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Pre-Amps & Amplifiers All Brands Welcome |
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#1
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Douglas had a great idea to start a thread for top 5 speaker companies so I feel inspired to start one for amplifiers. Here are my top 5:
1) Burmester - Nothing else comes even close. The only brand that has me wanting to upgrade from McIntosh and that is really saying something. 2) McIntosh - Most beautiful amps ever made especially in a dark room. Very warm sounding and has stood the test of time. 3) Moon by Simaudio - I only recommend their evolution series. It sounds incredible in every system I have heard it in. Excellent drive. Custom gold finish available. 4) Bel Canto - One of the best sounding amps I heard at RMAF. Affordably priced. Very much underrated. 5) Accuphase - The most reliable amp that money can buy. Great for classical music. |
#2
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In no special order:
1) Burmester 2) Esoteric 3) Bryston 4) Accuphase 5) McIntosh
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#3
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1 - Pass
2 - VTL 3 - Ayre 4 - Audio Research 5 - Conrad Johnson
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#4
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1 - McIntosh
2 - MBL 3 - Audio Research 4 - Conrad Johnson 5 - Wyred 4 Sound |
#5
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1. Lamm
2. D'Agostino Audio 3. Ayre 4. BAT 5. McIntosh 6. Shindo 7. VTL Couldn't do only 5... ![]() |
#6
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1. Accuphase (I can stop there). Just amazing (not denigrating any others, but every accuphase I've heard has just been right, and I haven't ever heard of any maintenance issues with them).
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#7
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Yong - Interesting that you named Pass Labs. I do like those amps
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#8
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In no particular order....
Audio Research Pass Labs Soulution Lamm Dartzeel |
#9
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Your system is one of the most beautiful sounding hi-fi combos I've heard. Reviews and regard by Stereophile and AbsoluteSound seem to be unqualified endorsements of Pass amps.
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#10
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1. Audio Research
2. Pass Labs 3. Soulution 4. McIntosh 5. Ayre Acoustics Sidebar......I miss the days when Krell would be on this list! ![]() - Buck
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Library: Speakers: Avalon Acoustics Isis, Subwoofers: (2) REL Acoustics 212SE Amplification: D’agostino Momentum preamplifier, D’agostino S250 stereo amplifier Digital: dCS Rossini CD/SACD transport, dCS Rossini DAC/streamer/master clock. Analog: Brinkmann Taurus table, Lyra Etna Lambda, Audio Research Ref. Phono 3 |
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