Top 5 amplifiers for under $100K

Companies that make great amps under 100k that I've heard over the years:

Gryphon
MBL
Burmester
BAT
Mcintosh

Honorable mention:
TRL
Bryston
Audio Research
Edit: Forgot Convergent Audio Technology
 
bonzo said:
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.

Click to expand...


Where does CH fits in ..??
 
bonzo said:
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
Click to expand...

Devore with toobs , not SS ....
 
Does anyone have any thoughts on monoblock amps that are bridged stereo amps versus monoblock amps that are built from the ground up as mono amps? Are there any disadvantages to monoblocks that are bridged stereo amps such as stability into low impedance loads?

Thanks,
Ken
 
Simply ,

Bridging eliminates low Z load drive , typically halfing low z stereo operation... a purpose built mono bloc equivalent to a bridged stereo is better In driving low Z loads if purpose built for low Z operation ..



regards
 
1. Nagra HD amp - I stopped looking, everything I want for music and HT.
2. Dag M400 - I like them but have only heard them with Wilson in multiple rooms.
3. Nagra Classic - Very good IMO but not HD.
4. Ayre MXR-20 - I added these because I've heard them enough to like them but would't buy them.

5. Gryphon - I haven't heard the Colosseum or Mephisto but they're on my wishlist.

I need SS power for HT, but I would like to try a SET amp in the future in a more dedicated room.

Dave
 
SuperDave said:
1. Nagra HD amp - I stopped looking, everything I want for music and HT.
2. Dag M400 - I like them but have only heard them with Wilson in multiple rooms.
3. Nagra Classic - Very good IMO but not HD.
4. Ayre MXR-20 - I added these because I've heard them enough to like them but would't buy them.

5. Gryphon - I haven't heard the Colosseum or Mephisto but they're on my wishlist.

I need SS power for HT, but I would like to try a SET amp in the future in a more dedicated room.

Dave
Click to expand...

Hi Dave,

Congrats on your Nagra HD amps! Could you describe the sonic signature of the amps? How much heat do they put out into your listening room?

Thanks,
Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Hi Dave,

Congrats on your Nagra HD amps! Could you describe the sonic signature of the amps? How much heat do they put out into your listening room?

Thanks,
Ken
Click to expand...

Ken,

I leave them on most of the time and they put out a little heat but not enough to make me look at the thermostat. When listening, I rarely go into double digits, they usually stay at around 10 watts. I'll do the best I can describing what I hear. IMO, the HD amps are musical, dynamic, and effortless all at the same time. I've heard amps that sound transparent and detailed but lack whatever it is that gets my feet tapping. I think they are able to retrieve the smallest details for low volume listening that is still very dynamic and powerful. My kids are 2 and 5 and most of my sessions are late at night and I don't feel like I'm missing too much at low volume. Adding the HD amps made me realize how sad my bass was before. Slow and sloppy and I never knew. Ignorance is bliss. All very subjective, but timbre was vastly improved. Piano sounds more like what I believe piano to sound like and drums which I've been around my whole life sound like they do in the studio. To my ears, after its all put together, the HD amps don't over or under emphasize any aspect. I feel they are very well balanced and present music in a truly natural way. I hope this helps.

Dave
 
Hi. I would add the LAMM reference. Superb. Also the Vitus as someone mentioned above.
 
SuperDave said:
Ken,

I leave them on most of the time and they put out a little heat but not enough to make me look at the thermostat. When listening, I rarely go into double digits, they usually stay at around 10 watts. I'll do the best I can describing what I hear. IMO, the HD amps are musical, dynamic, and effortless all at the same time. I've heard amps that sound transparent and detailed but lack whatever it is that gets my feet tapping. I think they are able to retrieve the smallest details for low volume listening that is still very dynamic and powerful. My kids are 2 and 5 and most of my sessions are late at night and I don't feel like I'm missing too much at low volume. Adding the HD amps made me realize how sad my bass was before. Slow and sloppy and I never knew. Ignorance is bliss. All very subjective, but timbre was vastly improved. Piano sounds more like what I believe piano to sound like and drums which I've been around my whole life sound like they do in the studio. To my ears, after its all put together, the HD amps don't over or under emphasize any aspect. I feel they are very well balanced and present music in a truly natural way. I hope this helps.

Dave
Click to expand...

Dave,

These amplifiers have impressed every time I’ve listened to them live or on a video. They stack up well against any monoblocks regardless of price. They seem to just step out of the way and let the listener focus on the music.

Ken
 
I'm probably going PS Audio Bhk's this summer. Of course there is always a couple on various forums who sold their $75,000 monos in favor of the BHK's. That may be a drastic example, however, many have said the BHK's are top notch. Still expensive (for me anyway). Anyone here running the BHK's?
 
Not listed in order of quality
1. Wavac MD-300Bm
2. Technical Brain TBP-Zero/EX
3. Conrad-Johnson ART Monos
4. Schiit Aegir
5. Dyna ST-70
 
Jim Smith said:
In my totally biased opinion - best I ever heard - at any price - ss or tube;

ASR Emitter II Exclusive
Click to expand...

I had the latest version with accu for a two week trial in my system earlier this year.

Nice sounding amp, but so slow I constantly felt as if I had to give it a little push for it to catch up with the tempo.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Kuoppis said:
I had the latest version with accu for a two week trial in my system earlier this year.

Nice sounding amp, but so slow I constantly felt as if I had to give it a little push for it to catch up with the tempo.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Wow! Never heard it as slow, ever.

I could offer an opinion as to why it might have seemed slow in your system, but it would appear trollish, so let's just agree to disagree... :peace::peace: :peace:

I should also say that I have not heard the latest version here. Mine is almost 4 years old.
 
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