amp was amazing until I asked the price. over $100k. Not as warm as the CODA #16 and maybe the Luxman. I did not hear the Luxman on the Clarisys. I think the SimAudio was still a bit more detailed but that could have been the Beryllium drivers though the Clarisys ribbon seemed very revealing.

M10 Stereo Power Amplifier - CH Precision (ch-precision.com)

The more I think about it I need to give the SimAudio North Collection another listen.

@ghdprentice I have owned the AHB2 about 6x for both headphones and 2-channel. It was great with some gear not so great with others, such as my NS5000 speakers.  I no longer have an AHB2. I have a Benchmark HPA4 preamp that is similar to the AHB2 for my future headphones, RAAL 1995 Immanis.

What I have now is close to being great with my NS5000, the CODA #16. Though, I miss a tiny bit of that detail the AHB2 had. That is why the SimAudio and the Luxman are a potential second amp for me.

The S5.5 won't work well for the NS5000. I spoke with Doug Dale @ CODA about this amp and the NS5000. In fact, I use a CODA #16 on the NS5000 right now. It is a terrific pairing. The S5.5 will work on the NS5000, just like a stereo AHB2 would work. However, this speaker sounds better to me with more power than the S5.5 can deliver.

I am only looking to add another amp because the amp I use in another system would sound better if it was replaced with one of the following 3 amps, SimAudio North | CODA #16 | Luxman M10X. 

I would rotate 2 amps with 2 systems. Currently, I cannot do this because my current second amp does not sound great on the NS5000.

Doug said that the new (or updated) CODA System S150 + SV would be his top gear.

CODA S150/S250 Amplifier System – Destination HiFi  ($20k)

CODA SV System Voltage Amplifier – Destination HiFi ($8k)

This comes a little under $30k. Since I already have the #16, I decided not to look into the S150.

I heard the  Simaudio 860 V2 and 761 on the Paradigm Persona 5F and 9H and thought the 761 was easily better. The 761 is also cheaper.

Mola Mola’s original engineer was Bruno P. Who is no longer with Mola Mola. He started Purifi a few years ago and they make the amp and speaker parts for others.

Not sure about the new guys designing at Mola Mola.

@deep_333 You should have a listen to the new SimAudio North Collection amps. These amps have a similar level of detail as the AHB2 but does not have any edge to it. I mentioned this before on this thread. I heard the 761 amp, and I agree with what the reviewers have been saying about it. The price range is $100k+ | $24k | $15k. I heard the $USD 15k one and that should be powerful enough for my Yamaha NS5000. A local dealer carries both and I may have a listen this Friday.

@deep_333 My #16 is likely a little less detailed than the 150 and 250. Doug said the 150 has some newer electronics that affect the top end. I think similar to the CODA S5.5 amp (mentioned above) in that aspect.

My #16 works great with the NS5000 in almost all respects, except that it is not an uber detailed amp (some people think it is). I think we maybe after the same type of amp for the NS5000. Since the speaker sounds so good (coherent), I want all the details in the recording to come out of the speaker. That is where my interest for the SimAudio North Collection comes from (an uber detailed amp). 

Doug said that the real magic comes from the $8k Voltage amp that is hooked up to the 150/250 amp. That cannot be used for the #16 amp.

Destination HiFi in LA has the 150 for demo. I never made it down for a listen.