1984ish: Sony all-in-one system 1998: Arcam Alpha 8 (integrated) 1999: Arcam A65+ (Richer Sounds lost the Alpha 8 which had been taken in for service!) 2014: Marantz PM-6005 (integrated) 2015: Cambridge Audio CXA60 (integrated) 2018: Rotel RA-1572 (integrated) 2019: NAD C 658 (pre) + Emotiva Stealth PA-1 monoblocks (power) 2020: NAD C 658 (pre) + PS Audio Stellar S300 (power) 2021: Willsenton R8 (valve/tube integrated) The Rotel was a definitely a case of buyer's regret and, ultimately, I've had no regrets at the NAD leaving my system. In terms of SQ, the Willsenton is comfortably ahead of all the other amp setups in the list. The Stellar S300 is/was very nice and is simply collateral fallout as it's no longer required.
I have always used SS amps. Not an exhaustive list, but, beginning in the '80s, the highlights have been: an early Bryston 4B (powered Magnepan Tympanis) Pass Aleph 3 ( the 'Sea Urchin'; powered Dunlavy SC-III speakers) Jeff Rowland Concentra I (one of my favorites) Accuphase 303x (recapped and upgraded; terrific vintage amp) Hegel h160 (excellent all around amp, and fine value on the used market, at least in the EU) GATO AMP-150 (current; excellent, very neutral and transparent amp; aesthetics not for everyone, but some love them)
pioneer sx 450 (a classic ! ) pioneer 5000 (TOTL, first surround sound AVR, smooth) marantz 2252b (last one before the buyout) marantz 2252 (back dial blue meters classic- nicest looking receiver of all time IMHO) nad c356 (hated it) nad c272 (better) sony ES (really nice sound) raven audio nighthawk (omg, tubes !) raven audio blackhawk (better tubes !) rogue audio cronus magnum ii (more power scotty !) cary audio sa200.2 (lively !) rogue audio stereo 100 (soundstage, power and dynamics) parasound a21+ (smooth, neutral and unfatiguing)
After the cheapie stuff as a kid: Jolida 302B - integrated Proceed Amp 2 Classe CA 300 McIntosh MC 402 NAD M3 Adcom GFA 555
NAD.....2 of them Hafler Conrad Johnson..3 of them Krell Sonic Frontiers Mastersound Classe McCormack Modwright Feel like I'm forgetting some....oh well I'm 60 so it's forgivable right?
amps i'd like to try- sugden mcintosh (wish they made something between the MC152 and MC312) pass labs benchmark
Kinda fascinated by the sudgen and pass labs....kinda goes against what i think i know....but i do remember the sudgen sounding very nice a long time ago.Thankfully i may have you to do the experiment for me lol
definitely a rep, more availability north of the border too. unfortunately they discontinued their reasonably priced power amp in 2019. Sugden Masterclass FPA-4 - Photo3274311
Late 70's i had M +K SlA satellites with Goliath subwoofer....my Japanese 150watt amp would shut down after 10 minutes of driving this low impedance system...i got a NAD 3020(if i remember model correctly)..it drove the speakers no problem.So yep the low watt/hi amperage thing does intrigue me.Not so sure it is an issue with amps/speakers we are using though my friend....I'm watching if you get your wallet out though
Electrophonic all in one. I was 10. Next IIRC was a used HH Scott hybrid tube/and or transistor AM/FM receiver from the mid 1960s that blow up. Then a brand new in 1974, Sony STR-6036A. Which I used until the early 1990s. (Still have it. It was great in it's time and the price.) I need to think all the many many that came after I retired the small Sony. There were dozens and dozens as I got on a vintage audio kick that I've been on ever since. My obsession over the past 10-15 or so years has been the 1970s cutting edge VFET amps, (now known as SIT transistors) built by only Yamaha and Sony exclusively, from circa 1974-1981. I now use a Yamaha B-2 VFET and a Sony TA-4650 VFET as my main amps, in two different rooms.
1. NAD 3020 Series 20 amp (found at the local Value Village, for $66) 2. Then I had to try bi-amping, and got a Nikko Alpha II 3. Added a Benz Micro Lukaschek LOMC phono preamp 4. Finally went to tubes, with a YS Audio "Symphonies" preamp, a converted Conn 7868 organ amp, and now, a Zero ZOne clone of the EAR 834 tube phono preamp (with K&K SUT)
good story. i am also intrigued by some dan d agostino designed krell amps. dan is a local homey from my home town area and these amps have a history. probably never have the $$$, the room or the electrical service for an actual d agostino amp. Although i listen now to a yeasayer lp and i think why? why? i am very happy with the sound and am enjoying the music at the same time. why? because it is a dang interesting hobby and experiencing the sound of new hardware with excellent audio credibility is worth it to me. net cost is surprisingly low too, you buy the right stuff wisely, it holds its value and is easy to sell.
My dad (who tinkered with electronics as a hobby) built me a tube receiver when I first started collecting records. I wish I still had it. Then: a Marantz 10wpc receiver Kenwood K-3500 integrated amp Sony integrated amp which I destroyed somehow Denon AVR which I got in lieu of a debt Akai receiver which was my wife's At present I have a Rotel 820AX which I got dirt cheap at a garage sale some time ago and a Yamaha AS-301 which is a couple of years old.
I forgot to add my Audio Note Conqueror Silver that I had between the Line Magnetic 518IA and Shindo Cortese F2a.
Main system: 1968 Dynaco integrated 1971 Fisher 500 receiver 1988 NAD receiver 1998 Bryston 4B ST (Still running strong) Bedroom system: Too many to remember.
1. Sanyo boombox - top load cd, dual cassette. 2. Sanyo 10 cd "mini system," with dual cassette. 3. Sony STR-DE495 (still going as my classroom amp). 4. Harman Kardon 3480. 5. Fisher 800-C. 6. Rega Elex-R. Obviously some other stuff, but these have been my music rig amps. I run Marantz for home theater now. Also, garage gear includes Sony STR-V4 (so good).
My first system was a birthday gift when I was in 8th grade a Bang and Olufsen Beosystem 2500. I thought it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen or heard.
In chronological order... Sanyo 2050 Receiver HH Scott 222c NAD? (crap) Jolida JA502A Glow Amp One Rega Mira3 Rega Elex-R McIntosh MA5300
In high school I had a boombox that had RCA inputs to accept a cheap Radio Shack phono stage for my turntable. In college, I bought a Technic Receiver with my summer earnings. After that I had a couple of Cambridge Audio Integrated Amps. Then a Jolida 302B which got replaced by a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum.
Yamaha CR-600 (1976) Yamaha AX-900 (1987) Adcom GFA 5800 (1995) ATI 1506 (1996) Marantz PM7000N (2020) in use McIntosh MC-152 (2021) in use
Yamaha RX-530 Receiver NAD C370 Integrated Amp NEW A60 Power Amp which has been highly modified. Using the NAD as a preamp.
