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Which Solid State Amplifier is Making you Happy?

I'm trying to find a new amplifier to replace a Musical Fidelity A3CR. There are lots of candidates: Rowland 501s, Pass Labs 350.5, Levinson 431/432, H2O, etc. What are people using and what has been a good sonic investment? I'm currently driving B&W N803s, so it's a pretty normal load. My MF amp does not offer enough punch or bass control. It flattens out at higher volumes. I'll spend what it takes, new or used. Less than $8K would be nice. All comments welcome.
Peter
pscialli
davidlschr
12 posts
 
Get one BEL 1001 Mk5 if you want the most transparent amp ever made, get two and run them in bridged mono mode if you want to be completely free of "upgraditis" for the duration. I have never heard anything better in solid state. And you can also use Richard Brown's (BEL) IC's and speaker cables for a relatively inexpensive treat.
mitch2
1,911 posts
 
Denf, Unfortunately, I have never heard the Halo JC-1's, but I would really like to hear them someday. They were actually my other "finalist" when I purchased the McCormack and I forgot to list them in my post above. I don't know that they would better the DNA-500, but I would guess the choice would boil down to system matching. The McCormack works well in mine.
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
1,962 posts
 
Plinius SA102, or the SA250.The oddyssey extreme
monoblock are also very good choice.
maximmd864
15 posts
 
New BVaudio A300SE tells the truth. This unit has Absolutely clear and neutral sound. I believe in technology, my new Canon 20D disappointed me either.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Glai, could you please expand on how the Pass X250.5 bettered the Rowland 201s?
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