What is your favorite amp for planars?

jjss49 · « **Reply #60 on:** 27 Jan 2022, 01:03 am »

pass/threshold/usher
hegel
plinius
belles
ayre
exposure (higher models)
naim (ditto)
coda
boulder
gryphon

Markwatkiss · « **Reply #61 on:** 27 Jan 2022, 01:59 am »

Ya missed Bryston.

Mike-48 · « **Reply #62 on:** 27 Jan 2022, 05:05 am »

About 13 months ago, I said I was very happy using a Bryston 4B3 with my Janszen Valentina P8s. Shortly after, I received a pair of PuriFi monoblocks put together by Apollon, which I had bought as a birthday present to myself.

After listening to them for a while, I was even happier than before. So I have stuck with the PuriFi 1ET400A-based amps, as they suit my tastes better than anything else I've tried -- and at a considerably lower price.

@yardbird - are you still using your PuriFi-based amplification?

jjss49 · « **Reply #63 on:** 27 Jan 2022, 07:29 am »

Quote from: Markwatkiss on 27 Jan 2022, 01:59 am

Ya missed Bryston.

i have heard others say that the newest 3 series brystons sound real nice now

in the past (say 7-10 years ago) i have heard brystons with maggies and while they had the power to drive them, they did not sound as sweet as the ones on my list...

dlaloum · « **Reply #64 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 03:55 am »

Ran Quad ELS-63 and then ESL-989 with Quad 606 / 707 amps.

They were an improvement on the earlier Quad 405

Tried a number of other amps with less successful results (Realistic Receiver, Sansui Integrated, Revox A750 Integrated)

NIGHTFALL1970 · « **Reply #65 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 05:44 am »

AVA DVA 4/2 AMP with 1.7.

BruceSB · « **Reply #66 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 09:00 am »

I have just replaced my Quad 606 with a Sugden Sapphire class A power amp to drive my custom ER Audio full range electrostats.
It is chalk and cheese!
I am now hearing things in the music that I did not even know where there!
Everything is much more coherent.
So smooth and clear.
My blue Sugden was hand made in the UK.
Sugden produced the first class A amps in the world well over fifty years ago and they are still going strong.
They are so popular I had to join a 24 week waiting list!!
Very happy with the wait though.
Well worth it!!
I may well be the only person here using a Sugden!
Bye the way I think there are about twenty colours that you can choose from.
Here is the picture of the blue one.
Bruce

dlaloum · « **Reply #67 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 09:23 am »

Quote from: NIGHTFALL1970 on 28 Jan 2022, 05:44 am

AVA DVA 4/2 AMP with 1.7.

Seems like a variation on the Quad / Peter Walker "current dumping" amp designs?

/mp · « **Reply #68 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 03:11 pm »

Quote from: BruceSB on 28 Jan 2022, 09:00 am

Sugden produced the first class A amps in the world well over fifty years ago and they are still going strong.

Weren't the very first audio amplifiers ~100 years ago class A?

audibleguy · « **Reply #69 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 08:05 pm »

Have had Bryston model 4's, 7's, BAT VK-500, VK-250, and Rogue tube monoblocks 150's and 180's that drove 1.6's, 1.7's, 3.5's and 3.6's very well with a nod to the BAT amps sounding the best.

BruceSB · « **Reply #70 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 08:43 pm »

Sorry /mp left out the word transistor and a bit more!!!!!
Specifically worlds’ first production pure class A transistor amplifier.
Makes all the difference.
Sometimes brevity can be your enemy!
Here is the link for your further reading: https://www.sugdenaudio.com/a21-history
Thanks for pointing this out.
Bruce

SteveFord · « **Reply #71 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 09:17 pm »

I think you are right about being the sole Sugden owner here.
I've heard the name but that's about it.

True to form, I just ordered another VTL tube amp and am waiting for that to show.
Also have two boxes coming from one of the Circle owners here. He owns a Buell Ulysses, how bad can he be?

