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2 pairs of Bryston 7B monoblocks driving my speakers
It's been a while since we talked about our amplifiers (23 months in fact). So we'd like to know what you are using now and why you like it.
One of my most illuminating stereo experiences was the differences I heard when I upgraded to a Levinson No. 334 from a No. 331, as heard via B&W 801 Nautilus speakers. The change "should" have been minor; it was major. I'll never be convinced that all amps sound the same, at least not in a suitable system.
Two Musical Fidelity A3CRs, thanks to Monsieur Tellig. My system also has a Musical Fidelity A3CR preamp and CD player. MartinLogan Ascent Loudspeakers, Harmonic Technology Pro Silway II interconnects and speaker cables. (Thanks, Mikey!) Now, what magazine have I been reading?
I bi-amp my primary listening system because I love the tight extended bass I get with powerful SS mono-blocks driving the woofers of my MartinLogan electrostactics and the lush midrange and extended highs that can only be had with a great tube amp (such as with my CJ Premier 11A) driving the panels. This is a magical combination.
Solid-state stereo because of reliability, PRICE and in the case of my particular amp, outstanding performance, as agreed by many other listeners and the audio press. BRAND HINT: Thing of the core that is sandwiched between two BIG Macs!
i use an anthem mca 2 and an anthem mca 3. I use two seperate amps because when driving a 5 channel amp you lose some power to all channels. For example my MCA 2,3 is rated at 200watt per channel but with all channels driven it is only about 185 wpc. If i got an mca 5 and drove all channels i would only get 175wpc. Both amps are solid state and i choose them because they had the best performance for the dollar.
It's a single-ended class-a design by nelson pass. i had listened to many amps with my tympani 4a, but none was as well balanced in it's strengths. i had even come to the conclusion that they all sound the same (given sufficient power rating), but my world changed with the first bars played through the still cold amp right after switch on!
A properly modified solid-state rig will caress the ear drums more consistently than a tubed unit! Got tired of retubing a Fisher 100B pro amp every six months, and wondering why that Fisher magic disappeared when certain tube brands were the only ones available! Lateral mosfets make for great virtual valves!