Personal amp evolution

JVC receiver (no idea what model - early 80's)
Marantz MA500 Mono-blocks
Linn AV5125
Another Linn AV5125 (Aktiv system)
Levinson 336

I will list home theater amps only.
(1) Pioneer 497?? Cost 250.
(2) Kenwood 509 cost 399.
(3) Nad t761 cost 500 (rebuild).
(4) Audio refinement pre 5 and 5 marantz ma500 monoblocks cost 800 for pre 750 for monoblocks.
(5) Next came audio refinement multi 5 cost 1250.
(6) Finally!! Audiorefinement Pre 5 (cost 800) Audiorefinement Multi 5 (cost 1250) and Audiorefinement Multi 3 (cost 675) and Nad 2400Thx (cost 250). I biamp with the multi 5 for the mids the multi 3 for the tweeters and the nad 2400thx for the surround tweeters. I use a 5 channel 2way diy crossover (cost 300) and 8 diy passive volume controls (cost 530). Total cost around 3800 for killer amp and pre sound with great analog volume control.
The nad has seperate volume controls. I can change the volume on any of the 5 tweeters (Focal Tlr) or any of the 5 mids (Focal 7w's). Sub amps are another story. I lot of this gear was bought and sold right here on audiogon. If I was to do it all over I would buy 5 Nad 2400Thx amps around 250 a piece with The Audiorefinement pre 5 cost 800 and the 5 channel 2 way crossover cost 300. Total cost would be 2350 a saving of around 1500 and less cables. Phil

Principal 2CH systems:

*1950s vintage Pilot tube mono receiver with RCA speaker (mid 60s)

*Kenwood receiver with Altec VOTT(early 70's)

*Technics receiver with ESS AMT1 (late 70's)

*Nakamichi Stasis receiver with Fried floorstanders(mid 80's)

*Bryston 4NRB with Magnapan 3.3R(early 90's)

*ARC VT130 with Wilson W3/P2(mid 90's)

*BAT VK75SE + Cary 2A3SE w/Merlin VSM (Y2K to present)

The modder's bug struck me around Y2K & has extended the life of my current amps for the foreseeable future...V-Caps almost deserve a category of their own.

NAD 302, Yamaha Reciever rxv1092, Krell kav400xi, Krell Evo600 monoblocks. I think I will keep the evo600s for a long, long, time. They are great.

Since I'm a manufacturer, I've stayed off this thread, but re-reading it- well, I am still an audiophile.

My first amplifier was a Knight Kit KA-95, which was a 35 wpc EL34-based integrated amp. From there I had a variety of Dyna St70s, MkIIIs, HK Citation 1 & 2 (all of which had to be repaired before I could use them). I also ran a Southwest Technical Products Tiger, which was a 100 watt/ch transistor amp, on the woofer section of my speakers (the mid/tweeter section used an EL-34-based Ampex amplifier). Ultimately began building my own amps from surplus chassis and the like in the mid- late 70s. Finally, I wanted my own chassis, drew a picture of it and got the sheet metal made up. That particular amp was a one-off, and it actually came through the shop for minor repair about a year ago. So its survived for 30 years.

These days I'm running a set of MA-1 MkIIIs.