What type of amplifier are you listening to and why?

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.

What type of amplifier are you listening to and why?
Solid-state stereo
51% (241 votes)
Solid-state monoblocks
8% (36 votes)
Solid-state multichannel
9% (42 votes)
Tube stereo
16% (73 votes)
Tube monoblocks
6% (26 votes)
Tube multichannel
0% (1 vote)
Bi-amp system (explain)
6% (27 votes)
Multi-amp system (explain)
4% (17 votes)
Active (self-powered) speakers
1% (7 votes)
Total votes: 470

COMMENTS
Greg Fleming's picture

My Krell KAV300i bought three years back continues to amaze. I have never had any problems with it and it sounds superb—oaky, not up to separates, but pretty damn fine for the money. I will upgrade to separates ,probably Plinius made here, in NZ when finances allow, but until then the Krell integrated works fine for me.

JB's picture

The smoothness and clarity and visualization of the sound are unmatched by any other kind, including solid state monoblocks.

Ron's picture

Runs active speakers to give less distortion, better bass and treble.

Rich Meier's picture

Levinson no. 334. Detailed and musical, without any solid-state "deficiencies." No coloration of the music. Awesome current capabilities, which my Apogees need.

Matthew Anker's picture

I've got two Crown DC-300As in bridged mono mode, giving me 300Wpc. It's not that I need the extra power, but I really need the extra headroom for bass (Telarc's 1812 SACD).

Anonymous's picture

I do not have the room for a multichannel set-up. Though I can see the benefits of multichannel audio, my main objective is the faithful reproduction from the source. I am not interested in matrix systems. I'm happy with high quality 2 channel audio for the time being - rather than a compromised surround set up.

Bill Eichengrun's picture

The Tenor 75wi's dynamics, detail and balance is superior to the presentation of the ML335 I previously used. Of course the cost is nearly 3x also. Small wonder.

Don Frier's picture

Have used the McIntosh MC-2300 for 16 years. Still sounds as good or better than the rest. Have demoed "better" amps (read: costlier) but they sound worse. I love a product built for the long run. Stereophile could give us a break, like Consumer Reports and tell us about the reliability of some equipment it has heaped plaudits on. The Quad 988/989 comes immediately to mind here.

Steve Gilbert's picture

I went with solid-state initially because, while I might prefer tubes, the stereo was used by all four members of my family and solid-state was the easiest for them to deal with. Now that the kids are gone, it's still more practical to use solid-state; my wife doesn't understand the first thing about the operation of stereo gear. She wouldn't appreciate waiting while the tubes warm up. In addition, there's the high cost of changing to tubes and the problems with auditioning amps at home. The last time I looked, only ARC and C-J were available here in St. Louis; so how does one audition a wide range of tube gear here? I would like to add a little warmth and liquid sound to my system. It would seem that the best way to add tube sound at this point is to aquire a tube pre-amp, but, once again, there's the problem of auditioning a range of possible choices.

david pickett's picture

Four separate solidstate classs A/B amps preceded by 24 dB/8ve active crossover (state variable) at 1.6kHz. Amps feed loudpseakers directly: treble are Kelly ribbons, bass KEF units in my boxes. No nasty L/C crossovers.

E from Canada's picture

I listen to the Audiomat Solfege. It is a sweet, yet powerful-sounding, tube integrated. It sounds more powerful than its rated 40Wpc. I used to own the Pathos Twin Towers, which is great in its own respect, also.

Rana N.  Kabir's picture

Six modified ADCOM GFA-565s.

Bill McInerney's picture

120Wpc Rotel. Solid, dependable—paid for. I may one day replace it with a more powerful Rotel. I think their products give good value.

SJM's picture

Krell KAV-300i integrated has virtues of quality, simplicity and small size.

J.  Michael - Seattle, Wa.'s picture

Cinepro 1k2 because it has lots of power for a reasonable price and sounds great.

Sam Erwin's picture

Price and quality

jonathan sachs's picture

Tubes on the top end, solid state on the bottom: the best of both worlds. Plus a powered subwoofer. Awesome.

Tony's picture

The sound better than anything else

GUD2BDP in D.C.'s picture

One hundred watts per channel of pure CLASS A power from Spectral. Clear and extended highs, deep, tight, extended bass. It has a wide, deep soundstage, and is utterly transparent. Add a rich mid-range and swift transient attacks, and you have a jewel.

Bruno's picture

McCormack DNA-0.5 Deluxe Edition. Very smooth,detailed,and warm. One of the best I've heard.

Paul S.'s picture

I combined a Yamaha DSPA1 with an Adcom(GFA6000) to power my HT setup. With active subs and towers, and 12 channels between the Yamaha and Adcom, I avoid both clipping and overheating. Ultimate smoothness, air, and timbral accuracy is sacrificed compared to my music-only(solid state stereo) system, but the flexibility, dynamic range, bass, and hall ambience is a thrill. "Dammit Jim, I'm a reader not a magician!"

Rich's picture

I use 2 Forte Model 6a 200 wpc stereo solid state amps. One amp per speaker.

Lawrence Fossi's picture

I'm still listening to solid-state because it sounds fine, and I'm about to upgrade. It will probably be solid-state again because I fear the domestic consequences of coming home with the tube monoblocks of my dreams. I have no philosophical objection to tubes. Indeed, I have simply lost patience for the arcane disputation between the disciples of the purity of solid-state and the devotees of the magic glow of the vacuum tube. If it's distortion, but wonderful sounding distortion, I can live with that!

Mad Guru's picture

Although I find the sound of some tube amps (ARC's VT200 left an indelible experience) seductively delightful, my choices of amps at home are SS. For my front speakers(Maggie 3.6Rs), I have found satisfaction with two bridged Classè CA400, the rear speakers(Maggie 3.5Rs) suck juices from the able Aragon 8008BB. Naturally, there is no lack of slam in the HT mode, but it is the performance in the stereo mode that is joltingly pleasing. The clarity of choirs,individual voices, the natural textures of instruments, placement, soundstaging— you name it. If the recording is good, the magic is present. Compared to tubes, SS offers superior performance per buck, is more rugged, and therefore requires less fidgeting.

john conte's picture

adcom gfa 555mk-11,for almost 10-yrs,thought of upgrading but i cant seem to find anything close for under 3,000

Trey Booker's picture

An amp like a CJ 2500 or a Plinius SA100 has tons of raw power, but still has retained SOME of the warmth of a tube amp, but does not have issues with control at the bottom octaves. If it is matched to the correct tube preamp with the right tubes, I say that is the BEST combo for faithful music reproduction.

Michael Bledsoe's picture

I use a Denon AVR 5200, which consist of two separate mono blocks and one hundred twenty watts of power per channel. Why do I like it? Well it is very economical, powerful enough for my room,has an exellent sound, which is clear transparent, spacious. It also has a deep wide soundstage that is niether bright or mushy but rather the essence of nutrality. No it does not have a tube type sound but if you tube freaks can get off your smooth and silky midrange, it does not miss much. This amp is also part of a surround sound system my main monobloks are run preamp out from a Denon AVR 3300 receiver which supplies the power for the rest of the system when watching movies. Also the bass is suplied by a Velodyne HGS 12 sud woffer which offers 1250 watts of power RMS

KEN BUCHANAN's picture

ADCOM5900

Mike V's picture

I still love my little Krell KAV 300i, thanks to you guys!!

dbf's picture

I've had a Classè 150 for many years. It blew up once, but they fixed it for free on the lifetime warranty.

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