Vote

Got a great deal on a Sonographe 200Wpc, so I swapped my Acurus a250 and went for it. Not as in-your-face and great detail.

While I like the warmth of the tubes, I would much rather have the power and force of Solid State.

I find my Jeff Rowland 8TI-HC Stereo Amplifier to be about as good as mortal man could require, just a superb piece of equipment. The moment I took the top off and saw those huge "tubular extractulators" inside, I knew I had purchased the right power amplifier! I had no idea in reality my 8TI-HC was deficient, and according to a magazine article, I needed a final tweek to uleash the full fury that was just a few hundred bucks away. Per the magazine's recommendation, I immediately purchased a Luxor model 11 power cord. When I initially plugged this cord in, so much fresh and robust current flooded into the amplifier, the breaker on the back popped out. It was then clear to me, for over one year, my amplifier had been deprived of the adequate fresh clean current it so badly needed by using the stock power cord. I re-set the breaker, plugged the new Luxor cord into the wall once more, and the 8TI-HC was reborn. I'm not sure I hear any difference, however, as an audiophile, I know it's there somewhere!

inexpensive

Active speakers connected to a preamp by XLR balanced cables can not be beat

need good sounding, powerful, and hassle free power.

Having been around and around with systems over the last 25 years. I have finally settled on integrated amps as providing the best sound for me (open, airy, crystal clear, great sound stage and depth, smooth all the way across the spectrum). I am currently using a Sony TA-F808ES 100 wpc MOSFET integrated. Others I have used are the Bryston B-60RP (remote/phono) and McIntosh MA-6850. The Mac was as good as the Sony, but the Bryston lacked the strength at the bottom end. I have used tubed amps (VTL and McIntosh) and find them "flubby" (slow as molasses) and noisy. I have used solid-state separates (McIntosh MC-38 & 39 with the MC162, 300 & 500 and Bryston B-25 and 2B-LP pair run in bridged mode). The one that sounded the closest to the integrateds were the 2B-LPs with a Mod Squad passive preamp. So why go for all the extra interconnects and pieces to go wrong when an integrated will do it all and provide a better sound (at least to my ears). Always solid-state and stick with integrateds for both the best sound and the best value.

The PIONEER A-27 I have under my desk at work not only sounds great, but keeps me warm during the cold winter months. It is a Class A to 3 watts, then Class AB beyond to 120 wpc, but I listen to it at the lower levels anyway. For $189 thruough eBay, I am very pleased with it's peformance. It's original price was $1,200.00, and it is very heavy (~60 lbs).

naim

Tri-amping my Apogee Studio Grands with a digital x-over removes all passive components between the amplifier output stage and the ribbons. The clarity, precision and control are breathtaking, like using a squeegee on a windshield. The added benefit is subjectively unlimited dynamic range; 6 channels at 760 wpc/8 ohms translates to very high current delivery into the ribbons.

I own a Duson B-100 and feel that I would have to spend alot more money to better the end result. This little amp does double duty in my system,one moment driving a pair of Maggies and the next a pair of modified Dynaco XL-25's. The sound is very smooth with tons of low level resolution, that is untill I push the amp beyond the class "A" rating (10-15watts), then dynamic compression sets in. All in all a very nice amp.

I really do like tube amps, but I really don't feel like going through the upkeep process. My McCormack DNA 0.5 with the B+ upgrade sounds very transparent, and sounds like it should have cost a LOT more when paired with my Conrad-Johnson PFR.

SET - if well built - rules!!!

It's what I bought over ten years ago and has served me very. It is an Adcom 545 mkll with a Golden Tube S.E.P pre-amp

The Dynakit ST70 work best for me. "Long live the Dyna.."

Crown Ref on bottom & krell on top

I have a two channel solid state Conrad Johnson with a Marantz 5 channel receiver driving the surround and center channels.

marklevinson No:33

A Sunfire stereo load invariant amplifier. I have 4ohm speakers so it puts out 600watts/ch. all day long. Never even gets warm. Good low end and very tight. It just works. It's not a Krell or a Mark Levinson. It only cost $2100. It is my last amplifier.

affordable and acceptable

I prefer hi quality solid state because of its consistent performance.Tube hardware is usually very dependable from many factors,such as isolation,type of valve,electric power conditions etc.

neutral, stable,

My Accuface is probably the best integrated amplifier in the world .

Price, convenience, ease of maintenance. Of, all right, my speakers are not sensitive enough for tubes (even though I am).

Very efficient, great bass punch, can leave on all the time

Sounds better and they're so COOL. Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.

like the sound

it serves as two amps for music and movies

Bel Canto Design eVo 200.4, 4 channels but brigded into 2 channel for more power. It`s simply the best sounding amplifier I have heard up to this time. You must try this amplifier, it`s much better than my SF Power II tube amp, it even sound more like a tube amp to.

Today the best solid state amps are very good. My reason for sticking to them is their freedom from any hassle and the fact that they age slowly compared to most tubes.