OK ... What sub $2000 ( new or used ) amps would be considered on the detailed, clear, and revealing side of things instead of warm and euphonic ? MUST be high current solid state with tight controlled bass.
Stanwal, you are absolutely correct. I forgot about the Gamut. And the Mark 1 should be had for less than 2000 like suggested in the question. I have a Mark II and it is exactly that. I have not heard the latter, but based on my other amps, the Mark II is the most analytical of the bunch. The bass signature is exactly that BTW...tight and controlled. You wont find a hint of low end lackadaisical boomatude, technically speaking that is.
Thank you Sogood51 for that info. I read this entire thread & did not find his speaker info. I didn't troll the other threads in this sub-forum (too much wasted time!).
MUST be high current solid state with tight controlled bass
this is an assinine statement! what do you mean "tight controlled bass"??? Unless you hook the amp to the speaker how do any of these members (who have recommended s.s. amps) know that you'll get tight controlled bass from YOUR speakers??? You've asked for an s.s. amp recommendation but did not tell us which speaker(s) you intend to use with it! And, the yahoos who have recommended s.s. amps did not bother to ask you?? Just because they got "tight controlled bass" in their system does not mean you'll get the same! Your whole bloody system is different from theirs.... Isn't anybody thinking on this forum anymore?????
wothout an adequate definition of warm or euphonic it is impossible to suggest an amp which is warm or euphonic. unfortunatly, there are many subjective impressions of both terms. in my estimation, there are no warm or euphonic solid state amps in current production. designers attempt to minimize coloration and produce as linear a product as possible, given a price point.
Try the Krell KAV series, good bass and lots of detail. I had one a few years back and it sounded nothing like the older warmer (Krell Ksa-250) that I also had at the time...I prefer warmer.
Timtim, I think I know what you are after.Most SS amps seem to be a bit warm and hazy. A lot of the early SS amps were not like this though.Later on SS amps were criticised for sounding cold so manufacturers tended to then make them sound warmer[but probably less clear and detailed]. The old Phase Linear 400 sounds very clear,open, and neutral and will drive anything. Metaxas amps are very clean and neutral. Gainclone amps are also excellent in this regard-but are not happy driving inneficient or 4 ohm speakers.
If you want to hear REAL clarity and neutrality have a listen to an Almarro 318B tube amp!
Bryston and the GamuT 200 MK1. It was so revealing they made it a little warmer in the later generations, it was made by a professional audio company for monitoring use originally.
Not warm and euphonic? Throw a stone and hit one! 99% out there in SS are the character you want... So the shorter list is to stay AWAY from these : Mcintosh McCormack Monarchy Marsh Mark Levinson(*most of them anyway) Belles
Yep pretty much everything with an M'... Or anything thats normally pure Class A. They sound more relaxed, natural, and have very smooth soundstages, normally with bigger fuller bass, opposed to the laser tight, less organic sounding bass of the amps your looking for.
From the above already, yes mostly with Odyssey, Krell, Bryston you will get the harder edged SS crowd.
Buy Class D, and most A-B amps as they can fit the "Typical" SS sound.
I have a acrcam a80 biamped with an arcam p80. they are fast and precise, but not cold. Compared to the Cary tube amp I just replaced them with, they are not warm, but moreso than brystons i just heard recently. these amps are very listenable however. for sale, if interested send me a PM.
Well, FWIW, you are going to have to struggle to find a transistor amp that *is* warm and euphonic, but given that, that would have nothing to do with how the amplifier can deliver bass, so I would not worry about it!
You've got plenty of good suggestions so far... make sure that the speaker you plan to use is designed for transistors, if not the amplifier may have trouble making bass impact.
I highly recommend you audition either Odyssey Audio Khartago or Stratos stereo amps which meets all the requirements you are looking for. You get a 30 day audition period to see what they sound like in your system. Check out the rave review of the Khartago, which J. Valin compares to a $40000.00 amp with amazing results in the september issue of the absolute sound.
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