1990s Power Amplifiers

[llanger]

NAD 2700.

 

[automojo]

Signature 1.5 32xOutput Transistors.
PA2400 uses 16.
Underated Power Output for both.
Very detailed-sound "small" with big bass drive capability when needed.
Similar sound from newest Van Alstine Amps.
Really their new amps are serious bargins-smoke any new amps I have seen of late.

 

[automojo]

PA2400 runs a bit warm
Sig 1.5 cool runner

 

[UncleAng]

Nakamichi PA-7 (oh wait that might be 80s)

My PA-7A MKII was built in 1990

 

[Ross6860]

Adcom GFA-565 Mono-blocks

800 watts into 2 ohms and 60+ amps ought to be able to drive just about any speakers.

The leaky Elna capacitors took their toll on these amps.

 

[Grenadeslio]

I'll second Belles, one of his first amps is pictured in my avatar.

only 100watts/channel 8ohm, but enough current to pull a freight train


nudes with items for size reference



I hear it's 185watts into 4ohms

I have two with very close serial numbers and at one time they were biamping my Infinitys. Now just one so the other can drive the AR's for some Belles magic in the living rm.

 

[JOMARK911]

Sansui's B 2302 , and B 2301 L of course.
They can drive every speaker out there.

 

[JOMARK911]

 

[JOMARK911]

 

[JOMARK911]

 

[GordonW]

Don't want to leave out the PS Audio Delta 250 monoblocks. Outstanding amps. Will run anything.

They will go head-to-head with the Aragon 8008s and Aragon Palladium monoblocks. I'm not sure which brand I would pick, out of the two- both designs are very good.

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Akustic]

Maybe the better question might be "What new amp isn't essentially based on old circuit designs" ..

Not much has changed and there is still no replacement for hand picked, hand matched, high quality components ...
Likewise I doubt that there are many amps that sound significantly better than the best of say the 90's .. Mark Levinson, Threshold, Krell ..AR.. Conrad Johnson ..
or for that matter the 60's tube amps.. Marantz, Scott, McIntosh ..

Variations on a theme ..

 

[Bkphoto]

1998 B&K Ref 4420, upgraded by Musical Concepts

 

[Tedrick]

Anything designed by Nelson Pass. That timeline would include his class A designs from Threshold and Pass Labs. Say a pair of SA/12es.

View attachment 2319419

I would add Threshold's "budget" oriented line of Forte amps to this list.

Another brand that should be on this list is Plinius. Maybe not as well known as Threshold, Levinson, and Krell, but every bit as good.

 

[hendertuckie]

I had two fairly decent Power Amp in that decade. A Krell 200 FPB Stereo Amp and VTL 300 Deluxe Mono Blocks.

 

[Danddd]

I have a McCormack DNA 0.5 Power Amplifier that I bought in 1996 that was used for only 6 months. Great amp and matches very well with my VTL tube pre. I have found no reason to change it out. Tube wise I use a mid nineties Sonic Frontiers SFS 40 amp in my office. Nineties was a great decade for amps.

 

[AudioGMan]

Krell would do so, as well as Mark Levinson.

He said “a price point of like 1k.”

 

[KentTeffeteller]

He said “a price point of like 1k.”

Good point. Which is why we have used Luxman as one of the nicest bargains, and NAD as another good option for his budget. Just to name a few.

 

[Ds2000]

Well I paid sub $1k for this, but it needed a big time restore.

 

[stereofanboy]

If he meant used amps that can be picked up for $1k today, you could buy an Acurus Amp for half that or just get a pair for bi-amping.