Solid state amps that you have all used

jjss49 · « **Reply #40 on:** 7 Oct 2021, 09:07 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 6 Oct 2021, 10:20 am

Embarrassing that I keep a list:
1.   Monarchy SM70 monos
2.   PS Audio GCC500 modified by Underwood
3.   Moscode 401HR
4.   Wyred SX1000 monos
5.   Wyred SX500 monos
6.   Wyred ST250
7.   Dodd 120 monos
8.   BAT VK500
9.   Pass Labs X350.5
10.   Sunfire 600
11.   Rowland 201 monos
12.   Belles 150A Refs as monos
13.   TAD Hibachi monos
14.   Dared VP-20 monos
15.   Cherry 4800A
16.   Cherry Plus
17.   ATI 602
18.   PS Audio Delta 250 monos
19.   Hafler 9130
20.   Hafler SE240
21.   Hafler XL280
22.   Electrocompaniet AW220
23.   Jolida JD202A
24.   AVA something?
25.   Xindak ? 200 wpc
26.   Tube Research Labs Samson monos
27.   AVA Synergy 300
28.   Electrocompaniet AW180 monos
29.   Wells Inamorata
30.   Atmasphere MA-1 Mk II OTL Tube Monoblock Amp Pair with 6C33 Output Tubes
31.   Quicksilver V4 monos
32.   Plinius SB301
33.   Maker NL14+
34.   Luxman M800A
35.   LTA UL with mircoZOTL pre
36.   VTV AMPLIFIER Stereo Purifi Audio 1ET400A Amplifier w/ PR Sonic Imagery Labs 995FET Pro Opamp, WBT-0702.01 TopLine Posts
37.   Digital Amplifier Company 2-Cherry

hahaha well seeing bigred's reply, i happen to be sitting here today recovering from some oral surgery i had undergone yesterday, so i got bored and thought for giggles, i would try to think back down through memory lane, and reconstruct my audio journey through various hifi amps

now the op asked for solid state amps only, but i have included all my amps, including tubed ones, and i roughly tried to list these chronologically by decade (i have been at this fun hobby since a teen)

two legend notes -- one is 'SS' marking the solid state units given the op request, and '*' marks what i still have on hand... yes i am a hoarder

70s

hh scott 480a
hk 330i receiver SS
yamaha cr 1040 SS
sansui g9000 SS

80s

hafler dh500 SS
hafler 9500 thx SS
nad 2140 SS
nad 3020 SS
kenwood l-07m monos SS

90s

musical reference rm9-ii
musical reference rm10
golden tube audio se-40
aragon 4004 ii SS
acurus dia 100-2 SS
muse 100 SS
arcam alpha 10 SS
pass aleph 3 SS
cary cad 805
cary sli-80

00's to the present

cary 300b sei **
wavelength cardinal xs 300b **
marsh a400s SS
fourier triomphe otl 6as7
47 labs gaincard SS
vac pa 90c **
vac ren 70/70
vac ren 30/30 **
odyssey stratos ** SS
c-j cav 45
c-j prem 11a xs
c-j mf2200 SS
c-j lp70s
arc vsi 55
arc v70 **
arc vt100 mk2 **
arc vt100 mk3
arc vt50
arc 100.2 ** SS
arc ca50
arc vt60 **
arc ref 110 **
arc ref 75 **
air tight atm2 **
audio sector patek se ** SS
hegel h90 SS
hegel h160 SS
hegel rost ** SS
hegel h390 SS
hegel h20 ** SS
primare i-30 ** SS
van alstine synergy 300 ** SS
nuprime ida-8 ** SS
w4s st-250 ** SS
belles aria SS
belles sa30 ** SS
naim nait xs2 w teddycap ** SS
sony ta1-1es ** SS
first watt f5 ** SS
first watt f6 SS
agd audion ** SS
class d mini gan 5 ** SS
linear tube audio zotl40 ref **
audio mirror set40 monos **

simoon · « **Reply #41 on:** 7 Oct 2021, 10:17 pm »

I think my list is pretty short:

Crown DC-300A - the brute
Quatre Gain Cell - great sounding amp, known to blow up. Mine went in to oscillation and took out the mid/woofs on my LS3/5a.
Dynaco MkIII - modified
Threshold 400A - the legend...
Yamaha B2 - this and its bigger brother, the B1, were absolutely amazing amps. Too bad V-FET devices became unobtanium... Used ones still go for quite a bit, but they are near unrepairable.
Hafler DH500 - with Toshiba JFET Cascode driver boards* I built and installed. Talk about an improvement for this old warhorse of an amp!
Kenwood LO7-M - Kenwood's entry into the high end back in the late 70's, and well done. 150 mono amps. I am still using a pair now!

