Your Favorite Amplifier

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Panneauman, Nov 23, 2007.

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  1. Scott in DC

    Scott in DC Forum Resident

    Location:
    Washington, DC
    Audio Note

    The Audio Note Meishu 300B SET integrated gets my vote. When partnered with suitable speakers the power and clarity of this amp is stunning.

    I own a Cary Audio 300B SET integrated which is quite exceptional also but the Audio Note takes things up a notch. Unfortunately that beast is twice as expensive.

    Scott
     
    Warren Jarrett likes this.
  2. tommy-thewho

    tommy-thewho Senior Member

    Location:
    detroit, mi
    I have always been partial to the Pioneer Spec series although I've never owned them.
     

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  3. adhoc

    adhoc Gentlemen Prefer Stereo

    It's interesting how the vast majority of the amps here are tube amps. :righton:
     
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  4. soundQman

    soundQman Senior Member

    Location:
    Arlington, VA, USA
    You mean they pay you to take them ? :D
     
  5. Jay F

    Jay F New Member

    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Why? Everyone knows tube amp lovers love their amps. I want to get Quicksilver amps. I think I will love them. But I'm not going to buy them now.
     
  6. Mike in OR

    Mike in OR Through Middle-earth...onto Heart of The Sunrise

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    oh ya.......once you get a good taste of tubes you will never go back. :agree:
     
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  7. endust4237

    endust4237 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hungary
    It is a power amp but with a very tricky digital volume control. So if your source has an XLR output you can connect it directly to the amp without a problem. I use it at the moment with a Danley SH 50 PA speaker and it is a match made in heaven. It shows amazing energy and dynamics and it is as smooth as my Audio Note P4, Neiro and Kageki amps were - but only when the music requires the smoothness. If the music needs drive, punch it has it - on a very lively and believable way. Really amazing amp. It is manufactured since 1996, and really surprising it was practically never mentioned in any of the hifi mags. I came from the triode tube world, built a 45 triode 1.5W amp 10 years ago and was using all sorts of tube amps mainly Audio Note since then, I had a quite rare Audio Note Kageki, an original Kondo amp, one of his very best. Then the AB class bipolar SS MC2 Audio MC1250 came and now it does not give me less emotion than the Kageki, but it gives it in a very different way. With the Danley SH 50 speakers if you have at least 40 sqm room, it is one of the musically most satisfying system I have ever owned. Strange world...
     
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  8. Metralla

    Metralla Joined Jan 13, 2002

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Are you certain of that comparison? The best of the FMAs are very expensive and very good.
     
  9. endust4237

    endust4237 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hungary
    I got a chance to briefly compare it to a FM Acosutics 411 stereo amp, which is a very much respected FMA amp. I did not say the MC1250 was "better", I said it is like an FMA. They were in the same league, at least for me of course. YMMV :)
     
  10. Jim Ricketts

    Jim Ricketts Active Member

    Location:
    Freedom, USA
    I'm one that has left behind tube amps for an extraordinary solid state design from Italy.

    Actually, getting best of both...and even more esp with far superior speed and controlled power for optimal bass without bloat/coloration. And amazing tonal midrange purity, top end extension and airy, open soundstage. The whole enchilada.

    Very satisfied and never going back! Just different ways to skin the cat...so to speak.
     
  11. Monsieur Gadbois

    Monsieur Gadbois Senior Member

    Location:
    Hotel California
    Any Jadis fan?

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Metralla

    Metralla Joined Jan 13, 2002

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    It certainly is. Just checking we were on the same page.
     
  13. Metralla

    Metralla Joined Jan 13, 2002

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Are you talking about Delta Sigma?
     
  14. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    VinylRob likes this.
  15. Monsieur Gadbois

    Monsieur Gadbois Senior Member

    Location:
    Hotel California
    Have not heard that they are unreliable. :eek:

    To me, their built quality is second to none.
     
  16. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    They had a really bad stretch of QC issues in the 90s. They fixed them however. Sadly Victor Goldstein shut down Fanfare, the importer. He is a character.
     
  17. DrJ

    DrJ Senior Member

    Location:
    Davis, CA, USA
    Much as I like my MC30s and 60s, king of vintage tube amps for me so far is the "brown behemoth," the Harman-Kardon Citation II.

    [​IMG]

    The one pictured isn't mine (the pic is from Jim McShane's web site), but mine is just as nice. I like the way they look but many don't...sitting next to my gorgeous silver and black McIntosh MC30s and 60s, I believe the phrase my wife used to describe the Citation II was "butt ugly!" Hey, it's a workin' amp...
     
  18. michael w

    michael w New Member

    Location:
    aotearoa
    Yep, even when they don't work...

    :laugh:
     

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  19. motorcitydave

    motorcitydave Enlightened Rogue In Memoriam

    Location:
    Las Vegas, NV, USA
    The FM Acoustics amps are amazing...that's my pick. If you can afford one of them, give them a shot.

    Actually...I am the former owner of one. Long story. I still use their interconnects with my Bryston gear.
     
  20. Jim Ricketts

    Jim Ricketts Active Member

    Location:
    Freedom, USA
    Geoff,
    Yes, Delta Sigma in northern Italy.

    I recently visited them and was simply stunned hearing the first note of Peggy's "Fever" on their all-DS system. But everything sounded amazing with tremendous transparency and detail, jaw dropping dynamics that were fast, controlled and impactful and a real natural tonality with accuracy.

    Great power supply design and the amps & linestage are flat to 3Mhz.

    Very reassuring to see the first class parts and superb construction, too.

    Overall, light years beyond any tube designs I've ever heard.

    We will introduce the "North Pole" Special Edition integrated at CES. It uses the 3mhz boards from the linestage and amplifier with separate power supplies for each board in each channel - total of 4 PS. A Dual-Mono+ design. Rated at 150w/ch @ 8ohms with 2,000 peak power for the unrestrained, explosive dynamics. Stable to 0.2ohms and no special cables required due to ultra high bandwidth.

    More info at http://www.tmhaudio.com/DeltaSigma.htm
     
  21. YorkeS9

    YorkeS9 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany / NRW
    Love my ASR Emitter II.
     
  22. aviserated

    aviserated New Member

    Location:
    oxford, ga., USA
    Mcintosh is my favorite, but I cannot afford it yet. 2300 pre , 252 amp

    My Denon sounds nice enough for now.

    -
     
  23. AudiophilePhil

    AudiophilePhil Senior Member

    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    I wish.....
     
  24. UFObuster

    UFObuster New Member

    My fav....and I have it....the Rotel RB-1080. Not exotic, no tubes, but for simple design, form, function, and price....it can't be beat.
     
  25. Stitch

    Stitch Member

    Location:
    London
    My favourite Amp

    [​IMG]


    :D
     
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