100 amps to hear before you die

jrebman · « **on:** 20 Dec 2008, 04:34 pm »

Inspired by the recent release of the book, "1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die", and all the similar books in the same vein, I thought I'd start this thread, but keep it to 100 so as to be more selective in the smaller range of products available. Power amps and integrateds only, SS, tube, or hybrid; no preamps.

I'll start with my faves so far, in no particular order:

Lamm ML 2.1
Audio Note Kegan
Audio Note On-Gaku
Edge NL 12
Red Wine Audio 30.2
Vaughn Audio Carina

Yes, quite a range in prices from about $1700 to $85k.

If I had to pick just one to live with for the rest of my life, and price were no object, hands down it would be the Lamm ML 2.1s -- Just love those amps, and they could easily drive any speaker I'd be interested in.

Who's next?

-- Jim

kgturner · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 05:39 pm »

Yamamoto A-08S
AES Sixpacs (the amp that got me into tubes)
Art Audio Carissa

i'd like to hear:

Lamm ML2.1
darTZeel NHB-108

Audiovista · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 05:50 pm »

Ultrasound Otello

http://www.higherfi.com/amplist/amplist.htm

I'd like to hear this one and I'd LOVE to be able to afford it.

CSI · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 06:08 pm »

Any amp by Odyssey
CIA D.100/200
Prima Luna ProLogue One
DAC Cherry
RW 30.2

TerryO · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 06:16 pm »

Quote from: kgturner on 20 Dec 2008, 05:39 pm

Yamamoto A-08S
AES Sixpacs (the amp that got me into tubes)
Art Audio Carissa

i'd like to hear:

Lamm ML2.1
darTZeel NHB-108

One of the members of the Pacific Northwest Audio Society has owned both the Lamm and the darTZeel amps. Quite honestly, they're both extremely nice sounding amps and I'd be happy with either of them.
After some time with both, he's kept the darTZeel amp (and preamp) to drive his system. It must be tough to have to make decisions like that :^)

The audio club had an amp shootout a couple of years ago and the top three amps (out of ~20 amps), in order, were the Sim Audio Moon amp, a modified HH Scott 222c amp (really nice sound) and a Sansui AU 7900 integrated, used as a power amp. It was a real surprise for many members how good the older amps (the 222c and the Sansui) sounded.

Best Regards,
TerryO

bacobits1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 06:31 pm »

WTF!
What is in these amps to make it worth so much?
The ones Boris mentioned.

Den

Scott F. · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 06:42 pm »

Musical arts channeled through true artisans.

Anything by Josh Stippich of ElectronLuv

Same goes for Jeffrey Jackson at Experience Music

arthurs · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 06:50 pm »

I'm awfully glad I got to hear these...

TerryO · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 07:02 pm »

Quote from: Scott F. on 20 Dec 2008, 06:42 pm

Musical arts channeled through true artisans.

Anything by Josh Stippich of ElectronLuv

Same goes for Jeffrey Jackson at Experience Music

I agree with the above.
How about the Experience Music amplifier that was used in the Lowther America room at VSAC? That was an amplifier!!!

Best Regards,
TerryO

Scott F. · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 08:33 pm »

Quote from: TerryO on 20 Dec 2008, 07:02 pm

How about the Experience Music amplifier that was used in the Lowther America room at VSAC? That was an amplifier!!!

Terry,

Jon VerHalen is still trying to talk me in to building an Eimac based amp for my Lowthers. I'd love to but my sense for adventure stops at about 600 volts

There's a special place in heaven reserved for those guys that play above the 1Kv threshold.

chadh · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 09:00 pm »

I have a suspicion these might make a top 100 list:

Of course, I might be swayed by the fact that they look so cool.

Chad

TerryO · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 09:10 pm »

Quote from: Scott F. on 20 Dec 2008, 08:33 pm

Quote from: TerryO on 20 Dec 2008, 07:02 pm
How about the Experience Music amplifier that was used in the Lowther America room at VSAC? That was an amplifier!!!

Terry,

Jon VerHalen is still trying to talk me in to building an Eimac based amp for my Lowthers. I'd love to but my sense for adventure stops at about 600 volts There's a special place in heaven reserved for those guys that play above the 1Kv threshold.

There's a special place in heaven reserved for those guys that play above the 1Kv threshold.

Yeah, it's at the end of the express lane

Electricity scares me and the more of it there is, the scarier it is.

"There are Old Electricians, and there are Bold Electricians...
But there are no Old, Bold Electricians."

Best Regards,
TerryO

jhm731 · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Dec 2008, 09:10 pm »

Scott Frankland's Wavestream Kinetics Triode V8 monos.

geezer · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Dec 2008, 02:06 am »

A few points that I'm curious about:

What's with the triangular geometries? Is there a real sonic issue here or is it just a matter of trying to be "cool?"

What is it about these amps that cause them to be so expensive?

I'd like to hear from those who have heard some of these jewels what do you get sonically for the money. For example, could someone describe the differences between the sound of these and the best amps below $10K, or even $5K?

TerryO · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 01:41 am »

Quote from: geezer on 21 Dec 2008, 02:06 am

````````````````````````snip````````````````````

What's with the triangular geometries? Is there a real sonic issue here or is it just a matter of trying to be "cool?"

````````````````````````snip`````````````````````

I suspect it's to look cool, or maybe it's designed to drive a wedge between you and your wallet.

Actually, there's a lot of tubes there , so splitting the chassis like that may actually aid cooling. In any event, my wife would never allow something like that out in the open.
Anodized Black Aluminum boxes are "just" barely tolerated as it is

Best Regards,
TerryO

lazydays · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 05:51 am »

Quote from: CSI on 20 Dec 2008, 06:08 pm

Any amp by Odyssey
CIA D.100/200
Prima Luna ProLogue One
DAC Cherry
RW 30.2

Add Conrad Johnson ST140 mono blocs to that list along with the big dog from VTL.
gary

lazydays · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 05:52 am »

Quote from: Scott F. on 20 Dec 2008, 06:42 pm

Musical arts channeled through true artisans.

Anything by Josh Stippich of ElectronLuv

Same goes for Jeffrey Jackson at Experience Music

Damn I thought that was somekind tube powered expresso machine!
gary

TerryO · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 06:11 am »

Quote from: lazydays on 23 Dec 2008, 05:52 am

Quote from: Scott F. on 20 Dec 2008, 06:42 pm
Musical arts channeled through true artisans.

Anything by Josh Stippich of ElectronLuv

Same goes for Jeffrey Jackson at Experience Music

Damn I thought that was somekind tube powered expresso machine!
gary

gary,

That's exactly what Captain Nemo had it built for, clever conversion isn't it?

Best Regards,
TerryO

Imperial · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 01:41 pm »

Ah the nemo...

I'd put it top 5. (On my own list..)

Imperial

Browntrout · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Dec 2008, 02:01 pm »

There is a guy who works in the industry (I think he designs the Living Voice speakers and works with Definitive Audio) who has four AudioNote Gakuohs run from a massive battery bank to quad amp so he can test and adjust his crossover designs aa. I have a sneaking suspicion they sound rather good. Also I would like to hear those anniversary monoblocks by EAR with around 100watts on tap. Here it is.......
http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/livingvoice/definitive.html

Mains pollution? What pollution? What mains?