I know there had to be more, but I can't think of any others now...

*if you have a DH500, and you want to make it sound quite a bit better, check out these board kits on Ebay, Fantasiaaudio is a great seller!

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #42 on:** 7 Oct 2021, 10:27 pm »

Wow, what a sick mofo

Now, which is your all time favorite? ha

Can you imagine being able to have a stable system so you could even answer that? Me neither.

Quote from: jjss49 on 7 Oct 2021, 09:07 pm

hahaha well seeing bigred's reply, i happen to be sitting here today recovering from some oral surgery i had undergone yesterday, so i got bored and thought for giggles, i would try to think back down through memory lane, and reconstruct my audio journey through various hifi amps

now the op asked for solid state amps only, but i have included all my amps, including tubed ones, and i roughly tried to list these chronologically by decade (i have been at this fun hobby since a teen)

two legend notes -- one is 'SS' marking the solid state units given the op request, and '*' marks what i still have on hand... yes i am a hoarder

70s

hh scott 480a
hk 330i receiver SS
yamaha cr 1040 SS
sansui g9000 SS

80s

hafler dh500 SS
hafler 9500 thx SS
nad 2140 SS
nad 3020 SS
kenwood l-07m monos SS

90s

musical reference rm9-ii
musical reference rm10
golden tube audio se-40
aragon 4004 ii SS
acurus dia 100-2 SS
muse 100 SS
arcam alpha 10 SS
pass aleph 3 SS
cary cad 805
cary sli-80

00's to the present

cary 300b sei **
wavelength cardinal xs 300b **
marsh a400s SS
fourier triomphe otl 6as7
47 labs gaincard SS
vac pa 90c **
vac ren 70/70
vac ren 30/30 **
odyssey stratos ** SS
c-j cav 45
c-j prem 11a xs
c-j mf2200 SS
c-j lp70s
arc vsi 55
arc v70 **
arc vt100 mk2 **
arc vt100 mk3
arc vt50
arc 100.2 ** SS
arc ca50
arc vt60 **
arc ref 110 **
arc ref 75 **
air tight atm2 **
audio sector patek se ** SS
hegel h90 SS
hegel h160 SS
hegel rost ** SS
hegel h390 SS
hegel h20 ** SS
primare i-30 ** SS
van alstine synergy 300 ** SS
nuprime ida-8 ** SS
w4s st-250 ** SS
belles aria SS
belles sa30 ** SS
naim nait xs2 w teddycap ** SS
sony ta1-1es ** SS
first watt f5 ** SS
first watt f6 SS
agd audion ** SS
class d mini gan 5 ** SS
linear tube audio zotl40 ref **
audio mirror set40 monos **

/mp · « **Reply #43 on:** 8 Oct 2021, 01:44 pm »

Quote from: zapper7 on 6 Oct 2021, 01:17 pm

Here are a few I've had....

Odyssey Stratos
....
currently Classe 100

Kindly write a few words comparing & contrasting the Odyssey & Classe if you can.
TIA,

jjss49 · « **Reply #44 on:** 9 Oct 2021, 05:36 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 7 Oct 2021, 10:27 pm

Wow, what a sick mofo

Now, which is your all time favorite? ha

Can you imagine being able to have a stable system so you could even answer that? Me neither.

haha bigred -- as you would expect, the reason for the crazy amp journey is the just as crazy speaker journey!!! gotta match the amp to speaker, or no bueno!

overall though i would say, for sane, reasonably friendly to drive speakers, my faves are

arc v70 and ref75 for tube amps
belles/pass/first watt class a solid state, followed by hegel h20/arc 100.2 if more ss watts/grip/current is needed
... and this new agd audion gan thing - it is really really good

for high eff speakers, i still just love the sound of the sweetie pie 8 wpc wavelength cardinals - still keeping those babies for hopes of finding a set of high eff speakers i can live with

Wado · « **Reply #45 on:** 10 Oct 2021, 08:09 pm »

I have tried:
Threshold
Luxman
Harmon Cardon Citation
Yamaha B2 - This is hands down the most organic musical amplifier I have owned.

Mike-48 · « **Reply #46 on:** 17 Oct 2021, 10:50 pm »

I don't keep a list. These are the ones I remember owning, covering the last 25-30 years or so:

conrad-johnson MF-2300
Marsh A400S*
Adcom GFA-555 (stock, then modded by Musical Concepts)
Bryston 14B SST
AVA Fet Valve 400R
Bryston 4B3
Apollon monoblocks based on PuriFi 1ET400A*

I marked * the ones still owned.
Also auditioned

Sanders Magtech
Classe CA-2300
Pass X250.8

Favorites in my main system have been the Apollons, Bryston 14BSST, and AVA FetValve 400R. That's not to say they were the best -- but they were the ones I liked best, considering all factors (sound, heat, weight, noise, etc.).

