[lazydays]

why not just order a pair of Odyssey Mono Extremes, and be done with it. For $2900 they are a steal.
gary

[zybar]

why not just order a pair of Odyssey Mono Extremes, and be done with it. For $2900 they are a steal.
gary

Because if he waits just a bit he can save himself at least $1,000 and buy a used pair off Audiogon. 

George

[tdangelo]

why not just order a pair of Odyssey Mono Extremes, and be done with it. For $2900 they are a steal.
gary

Because if he waits just a bit he can save himself at least $1,000 and buy a used pair of Audiogon. 

George

      this has become more difficult than I ever figured it would be.  I really just need to step back for awhile.  My wife says "just turn the AC cooler when you listen" - may be good advice

Tony

[crossroadazn]

Don't forget there're Classe', Mark levinson, McIntosh, Audio Research.....

[Eric]

Monarchy also makes tube /ss hybrids

[PhilNYC]

My wife says "just turn the AC cooler when you listen" - may be good advice

Eh...this may cause electrical noise on your circuit unless you have a dedicated AC line...

[woody]

Monarchy also makes tube /ss hybrids

+1

Highly rated I might add.
here is a pair on A'Gon:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1179109605

Disclaimer:  No affiliation with seller -- just trying to help a fellow 'phile.

[tdangelo]

My wife says "just turn the AC cooler when you listen" - may be good advice

Eh...this may cause electrical noise on your circuit unless you have a dedicated AC line...

I do have 3 20amp dedicated lines but I plug everything into my RSA Jaco anyways  

[toobluvr]

I second the opinion voiced here about considering Blue Circle.

I am a hard core, dyed-in-the-wool tube guy and I just love the BC-24 hybrid in my bedroom system!
I have never heard a SS output amp deliver such rich, creamy and delicious tube-like sound...almost SET in character.  Speakers are DeVore Fidelity Gibbons 3.  With these speakers, great tone, delicacy, presence, harmonics, and texture.

I'd venture to say that the bigger BC amps are even better!

Good luck in your search!

[zybar]

Well since everybody has ignored the request of giving Tony mono block recommendations...

My obvious choice is the Moscode 401HR.

It absolutely delivers the best of both SS and Tubes in a beauftiful to look at, easy to use package.




George

[Occam]

......
The JC-1 are known to run pretty warm due to their high bias into Class A (which also accounts for them sounding so good).

No, the JC-1s sound as good as they do because of the efforts of John Curl (circuit topology and operating points), Carl Thompson (physical layout) and the late Bob Crump (component choice and voicing). Indeed, John Curl specifically chose an output stage operating point (bias) that he felt was optimal for that specific topology. Mr. Curls choice of a high bias was, no doubt, subjectively optimal (and probably optimal objectively) for his specific implementation and minimizes crossover distortion for that specific class AB amp.

But there is a serious danger in adopting simple orthodoxies as to what makes a great class AB solid state amplifier.
There are alternative methods to minimizing crossover distortions such as Self's 'blameless' output stage, that runs cool, which implemented by a designer such a Hugh Dean in his LifeForce poweramps, and who applies similar care in the rest of the topology, circuit layout and component choice, yields spectacular results.

Some of the worst 'improvements' I've heard in class AB amps were the result of folks thinking that high bias automatically yields improvements, and their simply turning the wick up.

I'm certainly not disputing the quality of the JC-1, but its qualities are not simply the result of high bias into class A; they're the result of careful attention to the topology and appropriate operating points, as well as similar attention to layout and component choice.

FWIW,
Paul

[tdangelo]

well,  I got myself some Blue Circle BC8 MK II monos - a few years old but were updated to MK II about a year ago.  Man,  hmmm... it's gonna be hard getting accustomed to the SS sound again.  I don't know if I can go back    The BC's are very nice - weight about 100 lbs. each and run SUPER cool - they hardly get warm.  Their bass is not as good as the Supratek's and with my Superphon Revelation III I don't have nearly enough gain.  I can turn the Superphon all the way up and it's just not very loud(the BC's input sens. is about 3.5V!!).  Oh well - guess a tube linestage is in the works if I decide to keep the BC's.  The Superphon worked excellently with the Supratek amps.  Thanks for all your suggestions!!  I may need more later

Tony

[Imperial]

One can see now and then some amps from ECS  on the used market.
The ECS EA 1 Monoblocks are simply magnificent amps. 200watts. And colossal power!
More finesse than the Gamut amps so loved by Hiraga and so on.

Then there is the FM Acoustics 600A that also some times go to some lucky dude. Also a good choice!
This amp is one of the top 3 transistordesigns EVER!!!

Imperial

[DSK]

......
The JC-1 are known to run pretty warm due to their high bias into Class A (which also accounts for them sounding so good).

No, the JC-1s sound as good as they do because of the efforts of John Curl (circuit topology and operating points), Carl Thompson (physical layout) and the late Bob Crump (component choice and voicing). Indeed, John Curl specifically chose an output stage operating point (bias) that he felt was optimal for that specific topology. Mr. Curls choice of a high bias was, no doubt, subjectively optimal (and probably optimal objectively) for his specific implementation and minimizes crossover distortion for that specific class AB amp.

But there is a serious danger in adopting simple orthodoxies as to what makes a great class AB solid state amplifier.
There are alternative methods to minimizing crossover distortions such as Self's 'blameless' output stage, that runs cool, which implemented by a designer such a Hugh Dean in his LifeForce poweramps, and who applies similar care in the rest of the topology, circuit layout and component choice, yields spectacular results.

Some of the worst 'improvements' I've heard in class AB amps were the result of folks thinking that high bias automatically yields improvements, and their simply turning the wick up.

I'm certainly not disputing the quality of the JC-1, but its qualities are not simply the result of high bias into class A; they're the result of careful attention to the topology and appropriate operating points, as well as similar attention to layout and component choice.

FWIW,
Paul

Paul, I agree completely. Otherwise all amps running in high bias class A would be better than all class A/B amps and this just ain't so! For instance, the class A/B LifeForce 100 outperforms the highly biased class A Plinius SA100 mk3 I owned for several years and the ME amps I auditioned by an astonishing degree.