Here's my favorite amplifier list...

[TONEPUB]

I'm inspired by Art Dudley, so here's my list of favorite power amplifiers of all time... (at least according to me!) No particular order of better or worse. Notice, I'm saying my FAVORITE, not the BEST amplifiers of all time!


1. The Mark Levinson ML-2 (?) monoblocks. The 25 watt class-A ones that were huge and threw off a ton of heat. With a pair of Magnepans or Quads you were in pig heaven.

2. The McIntosh MC-30 monoblocks. 30 watts of tube sweetness! Midrange doesn't get any better than this!

3. The McIntosh MC275 (especially the current mk. V version) Still pretty sweet and plenty of authority to go with. Now that the input controls are gone, the sound is a bit cleaner too! Not to mention the classic good looks and modern build quality. I'm gonna hand this one down to my daughter in 30 years...

4. Krell KSA-50 Another Class A jewel, especially the KSA-50S mk II. Not the typical sound of early Krell gear. Definitely a bit of magic here!

5. Wavac EC-300B Our fearless leader has one of these and it is a beauty. Midrange magic AND inner detail in spades. If you have the right set of efficient speakers this could be your little slice of heaven for about 30k!

6. Nelson Pass First watt F3 Fifteen watts per channel, single ended class-A design. Uses more juice from the line than a stack of home theater recievers from Best Buy, but the cleanest, most grain free solid state you will ever hear!

7. Dynaco Stereo 70 Just because.

8. Conrad Johnson Premier 350 My current reference for enough reasons to write a book. Close to the "do everything" amp as I've ever come across. Tons of power, tons of control and dynamics all without being harsh or grainy.

9. Manley 250 monoblocks Read the upcoming review in issue 10. These are the most versatile tube amplification devices I have ever heard. Switchable between pentode and triode mode, they will power anything you can throw at them. All the finesse of a small amp, with the power of a big one!

10. Nagra PSA (or the PMA monos...) Great sounding amps from the Swiss that should be in a fine art gallery.

Well, those are my picks, let's hear what you guys have to say.

Runners up: Phase Linear 700B, the HK Citation 16 as well as the Citation II, Threshold 4000B, Audio Research D-79, Audio Research Classic 150 monoblocks

[bhazen]

Naim Nait 5i
Rega Brio

(I know, they're integrateds; but I wanted to participate in this thread.)

[AudioEnz]

(I know, they're integrateds; but I wanted to participate in this thread.)

Nothing wrong with integrated amps. They can offer superb sound and outstanding value.

The two you mentioned are great, along with other affordable amps such as the Cambridge 640. I could live with any of them.

[vinyl anachronist]

1. Audio Note Onga-ku. Yes, I've heard it, and on several occasions. I have a friend with one. Time flies when you listen to it. It's like being in a time warp. When I win the lottery, that's what I'm getting. 26 watts of single-ended heaven.

2. Lamm Industries ML-2 monoblocks. This one is 18 watts of single-ended heaven. Everytime I hear one at an audio show, it's the best sound I hear that day.

3. Yamamoto Sound Craft A-08S 45. 2 watts of single-ended heaven. I get to hear this one every day, because I'm lucky enough to own it!

4. Audiopax Model 88. We're 4 for 4 for SETs...think I'm biased? This one, amazingly enough, is from Brazil! And it sounds wonderful, and has 30 solid watts per channel and can run most speakers.

5. Naim NAIT 2. At last, a solid state amp! Yet it still only has 15-21 wpc! I've owned many Naim amps over the years, and this tiny integrated might be my absolute favorite.

6. Unison Unico SE. This hybrid integrated is the first amp I've listed that could be called high-powered, with 140wpc. This is the amp that ALMOST prevented me from going SET. Almost. Partnered with the Harbeth Monitor 30 speakers, this is almost perfect.

7. First Watt F3. I reviewed this for TONE a few months ago, and still think I was a little hard on it. But I did say in the review that if I had to buy an SS amp right now, this would be the one. I meant it.

8. Naim NAP 250. The old one, not the new one. The old one doesn't image as well, can sound very forward and edgy in the wrong system, is very idiosyncratic. It's also the epitome of PRaT, and it rocks more than 70wpc should.

9. Bottlehead Paramour 2A3 monoblocks. These come very close to my beloved Yamamoto. Very close. And they cost $549. A pair. This is the best buy of the group.

10. Audio Research Classic 30s. I heard this 30wpc mated once with the fairly inefficient Martin-Logan CLS, and it worked. Really, really well. This was the first tube amp I ever had any real experience with. No other amp I've heard sounds better at low volumes.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Oh well, so many amps, so little time...