Philip J Fry · « **Reply #72 on:** 28 Jan 2022, 11:16 pm »

http://sanderssoundsystems.com/products/amplifiers/magtech-amp

/mp · « **Reply #73 on:** 29 Jan 2022, 01:03 am »

Quoting texts in entirety:

Quote from: BruceSB on 28 Jan 2022, 09:00 am

I have just replaced my Quad 606 with a Sugden Sapphire class A power amp to drive my custom ER Audio full range electrostats.
It is chalk and cheese!
I am now hearing things in the music that I did not even know where there!
Everything is much more coherent.
So smooth and clear.
My blue Sugden was hand made in the UK.
Sugden produced the first class A amps in the world well over fifty years ago and they are still going strong.
They are so popular I had to join a 24 week waiting list!!
Very happy with the wait though.
Well worth it!!
I may well be the only person here using a Sugden!
Bye the way I think there are about twenty colours that you can choose from.
Here is the picture of the blue one.
Bruce

Quote from: BruceSB on 28 Jan 2022, 08:43 pm

Sorry /mp left out the word transistor and a bit more!!!!!
Specifically worlds’ first production pure class A transistor amplifier.
Makes all the difference.
Sometimes brevity can be your enemy!
Here is the link for your further reading: https://www.sugdenaudio.com/a21-history
Thanks for pointing this out.
Bruce

That's an interesting way of looking at it. Some would say Bruce left out the word transistor, not the person quoting him. Just saying, er writing. No point in making a tempest in a teapot.

As always, YMMV,
/mp

BruceSB · « **Reply #74 on:** 29 Jan 2022, 03:30 am »

Sorry /mp!!
You have caught me out twice with brevity!!!!!!
Left out a comma this time.
Thanks for your sharp eyes!!
Bruce

Jeff_From_Michigan · « **Reply #75 on:** 29 Jan 2022, 02:13 pm »

Quote from: mr_bill on 16 Feb 2021, 06:18 pm

Magnepan and Bryston - a match made in heaven

I know of a dealer whose main lines are Audio Research, Vandersteen and Magnepan. One time I walked in to the shop and caught him driving the 3.6's with a Bryston stereo amp, I don't recall the model - it was over 20 years ago.

The sound was glorious!

/mp · « **Reply #76 on:** 29 Jan 2022, 02:26 pm »

Quote from: Jeff_From_Michigan on 29 Jan 2022, 02:13 pm

I know of a dealer whose main lines are Audio Research, Vandersteen and Magnepan. One time I walked in to the shop and caught him driving the 3.6's with a Bryston stereo amp, I don't recall the model - it was over 20 years ago.

The sound was glorious!

+1.
Demoed big Maggies + big Brystons in big room = big sound.

westyjeff · « **Reply #77 on:** 4 Feb 2022, 05:19 am »

I have Maggy 3.7’s, I have been using March Audio P701 mono blocks, they are Hypex 1200 class D, the grip on these large speakers is amazing! I just bought a Vincent K35 EL 34 based tube amp, rated at 35 watts a channel, this amp had no problem running the 3.7’s to a great level. I was surprised that a 35 watt tube amp would do so well with these. My room is not huge at 15’ X 19’.

trackball02 · « **Reply #78 on:** 23 Mar 2022, 09:04 pm »

I'm running my .7s with Audio by Van Alstine FET Valve 400r. This hybrid amp let's me tube roll, and currently, Telelfunken 12AT7s are the best in my room. The .7s are installed with Magna Riser multi risers with the panels set at the highest level.

Not a bad combination; however, I would love to try other amps. Anyone have a suggestion?

NoahH · « **Reply #79 on:** 23 Mar 2022, 09:19 pm »

I have some Martin Logans where the best pairing so far has been McIntosh mc275s. I have some AVA DVA M225s coming for another system in the house and plan to try them on the MLs too just to see how they mate.