Need some juice --- High power amps


I am looking for a high power amplifier to drive my 87db / 4 ohm speakers. I am interested in any real experience in comparing the following solid state amplifiers:

o Edge NL-12
o conrad johnson Premier 350
o Pass X-250.5
o Ayre V-1xe
o McCormack DNA-500

I understand the price differential, what I am most interested in is the musicality of the five amps as well as any other amps that should be considered in this company.

FYI, an Audio Aero Capitole Mk II SE will be feeding the amplifier directly.

Thanks for your help and time.....
crozbo
Mcintosh mc501 - mono's, 500 watts per side of muscle and musicality. It came down to these and the CJ 350 for me. Haven't heard the others on your list. These boys woke my up thiels!
FWIW, for my 85db / 4 ohm / large room / blues & rock, I went with big tubes. If you prefer solid state, great, but ASL and Rogue and one or two others have got significant tube wattage at a fair price as an option if that is also of interest.
Add the Aragon 8008BB to yor list of affordable powerhouses.I have 2 systems.System 2 has seen many well regarded and very expensive amps come and go.The Aragon has stayed in my other system for 4 years without a thought of replacing it(except maybe for Palladium Monos).
I also would suggest adding the Clayton amps to your list.

Let me say first that I've never listened to any of the amps on your list nor the Clayton.

But assuming you have full-range dynamic driver speakers, and not hearing either, I'd guess the Clayton, Edge NL-12, and McCormack DNA-500 would easily surpass the other 3 contenders. Not only in speed, but potentially offering a far more robust, tight, deep, and simply more realistic bass and overall sonic reprodution.

However, I would challenge you to find a better more powerful and controlling amp than the McCormack DNA-2 Revision A model. Perhaps the most tube-like sounding mid-range ss amp, but with all the speed and fantastic bass that only the most powerful and best built solid state amps can muster.

If you should try the Clayton, Edge NL-12, the DNA-500, or a DNA-2 Revision A amp and if you do not presently own some of the better speaker cables available, I'd also highly recommend you audition the relatively inexpensive Audience Au24 speaker cables at the same time. (some reviewers consider the Au24 better than the Nordost Valhallas).

These tiny Au24 cables do so much to minimize time-smear, that with any of these three amps, you should hear a bass reproduction that few even know exists. On some lesser amps, the Au24s can sound as though some of the bass has disappeared, even though certain aspects of the bass may sound so much better.

-IMO
I second what audiofankj had to say. On a tough load, or on an easy load, the H2O lets you into the music. You won't be thinking in terms of tight bass, warm mids, or airy highs. It's the music in all it's glory, when it comes to the H2O's performance. I'm running my H2O Signature monos on the 1 ohm Scintilla. There is no bigger amp hog.