That is a loaded question. As a young & impressionable audio newbie, there was a ton of great amps being introduced. Unaffordable then but cheap now, I have managed to pick up some of my favorites from that era from the likes of Adcom, Acurus and Aragon. Still keep my eye out for a deal on a Krell, ML or Counterpoint from those days.
1990s Power Amplifiers
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Love the pursuit, much fun can be had finding the gems of the past. Just steer clear of Counterpoint. Many irreplaceable parts.
BMWCCA
Addicted Member
My first separate power-amp (back in 1968) was a Fisher SA1000. The cost of annual tube changes sent me to solid-state and a Crown D150 around 1972—which I still own today. My main system uses bi-amped Crown PS400 and PS200, but I also have JBL/Urei, Carver, Soundcraftsmen, and Adcom. I think I've hovered around the edge of high-end, leaning more toward industrial/commercial/pro amps. The Crown was first recommended and sold to me by the local McIntosh dealer as a lower-priced alternative and I've never looked back. My current favorite (after a longtime search) is the Crown Studio Reference-II and the performance is simply incredible on any of a dozen speakers I've tried it. My TV/Library system uses a JBL/Urei 6260 which has performed flawlessly for years after finding it locally for a hundred-bucks. High-end quality? Probably. High-end cost? Not really. Durability? Outstanding and built "missionary tough" for decades.
damacman
Resident Psycho
While you're at it, steer clear of Krell as well - global recaps on 150lb amps is the order of the day ...Thanks for that info. Kind of a bummer though as I really loved the understated looks
kjello
Super Member
Seems a bit logic to me as the early generation class-D are not the best sounding, and the later series is extremely expensive and perhaps a bit unreliable /harder to repair...
katana1100
Well-Known Member
I have my energy Veritas 2.8 speakers triamped with three NAD 208 amps.
The NAD 208 amps are special as I got each for under $700 and:
1) one of the rare mainstream amps with power rating into 2 ohms
2)runs cool
3) powered my acoustats with ease.
Super powerful-250wpc 8ohm, 1000wpc peak into 2ohms.
These were also the last NAD amps built in England ( not China).
I think they are a bargain , highly recommend them.
kjello
Super Member
I use two of them to power my MG 3.6/R's in vertical biamp set up.
I have looked no further for amps, they do everything right, allthough 30 years old.
mhedges
Super Member
I believe this is the same as the TA-N55ES which is considered to be a pretty nice unit. Not super high end but solid.Can anyone comment about the Sony TA-N330ES? I have one but I am on the fence about full restoration.
here some pictures
Its big brother the N80ES is a beast. I am running two in my system bi-amped.
I just picked up a GFA 5500 and really like it. Very listenable with solid bass. Sounds effortless, runs fairly cool and I love the looks.
And when driving a 4 ohm load the power output is rated at 350 watts. More than enough.
I noticed one heat sink was a little warmer than the other, but adjusted the bias and both run the same temperature.
Truth
A reviewer friend used one years ago to drive the woofer towers of Nola Grand Exoticas where it excelled. Like Crown amps.
Thresholds, or if a little newer, Classe, up to about 1996-98. Warm, nuanced, but with tremendous current reserves for difficult loads.
The other post about these needing some attention after about 25 or so years is generally accurate. They will still work well otherwise in many cases, but are no longer singing at their very best.
I fully recapped our big Classe about 5 years ago. A complete tear down. Even at distributor cost, just the parts were over $250. But it has never sounded better since, and leads our Thiels around without breaking much of a sweat. There is nothing currently made I would care to replace it with.
The other post about these needing some attention after about 25 or so years is generally accurate. They will still work well otherwise in many cases, but are no longer singing at their very best.
I fully recapped our big Classe about 5 years ago. A complete tear down. Even at distributor cost, just the parts were over $250. But it has never sounded better since, and leads our Thiels around without breaking much of a sweat. There is nothing currently made I would care to replace it with.
