What is the one amp you would love to have

[Njoy-Music]

I see some of those Accuphase amps in the Kenrick sound videos and have heard so much about them. I've heard many but those have somehow eluded me. Maybe that's a good thing...

 

[Bill Stevens]

For me Conrad Johnson sound is magic and I love my ARTsa and have not heard anything else that I like as well.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

In the less-than-astronomical price range, I wouldn't mind having a pair of Parasound Halo JC1 monoblocks. I think they are around $9000/pr, which is way less than many high end amps. 400W into 8 ohms, 800W into 4. 25W Class A. 18 matched bipolar output transistors per channel.

There are many I'd like to try out. The new Bryston 28BSST3 would be great. A VTL Siegfried Series II Reference tube amp would be fantastic. 330W in Triode mode!

 

[Eywadude]

Either the McIntosh MC1.2KW monoblock, or the McIntosh MC2301 tube monoblock. Flip a coin. I'd like both for different reasons.

 

[trinhsman]

Any of the upper end Pass Labs amps. Have an X-150 and love it. Just wonder how good it can get with their upper end stuff.

 

[frahengeo]

Accuphase A-65, A70, or even an A-60. Someday...

 

[E-Stat]

Pair of current Siegfrieds. Heard them at Sea Cliff years ago.

 

[Poultrygeist]

The finest sounding amp I've heard or expect to hear in this lifetime is Jim Dowdy's GM70. It's custom built in 3 chassis and sells for around 35K. Here's a picture from Hornfest where I heard this amp a few years ago. It's been called the "Voice of God".

 

[Poultrygeist]

The mighty GM70 lights up at Hornfest

 

[boza]

Chord CPM 3350

 

[Poultrygeist]

Here's the GM70 driving baffle-less speakers at Hornfest.

 

[llwhtt]

Tubes, Music Reference RM-9, I've repaired one and got to listen to it for a week or so in the shop, I like.

Solid State, Mark Levinson ML-2, never seen or heard one but still want a pair.

Craig

 

[Redtide]

Simaudio Moon i700

I prefer integrated amps. There used to be a youtube channel of a guy who would just use the knobs on audio products and give a review of how the knob felt. The knob on the i700 knocked my socks off. I've never felt a knob that was more satisfying LOL.

 

[AudioNord]

Halcro dm88 would be nice

 

[Wildcat]

For me Conrad Johnson sound is magic and I love my ARTsa and have not heard anything else that I like as well.

The ARTs are way outside of my range of affordability, but I have halfheartedly been watching for a Premier 140.

One amp that I saw a month or two ago was a VTL ST-150, very lightly used. Almost pulled the trigger on it, but I need other necessities in life. I like that it has two operating modes--the standard mode (tetrode?) is faster, more precise, where the triode mode is more lush and "tube-like" albeit at half the power. Still, it would be nice to have that choice. I can't afford any current models, so anything I buy is usually in used condition. My C-J preamp looks almost like new--it was well cared for.

 

[onemug]

This one got crossed off my bucket list.

 

[twiiii]

With my current speakers I have the perfect amps, MC 207's, two of them. But if I had the room and different speakers, I would have 7 MC1.2 K if I needed that much power. If I had efficient speakers I'd have MC 152's. For something in between MC301's. If I had a separate room for vintage equipment, I'd have 6 MC 3500's. Well if you are going to bi-amp 3 Concert Grands you need 6 amps. If I had a conversation room, I guess I would have a MC2000 for a Paragon or a pair of 3 way Harkness. If I were going to have a 3 channel Klipsch room, I'd have 3 MC 225 or 3 MC75's. For XR290's the MC1.2k as mentioned above. The same for DD67000 by JBL, even with 9700 for sides and rears.

Where would I use model 9's, for AR-3'a, they need the upper midrange definition. And for Magico speakers, MC 2301's, they need the added warm for the woofers and and lower midrange.

 

[Poultrygeist]

View attachment 726587 I've been a 300b SET lover for over 10 yrs and have owned some nice ones. I just got a 300b amp that I had been interested in for awhile, a Sophia 91-05 ($10K). I had a good long listen to their mid level 91-03 ($6500), was impressed with it and wondered what their "best" effort would sound like. Got it a short while ago and can already tell it has a certain magic about it giving me more of the extremes along with that midrange magic 300b's are noted for. So far, a dream come true.

Once you hear a great sounding SET amp with the right speakers it's hard to ever consider anything else. Great choice.

 

[bowtie427ss]

Firstwatt J2, or F6.

 

[onemug]

Once you hear a great sounding SET amp with the right speakers it's hard to ever consider anything else. Great choice.

Absolutely, and you put it perfectly by adding "the right speakers".