(Oh, and three of mine are integrateds, including #1!)

Average power...35wpc (23wpc without the Unico)!

[Steve Hoffman]

My favorites:

[Steve Hoffman]

And..

[TONEPUB]

I forgot about that Marantz, definitely a great amp!!

[mrdon]

I am surprised no one has yet mentioned the Eico HF-81.

And if I am allowed to list this but I do like my made in Japan mid-70's Harmon Kardon Model 630 Receiver I picked up at an Estate Sale for $25. With some new caps, it sounds really good for a Receiver - nice midrange, tight bass, sparkly highs; this of course varies on the recording as I swear this thing is very neutral. Plus, the green glow of the Tuner is killer with the lights low. :)

[JA Fant]

Good Morning,
TONEPUB- can I get more on the Conrad Johnson Premier 350? I am seriously in the market for it. You can PM me as needed.

[Mick Jones]

There are a lot of amplifiers that look nice, fewer that actually sound good, but once you've heard those Lamm ML-2 monoblocks the others just pale into insignificance. They are just so fabulous, and fabulously expensive, that they up the standard of just how good an amplifier can be in my opinion. I heard them at a Hi-Fi Show in London. They sort of look rather 'functional' but the sound they produce just puts them in a league of their own.

[chosenhandle]

Atma-sphere MA series.

[MonkeyMan]

Boulder 102ae

[Curiosity]

Leak TL10.

Rogers Cadet 3 tube integrated. Cute and pleasant 7.5 Watts from 2 ECL86s per channel.

World Audio Designs K5881 20 Watt per channel Beam Tetrode job (c) 1994
I loved the sound but wasn't powerful enough for my speakers unfortunately.

[TONEPUB]

If I was talking about integrateds, that's a whole nother story.

Dynaco SCA 35
The original Naim Nait and the current Nait 5i (the new SuperNait looks interesting too)
Sudgen A21SE
Prima Luna Prologue 1
Valve Audio Predator
Scott 299
McIntosh MA220

Remember, it's about favorites of yours not the "best" I don't have a ton of experience
here, always been a seperates kind of guy...

[DaveN]

Since the Prima Luna Prologue 1 was mentioned, I'll add in the Onix SP-3. These two are very similar in power and features. I know that there are much better sounding amps out there. But not for this kind of money.

[vinyl anachronist]

I had to include a few integrateds in my list, since the best amp I've ever heard was an integrated. I've also owned more integrateds than separates at this point in my life.

[MartinV56]

My List
My list:
Vintage
Marantz 8B
Mcintosh 225
Dynaco ST 70
Scott 299B
Eico AF4
Brook 2A3

New
Wavac EC-300B
Utopia Audio 2A3
Jeff Korneff 45

Best Regards

[Blumenkohl]

As Jeff knows I have been researching new amplification as of late. Owning 89dB 8Ohm speakers and having used a Sugden A21a for a number of years I concentrated on class a topology. Above, I find a great many class a amps as well. What I find peculiar, is that I came across no true class A (integrated) amp that provides significantly more than 30wpc, even behemoths like the Sugden Masterclass or Accuphase E530 do not. Anyone knows why is that? Limited passive heat dissipation? Does this mean the bigger amps don't have more power/control than my little Sugden at 25wpc brings to the table?

[Plinko]

Great thread!!!!!!!!

[LousyTourist]

My favorite, the Welborne Labs Laurel II's. Gee, did I mention these are my current amps?

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q319/lousytourist/IMG_0097.jpg

[LeeS]

Good list Jeff,

I would add in the recent Halcro amps and the Audio Research VT-100 and Ref 210. I have yet to hear the Ref110 but the buzz is tremendous. The VTL amps are very, very good as well. I have also heard a great system with Joule Electra amps. Judd lives here in Georgia.

I might also add in the upper line Brystons. Sound great with Maggies.

[Sput]

I'm bummed! I thought I was getting there with the Dynaco ST70 and the Bryston 3B. Obviously I overestimated it.

[LesPaul666]

I used to have a NAD 214 power amp that I REALLY liked. In some ways, I like it better than the Adcom GFA monster that I have now. There was something quite a bit more musical about it.

[-=Rudy=-]

I've always wanted one of those Hafler DH-250 amps to go with my Hafler preamps.

[Liquid Snake]

Runners up: Phase Linear 700B, the HK Citation 16 as well as the Citation II, Threshold 4000B, Audio Research D-79, Audio Research Classic 150 monoblocks

Cool, my dad still has one of those in his system.