The Marsh has been doing duty in my desktop system for nearly 10 years now.

dlaloum · « **Reply #47 on:** 23 Jan 2022, 11:31 am »

Rotel RA412
Sansui AU-517
Realistic STA-2270
Adcom 555-II
Quad 405
Quad 303
Quad 606
Quad 707
Revox B251
Revox B750
Crown XLS2500
Pioneer A100
Onkyo TX-SR876
Integra DTR 70.4

nagaokasan · « **Reply #48 on:** 23 Jan 2022, 12:26 pm »

Mcintosh 452 ... love it

Ranvb · « **Reply #49 on:** 10 Feb 2022, 03:26 am »

Hafler DH-220, I replaced the caps
Dynaco ST-120

Selected because easier access for upgrades and repair. Sound good with my upgraded 1978 Heresy’s.

Yog Sothoth · « **Reply #50 on:** 20 Feb 2022, 06:46 pm »

Currently for 2 channel sound I have:

McIntosh MC300
Accuphase P360
Nord Acoustics NC500 (Hypex based)

I'm really happy with each of them. I find the newer breed of class D amps (like the Hypex) to be fantastic, with shockingly good measurements, 93% efficiency (they barely get warm), and seemingly endless power to below 2 ohms. I can't help thinking that this is the future of high quality audio reproduction.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #51 on:** 20 Feb 2022, 08:31 pm »

Too many!

Carver M200
Threshold 400A, Statis 2, Statis 3, 200, 300, SA3
Yamaha amps of various power levels from the 80s
Luxman L400
Distec 200
Hafler XL600
McIntosh Mc 2125, Mc 150, 7270
Electrocompainet AW 120
Pirmare A34.2
Devialet 200, D-Premier, 400, 500

And a few I've forgotten

Like Nakamichi PA5, PA7, Adcom 545. Sony S-Master Pro receivers, Pioneer SX-1280

Samac · « **Reply #52 on:** 20 Feb 2022, 08:46 pm »

80s Pioneer
NAD 320BEE*
NAD 325BEE*#
Arcam FMJ A19*
NuPrime IDA-16*#

* still own
# broke

Rotel RB-1590 - Currently used in the system. Fantastic amp.

Cheers,

Scott

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #53 on:** 20 Feb 2022, 10:53 pm »

Pioneer SX something in 1970's
Technic's SU7600
Yamaha something in 1980's
Adcom GFR 700
Class D Audio 250
Parasound A21

Currently-
Pass Labs X250
Cary Sl 300.2d Integrated
early 2000's Marantz 2ch receiver

Phil A · « **Reply #54 on:** 21 Feb 2022, 12:18 am »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 6 Oct 2021, 10:20 am

Embarrassing that I keep a list:
1.   Monarchy SM70 monos
2.   PS Audio GCC500 modified by Underwood
3.   Moscode 401HR
4.   Wyred SX1000 monos
5.   Wyred SX500 monos
6.   Wyred ST250
7.   Dodd 120 monos
8.   BAT VK500
9.   Pass Labs X350.5
10.   Sunfire 600
11.   Rowland 201 monos
12.   Belles 150A Refs as monos
13.   TAD Hibachi monos
14.   Dared VP-20 monos
15.   Cherry 4800A
16.   Cherry Plus
17.   ATI 602
18.   PS Audio Delta 250 monos
19.   Hafler 9130
20.   Hafler SE240
21.   Hafler XL280
22.   Electrocompaniet AW220
23.   Jolida JD202A
24.   AVA something?
25.   Xindak ? 200 wpc
26.   Tube Research Labs Samson monos
27.   AVA Synergy 300
28.   Electrocompaniet AW180 monos
29.   Wells Inamorata
30.   Atmasphere MA-1 Mk II OTL Tube Monoblock Amp Pair with 6C33 Output Tubes
31.   Quicksilver V4 monos
32.   Plinius SB301
33.   Maker NL14+
34.   Luxman M800A
35.   LTA UL with mircoZOTL pre
36.   VTV AMPLIFIER Stereo Purifi Audio 1ET400A Amplifier w/ PR Sonic Imagery Labs 995FET Pro Opamp, WBT-0702.01 TopLine Posts
37.   Digital Amplifier Company 2-Cherry

