asindc
Member
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- Jul 19, 2013
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- 784
Hehe... no... disappointed that he did not include them in his list, especially with how much he loved them when they first came out
I knew what you meant, just joshing ya.
Top 5 amplifiers for under $100K
- Thread starter Alpinist
- Start date
I knew what you meant, just joshing ya.
mep
Well-known member
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- Dec 4, 2013
- Messages
- 5,092
Mike already booted one of them off AS and thankfully the worst ones aren’t here.
Ken, $100k... really... how many people can have actually had the chance to listen to a $100k amp let alone five... (not counting shows which are not easy to really listen)... but how many people can actually truly afford a $100k amp
How about your favorite amps for under $10k ....:wave:
pfff. I am waiting for the best 5 amps for under 200K!!
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Being that I recently got into SET I think this is an interesting point. I think I agree with you. I have a much lower level SET but they probably would be a top contender for under $10k. A top notch SET amps like the one that one of our forum members recently bought would definitely be on the list!
No 160M? I am disappointed with how much you loved them when they first came out
Sorry for the late reply. Just catching up. The 160M’s are superb amps - especially in Triode mode, as are the REF250SE’s. But I’ve heard those ARC 750SE’s (as I put in my list above) make even the crummiest speakers sound good. Without naming names, I had given up on one particular speaker, until I heard the ARC REF750SE’s just own them and transform them into world beaters.
True, true. I included the Viva for this reason.
BlueFox
New member
Good question. Not! I am enjoying my cheapo Pass amps enough to not even think of upgrading amps.
- Thread Author
- #29
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Cheapo Pass amps... :roflmao:
Dguitarnut
New member
Maybe we should start a Go-fund me page for poor guy
:cryforjoy:
Depending on your speaker strategy, you might not need high cost amps. I feel for low sensitivity tough load speakers, where you require these big SS amps, more money is required. While there will be expensive amps one doesn't like, invariably the best amps will also be expensive.
But on high efficiency easy to drive speakers, the low powered triodes are not required to be expensive. While one can always shell out for Kondo (which I don't like anyway), there are many low priced amps that are high quality. For example, Thomas Mayer's 1w amp is much cheaper and sounds better than his own 211 amp on the pnoe. This is true in many other cases. Airtight 300b or NAF 2a3 integrated sound great on devore orangutans. As do OTL where OTL work.
So below 100k is a bit misleading. Might make sense to rate top 3 SS amps under 100k and top 3 amps otherwise.
My list is tenor 75 OTL, Thomas Mayer 46 valve 1w amp, Berning quadrature. For SS, between dagostino momentum, Vitus masterpiece, and boulder 2160, depending on speaker and preference, all cost less than 100k. Never heard technical brain or balabo.
CH and gryphon mephisto should also be considered.
But on high efficiency easy to drive speakers, the low powered triodes are not required to be expensive. While one can always shell out for Kondo (which I don't like anyway), there are many low priced amps that are high quality. For example, Thomas Mayer's 1w amp is much cheaper and sounds better than his own 211 amp on the pnoe. This is true in many other cases. Airtight 300b or NAF 2a3 integrated sound great on devore orangutans. As do OTL where OTL work.
So below 100k is a bit misleading. Might make sense to rate top 3 SS amps under 100k and top 3 amps otherwise.
My list is tenor 75 OTL, Thomas Mayer 46 valve 1w amp, Berning quadrature. For SS, between dagostino momentum, Vitus masterpiece, and boulder 2160, depending on speaker and preference, all cost less than 100k. Never heard technical brain or balabo.
CH and gryphon mephisto should also be considered.
Bonzo - what system do you have? I don’t see it in your signature.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't have one. I will get one only after brexit, as we cannot sell off current property till then in London without massive loss. But devore orangutan are the first on the compromise list if I cannot fit in big horns
Martin Logan summits and verity leonore before
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- #38
- Thread Author
- #39
Hi Bob,
I didn’t want to exclude some really fine monoblocks like the Nagra HD, Constellation Centaur II or Pass XS-300 from my list of favorite amps. Unfortunately, monoblocks like the Dartzeel NHB-468, CH Precision M1.1, Soulution 701 and D’Agostino Relentless are over the limit.
Best,
Ken
I like Luxman as a high value amplifier. It takes a lot of money to beat it on SS side