This thread is giving me a headache.
I bought an Integrated Amp to lower my Audiogeek stress, this thread just makes it feel worse.
I bought an Integrated Amp to lower my Audiogeek stress, this thread just makes it feel worse.
2017 amps - $10K to $15K who is on your short list?
Hello!
I saw recently a short list by TAS on 2016 amps between $10 & $15K MSRP the TAS staff concluded were their choices of the best for last year.
Perhaps these were new entries from2016 only. I don’t know and thee article did not mention that aspect. The list also appears to be a global perspective.
The list contained:
Air Tight ATM-1S,
AVM Ovation PA8 preamp and SA8.2 Power amp,
Constellation Inspiration,
Dn D'Agostino Classic Stereo,
GamuT D200i,
Hegel Music Systems H30,
PS Audio BHK Signature 300,
Triode Corporation TRX-M300,
Zesto Audio Bia 120
Regretfully some more mainstream names were not included which came to mind such as, BAT, VAC, Pass, and perhaps a couple more.
My question here is which ‘current production’ amps in this MSRP financial ball park would be on your short list were you shopping for new amps, or are in your present system?
Valves Solid State, hybrids, integrated, or Class D which are not speaker specific, requiring high Eff speakers or horns to work well.
Let’s include current production amps which are near the upper and lower limits of the spread, so if in your opinion there is an amp at $8 or $9K which out performs those costing more, or is even on par, in your opinion, plese feel free to mention it or them.
All amps must be at least in production now stereo amps. If they can as well be run as monos, fine enough, but let the price range of more or less, 10 – 15K dictate your ascertions on two channel amps or twin monos which would land in or near the mentioned boundaries.
Here are some I feel should be among the TAS list but were not, in no particular order:
VAC Signature 200 iQ Stereo/Mono - $14,000
This one is here on rep and new technology in the bias circuit alone. Have seen no reviews, and I have not heard it. It does offer itself as a mono if an uncle or Aunt dies and leaves you an inheritance.
Balanced Audio Technology VK 76SE stereo or mono $13,995.00 2ch price
I previously owned BAT vk 60 and found it very acceptable. Also in mono, see ‘inheritance’ above if twin mono setup is desired.
Balanced Audio Technology VK-655SE $16,500
(well, it is within a grand or so of 15K and BAT has strong performance heritage and very good secondary market presence. Also, didn’t want folks to think I was biased to tubes only)
I’ve owned BAT VK500 BAT pack, and loved it. Purely musical with control and finesse. A tick or two on the warm side. The latest iteration scales up the power and refines the voice, if the reviewer isn’t deaf. Once more offered in mono config too.
no inheritance on your horizon? Perhaps you can get pics of BAT Execs with tempestuous farm animals to negotiate possible lower price for twin mono setup. lol
Who is on your list and briefly, why?
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- 71 posts total
Nkonor > blindjim, Thanks for intervening. So.... Demo pair / Pass XA 160.8s which I consider the "sweet spot" -- 18k Blindjim > I;’ve heard a few of these amps, though likely not the point eight versions. Nice amps for sure. I don’t feel inclined to go that way however. Nkonor > I am still waiting Blindjim > I think that ship has sailed. Hoepfully. akg_ca > REGA OSIRIS ..... Goliath killer http://audiofi.net/2012/08/rega-osiris-punching-heavy/ http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/rega-isis-osiris-hifi-plus-72/ blindjim > very cool thanks much! Stevizzy > This thread is giving me a headache. Blindjim > put the lime in the coconut … or perhaps just take two aspirins and call someone in the morning. Blindjim > or merely ignore the insanity. I can’t change it if I don’t see it in myself. Stevizzy > unfortunately the audiophile addiction keeps me coming back for another fix 😥 Blindjim > sounds serious. I’d prescribe music at regular intervals. If it persists, get tickets to an acoustic concert, indoors, dark, and with very good AC. As for the thoughts here on some of the integrated amps in current production, I’m leaning hard towards that concept. Albeit not as ‘the’ solution, but simply ‘‘one’ way out …’ as Greg and Duane would have said. It seems a lesser costly investment which would enable a better crucible for auditioning of up or down stream gear without a tremendous investment. Naturally, it would need to be a quite good INT that demonstrates substantial value and performance. An over achieving product. Period. The office coud use such a thing going forward. Or could another room. One item a member pointed me towards is the combo unit of exogal Comet DAC/Pre + Ion amp. $8k Another very interesting unit reviewed in TAS is the De0vialet 200/400 Integrated Amplifier/Streaming DAC” @ $9K. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/devialet-200400-integrated-amplifierstreaming-dac/ the Comet arrangement seems the more likely prospect. It and the Wells. Though there are a bunch of them about worth owning for long term I suspect. Flexibility of the ??? INT would be a serious consideration, not just that it has a nice or very good DAC on board. An optional upgrade path is for sure, a bonus if available. It is interesting. Regardless. |
- 71 posts total