Actually - it makes me feel better

I'd really have to think about all the amps I've owned and it's too much work (to think about the actual models) but some of them include (and I'm sure I'll leave off a few and off the top of head I can't remember all the models):
1. Rotel (probably a couple of models)
2. Denon
3. Amber Series 70
4. Phase Linear 300
5. Phase Linear 400
6. Adcom 555
7. Bryston Power Pac 120s
8. Bryston 4BST
9. Bryston 3BST
10. Bryston 6BSST
11. Bryston 14BSST
12. Proceed HPA-2
13. Proceed HPA-3
14. Proceed BPA-2
15. Proceed BPA-3
16. Marantz MA-700s
17. Wyred4Sound mAmps
18. Hegel H190
19. Mivera SE
20. Modwright KWA150SE
21. EVS1200
22. LSA Voyager (modded)
23. SAE 3100
24. NAD
25. Dynaco ST-70 (but that's tube of course
26. Emotiva XPA200
27. Onkyo
28. Adcom 535
29. Class D Audio mini GaN amp

I feel much better now that I've confessed

Mike-48 · « **Reply #55 on:** 21 Feb 2022, 03:04 am »

Quote

I find the newer breed of class D amps (like the Hypex) to be fantastic, with shockingly good measurements, 93% efficiency
(they barely get warm), and seemingly endless power to below 2 ohms. I can't help thinking that this is the future of high quality audio reproduction.

I think the same thing. I am gobsmacked by how good my Apollon amps are, with PuriFi 1ET400A modules. It is certainly a case of good -- astoundingly good -- measurements resulting in outstanding sound. They are load-invariant, drive tricky loads with ease, and like the Ncores, they never get hot.

For rational audiophiles -- not swayed by extra sugar or audio jewelry -- well implemented Class D can indeed be the path to high quality audio reproduction.

timind · « **Reply #56 on:** 21 Feb 2022, 04:09 pm »

Working my way backward. As this is from memory, I'm sure there'll be a few left out.

Benchmark AHB2 (current and final amp)
Rega Elicit
Exposure 2010S2
Audio Analogue (model?)
Harman Kardon HK3560 (recapped for winter project)
Simaudio i7
Proceed BPA-2
Proceed BPA-3
Proceed Amp2
B&K 125.2
First Watt M2
Wyred4Sound mAMP
Hafler DH220 (several of them after recap)
Primare 30.2
Primare I30
Harman Kardon PA2200 (recapped/rewired)
Bel Canto S500 with Pre3
Bel Canto eVo2i
PS Audio Trio A100
Rotel RB981
Classe CAP-150
Portal Panache
Sansui B-2101

Yog Sothoth · « **Reply #57 on:** 23 Feb 2022, 04:23 pm »

Quote from: Mike-48 on 21 Feb 2022, 03:04 am

I think the same thing. I am gobsmacked by how good my Apollon amps are, with PuriFi 1ET400A modules. It is certainly a case of good -- astoundingly good -- measurements resulting in outstanding sound. They are load-invariant, drive tricky loads with ease, and like the Ncores, they never get hot.

For rational audiophiles -- not swayed by extra sugar or audio jewelry -- well implemented Class D can indeed be the path to high quality audio reproduction.

Gobsmacked is certainly the word! The Apollon's are new to me; I'll have to check them out, thanks. With my Nord NC500DM MKii I got the Sparkos input buffers and I'm totally satisfied. I would be curious to compare then to the Benchmark AHB2s, but I have a suspicion my ears are not golden enough to tell the difference. Gold plated maybe...

Freo-1 · « **Reply #58 on:** 23 Feb 2022, 04:44 pm »

Class D amps certainly have come a long way over the past 15 to 20 years. For example, the Primare A35 received a Class A recommendation from Stereophile.

IMHO, the approach taken by Devialet, Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH),where the Class D section provides the current, while a Class A amp supplies the voltage, is far and away the best sounding implementation of Class D to date. The concept really isn't that new, as it's a variation of the Peter Walker current dumping approach. Having the DAC integrated into the amp also helps with the sonics. To me, they sound better than any of the Class D amps I've come across. So far, they are the only company that does this. I assume it's because they have a patent on the approach.

Yog Sothoth · « **Reply #59 on:** 23 Feb 2022, 04:57 pm »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 23 Feb 2022, 04:44 pm

Class D amps certainly have come a long way over the past 15 to 20 years. For example, the Primare A35 received a Class A recommendation from Stereophile.

IMHO, the approach taken by Devialet, Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH),where the Class D section provides the current, while a Class A amp supplies the voltage, is far and away the best sounding implementation of Class D to date. The concept really isn't that new, as it's a variation of the Peter Walker current dumping approach. Having the DAC integrated into the amp also helps with the sonics. To me, they sound better than any of the Class D amps I've come across. So far, they are the only company that does this. I assume it's because they have a patent on the approach.

Very interesting. I'm certainly familiar with the current dumping topology, so this sounds like a very appealing approach. But far beyond my budget! The Nord was a real stretch for me. Hopefully I get a chance to hear them at some point though!