5 best power amps for $5000 to $12,500...including integrated.

Luxman 509x
Luxman 590
Gryphon Diablo 120
Pass INT-60
VAC i170iQ
Hegel 590
....many more


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Keep in mind "best" is so subjective. Here's a few I would consider and there are things I haven't had much exposure to, so don't worry if you don't see Luxman on my list, :)

Power amps:
Bryston 4b cubed
Pass X250 or 350.8
I would include my Levinson 532h as I can't think of anything in that range I'd trade for, on the other hand it doesn't hold it's resale value like other Levinson amps, so I would add, if buying at a good deal.

I suspect something from Conrad Johnson or VTL would go on this list if I knew pricing. Also, in tube Octave Audio has a stunning power amp that was around $10k.
PS Audio - BHK

Integrated:
Hegel 590
VAC
At only $3500.00 I sure did like the Triode of Japan

That's it for now
 
Rowen Absolute One! A pair of these will deliver nearly 4KW into 0.5 ohms.

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In this range I would think that the Audio Mirror SET 45 have to be considered. It depends on your speakers and listening habits, but my 89db KEFs work very well with these amps. They are rated at 45 watts per amp, which some may think is low, but for SET this is very much on the high end. However, they have dynamic power at over 100 watts per amp.

As The Absolute Sound wrote, at $10,000 these would receive their top rating and be considered a must listen to amp, at their price they are a steal. Add some nice NOS tubes for rolling and you have a killer combo, very easily in your range.

Other brands I would consider in this range:

T+A
Audio Research
McIntosh
Pass Labs
 
Well, IME the best amps have the best imaging and detail without the coloration of brightness and harshness, and for that you need tubes. I've only heard two solid state amps that really brought home the bacon in that regard, one is the re-imagined Sony V-FET (SIT) amp designed by Nelson Pass, which was only available in kit form. SITs have linearity and soft clipping similar to triodes (and have become rare, long out of production); a pity that Sony has been so intent on shooting their foot over the decades... The other is a class D prototype.

Our M-60 amplifier makes the list- its been the benchmark that other amps have had to beat. So far the SIT kit and that prototype have been the only ones that could keep up.

Bandwidth is simply not a thing, since tubes and solid state can have very similar bandwidth. I do find though that its harder to get solid state to have good resolution in the bass- you get get punch but less body and detail of the instrument. The two amps I mentioned above do that bit quite well.
 
What is it about Minnesota... tube amp companies congregating there....

Audio Research
Atma-Sphere
Audio Mirror
:dunno:

any others?
 
Best absolute sound -

Art Audio Diavolo 300B Copper Reference is the most musical amp I have ever heard and the balance of Art Audio's line is pretty special

Musical Fidelity M8 700s are phenomenal if you need lots of power and the Nu-Vista line is pretty special.
 
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VerdantAudio said:
Best absolute sound -

Art Audio Diavolo 300B Copper Reference is the most musical amp I have ever heard and the balance of Art Audio's line is pretty special

Musical Fidelity M8 700s are phenomenal if you need lots of power and the Nu-Vista line is pretty special.
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