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?

blindjim
"BO1972 you must be quite a site at audio shows to be giggling in the back of the room at setups established by proven professionals in the field 

And now the real facts. In almost 20 years we often asked to manufacturers and distributers simple questions. They were not able to answer. 

I will give you a few simple examples:

When you create a loudspeaker who is able to create a wide and deep stage. It would be normal to use an amp and source what can create it as well.

Many systems these days on audioshows have a very limited level in diversity. When I talk to distributers and clients they all react the same way. They all miss the intensity and emotion of music. 

There are so many examples in the last 20 years where people were using 2-dimensional amps and sources. 

Loudspeaker who are not on the same line and with a different level of how they inward the speakers are common these days. These are only the basis parts.

It depends in what you want to believe. I aksed many manufacturers if they have any idea what the properties and quality is of their competitors and other parts in the systems they used at shows.

I was surprised that often they had no idea. You don't understand the real meaning of insult. Creating the highest level in quality for customers is the most social and honest way to do audio.

Manufacturers have to do it the same way. Many audio systems  at shows are being created on political choices. I met different manufactuers who were honest to admitt this.

When you want to give consumers a higher level in  sound quality you need to change audio as it is done at this moment.

For example: the CES this year was a lot smaller than in 2016. Many people are often dissapointed in shows. So when you want the next generation to be interested in audio. You need to give them a higher quality than what is there is at this moment.

I hope people in audio will learn to look further. It has notnhing to do with insult. When you think it is based on that, it proves how limited the people are who feel it this way.

Our goal is to give more people a higher level in quality and emotion.

S.A.P.-measurement will create a good result in each single room. Even in a room with the worst acoustics I ever heard we had great results.


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When I use the words; they think like a child I mean that they say things what comes into their heads without a good foundation.

We create sound and don't sell boxes and products like the most people do.

My biggest passion in life is music and I want others to have the same level in emotion and intensity at their house.

Trial and error has proven that it seldom makes people happy for a long period of time. It also proofs that hoe ineffective the endresults are.

People who don't want to read this, will have the need to make remarks. It is that predictable.

I spoke with many people who also work in audio about trial and error. They all agreed that it is rather ineffective. What do you wan to hear? The truth or the thing you would like to hear.

If you are in the last part you never will reach the level you would like to get.
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OK bo1972, we get it. You are listening on a higher plane of audio than we are. No, audio is the wrong word, a higher plane of music and emotion. You don’t need to explain that to us anymore.

Tell us who you are, what Tru-Fi is and where we can hear this 3 dimensional music and emotion. That would be helpful and appreciated.

I am not trying to argue with you.  I would like to know how to get 3 dimensional, more emotional sound, but your posts aren't helping.