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what are some of the best amplifiers

I have owned many amplifiers over time. Some were high priced and some were not. My latest finding is a pair of Forte model 7 monoblocks reworked by John Sodderberg. These are very magical amplifiers after 1/2 hour of warm up. The midrange is the best I've heard. Full bodied yet detailed. There is a mystical ring of air and depth that has to be heard to be believed. I have owned Threshold amplifiers(Fortes maker) and feel that the less expensive Fortes(4a and 7's), even in stock form, outperform the Thresholds. I think less is more!
brucefrederick
6550c
393 posts
 
Really, I just got rid on 300lbs of SS monoblocks and found true love in a 300B 9W triode- never been happier, and my back too! Im too old to play with the heavy iron, and NON of it is really that great anyway.

(this is an old topic, and by reading, several posters are probably banned.) heehehe
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
I agree with Esidekid, it would be hard to go wrong with the Krell KSA series in a a system. Even though adding the price of refurbishing these monsters to the initial sale increases their expense, at that price, they still cost a fraction of the new EVO stuff. I prefer the KSA series to the FPB.
allchemie
118 posts
 
The best solid state amps are the Modwright DNA-500 and any of the Clayton Class A amps. They are all superior to the Krells, Levinsons, Sim, Rowland, etc.

The best tube amps are for low power the Coincident Technologies Frankenstein at 8 watts/channel and the Coincident Technologies Dragons at 70 watts/channel. Dehavilland makes some nice tube amps and so does Rogue.
dmatt200
13 posts
 
Allchemie,

Perhaps you mean the McCormack DNA-500 (a sweet sounding, powerful brute and a bargain used). I had one, loved it.

Or maybe you mean the ModWright KWA-150? I replaced my DNA-500 with two of those. Even better.

Or better still, Steve McCormack and Dan Wright are working together and I don't know about it. Really great.
allchemie
118 posts
 
Yes, I meant the McCormack DNA-500. But the Modwright KWA-150 is also very good. But the Clayton Class A amps are also at the top. All these solidstate amps are better than the Krells, Levinsons, Rowlands, etc.

For tube amps, if you have high effeciency speakers like Devores, Coincident Technologies, Vaughns, the Coincident 8-watt Frankenstein is a glorious amplifierat $5,000. For higher power the Coincident Dragon at 70 watts is also excellent. Similarly, the Einstein The Light in the Dark is also great.
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