What's your favorite Solid State Amp?

timind · « **Reply #80 on:** 10 Oct 2010, 08:20 pm »

Quote from: etcarroll on 10 Oct 2010, 08:13 pm

That's sexy looking.

Sexy looking?

TONEPUB · « **Reply #81 on:** 10 Oct 2010, 08:22 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 5 Oct 2010, 12:54 pm

I wonder how long it will take someone to post about this http://www.dagostinoinc.com as being their favorite.

TONEPUB????

Haven't heard it, so can't comment. They won't even be available until CES, when they launch the first ones.

etcarroll · « **Reply #82 on:** 10 Oct 2010, 09:27 pm »

Quote from: timind on 10 Oct 2010, 08:20 pm

Sexy looking?

Sexy is in the eye of the beholder. What can I say.

bunky · « **Reply #83 on:** 16 Oct 2010, 01:43 pm »

A friend of mine Mark/dorokusai over at the Club Polk forum owns a very nice SS amplifier called the CTC BBQ which is a stereo prototype of what would become the JC1 monoblock,it was designed by Bob Crump, Carl Thompson and John Curl.only five of these amplifiers were built and they were the sibling to the CTC Blowtorch preamplifier,the BBQ was rated 450 wpc @ 6ohms .I am fond of the Belles Ref 350 and i almost bought one just before i was bitten by the Tube Bug

rollo · « **Reply #84 on:** 21 Oct 2010, 07:22 pm »

DartZheel, Plinius and MBL. The Plinius being the bargin.

charles

audioseduction · « **Reply #85 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 03:24 pm »

I would have to say my current amps.... Pass Labs XA160.5 Class A Monoblocks.

werd · « **Reply #86 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 04:08 pm »

Quote from: audioseduction on 28 Oct 2010, 03:24 pm

I would have to say my current amps.... Pass Labs XA160.5 Class A Monoblocks.

Nice pic!! those are gorgeous.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #87 on:** 7 Nov 2010, 03:16 am »

Here is my update on this:

It's a tie between a Threshold STASIS 2, and a Threshold 400A.

I'm about to complete restoration of the 400A, including output devices (replacing the originals with a model that was used by Threshold in the 80's and 90's).

The more amps I listen to, the more I realize just how good Nelson Pass designs are.

Minn Mark · « **Reply #88 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 01:51 pm »

I've heard great sounds from Bryston, Theta, Threshold, Rowland, Boulder, McIntosh, Ayre, etc etc.

I use a humble Audio by Van Alstine Insight 440H.

220w @ 8 ohms; will drive 1 ohm loads. Sounds great to me.

And I still have an all original Hafler DH-200 I built from a kit. Sounds great with an SAE 2900 pre-amp, and tape, LP or CD sources.

Cheers,

Mark

Saturn94 · « **Reply #89 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 02:51 pm »

Quote from: Minn Mark on 9 Nov 2010, 01:51 pm

I've heard great sounds from Bryston, Theta, Threshold, Rowland, Boulder, McIntosh, Ayre, etc etc.

I use a humble Audio by Van Alstine Insight 440H.

220w @ 8 ohms; will drive 1 ohm loads. Sounds great to me.

And I still have an all original Hafler DH-200 I built from a kit. Sounds great with an SAE 2900 pre-amp, and tape, LP or CD sources.

Cheers,

Mark

I had 2 Hafler DH-200 amps; one I built from a kit and the the other I bought used. I enjoyed them for 30 years before I replaced them early this year with a Parasound 5250. Initially it was sad to see the Hafler's go, but the Parasound has been wonderful so I really don't miss the Haflers now.

David C · « **Reply #90 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 05:47 pm »

A bit dated but back in my audio heyday I had a pair of GAS Son of Ampzillas that were fab. I had DQ10s and an Advent model 300 as the pre. Great system. Out of the Audio play for many years and living in the UK for the past 13 yr. I have had Arcam (ok but not great) and now Nuforce which sound good. Not the top dollar (or £) but meet my needs

Harmon · « **Reply #91 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 06:40 pm »

My Clayton S40. Bought it on Audiogon.

Delta Wave · « **Reply #92 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 07:03 pm »

The two I'm currently using... NAD 218THX... for my budget they can't be beat.

2 x 225 Watts continuous power into 8 ohms
Dynamic Power 280, 470, 700 W into 8, 4 and 2 ohms
Dual mono, Left and Right mirror image amplifier PCBs
Bridgeable; 700 W into 8 ; 1.2 kW dynamic power into 4 ohms

DTB300 · « **Reply #93 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 07:16 pm »

It has been a bit since I have been out listening to some exceptional SS amps. It is becoming harder and harder to find local stores with these products.

But in the past here are my favorites:

Conrad Johnson Premier 350

Plinius SA-102 (Selectable Class A or A/B)

The older Krell KSA/KMA models were also a favorite of mine in the past.

Rocket_Ronny · « **Reply #94 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 07:44 pm »

I am loving my Arte Forma I-150 watt integrated.

Here is my recent review:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=87635.msg860336;topicseen#new

Rocket_Ronny

chlorofille · « **Reply #95 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 08:08 pm »

My all time favourite; and first amp I ever built - Rod Elliot P3A amplifier with DoZ (death of Zen preamp).
Excuse the bad wiring.

Specs (taken from Rod's website):
Basic Specifications
The following shows the basic measurement results ...

Gain 27dB
Input Impedance 24k
Input Sensitivity 1.22V for 100W (8 ohms)
Frequency response 1 10Hz to 30kHz (-1dB) typical
Distortion (THD) 0.04% typical at 1W to 80W
Power (42V supplies, 8 ohm load) 2 90W
Power (35V supplies, 8 ohm load) 3 60W
Power (35V supplies, 4 ohm load) 100W
Hum and Noise 4 -73 dBV unweighted
DC Offset < 100mV

Total cost of project : $200 for everything (including case, PCB's and 500W EI transformer)

Sound: Vibrant, lively with massive upfront 3D soundstage. Good bass control.
Top end that brings out the best in cymbals.

Rod has designed another champion of an amp

Freo-1 · « **Reply #96 on:** 10 Nov 2010, 03:00 am »

My new fav amp:

Threshold STASIS-2 with S-500 driver board upgrade.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #97 on:** 10 Nov 2010, 03:01 am »

Quote from: audioseduction on 28 Oct 2010, 03:24 pm

I would have to say my current amps.... Pass Labs XA160.5 Class A Monoblocks.

Wow! Very nice.

vegasdave · « **Reply #98 on:** 4 Dec 2010, 02:42 am »

cost no object: FM ACOUSTICS

real world: BRYSTON

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #99 on:** 4 Dec 2010, 03:19 am »

Quote from: Freo-1 on 4 May 2010, 02:03 am

Nakamichi PA-7.

Great sound at a reasonable price.

Had one before I started to go overboard with the Audioorgy thingie. It was the best $900 I ever spent...I regret trading it for another better looking but sonically inferior amp....but the 200 watts it provided were not really high current, being able to deal with difficult loads.