I have three pairs, Kef 105/2s, Mission V63s, and JBL L5s. Also a pair of Velodyne 12" powered subs. Right now, the L5s are coupled to one of my Acoustat TNT200s through a Meridian 501 pre and Oppo BDP95. I have two other TNT200s and a TNT120 currently being rebuilt. I'm in the process of building a fully active system and hence the need for multiple amps. They will be used with a pair of altered JBL 4345s I'm endeavoring to build. Actually, they are being built by a former customer of mine who is a cabinet maker. The Acoustats are simply stunning. Roy Esposito who was part of the engineering team that designed them rebuilt them for me. But this is a hobby and I love amplifiers. My purpose for starting the thread is simply to compile a list of "the best of the best". I did not intend to cultivate controversy. I suppose the title achieved that but I wanted attention. Not as much as I'd hoped for.
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Csontos, you might want to read this: http://www.atma-sphere.com/Resources/Paradigms_in_Amplifier_Design.php On ESLs, OTLs are often described as 'the best'. Tubes in general usually work better on horns and high efficiency speakers than transistors. Some speakers are such low efficiency and/or impedance that you need an amp with a lot of power and is comfortable with low impedances. In such a case transistors will likely serve better (despite the misgivings I have about transistors). If you read the article at that link then you know more than most about the matching issues involved. |
For me convincing is more a product of the speaker and the amplifier than just the amp. That said: My NuForce and now nCores have, to a large part, spoiled me for most linear solid state amplifiers. Of course there are new solid state amplifiers that I could never afford that I'm sure could hit most of the marks the switching amps do. There is one area most linear sold state amps fall short compared to my switching amps. In driving my Eidolons they begin to get congested and distinctly fatiguing at higher listening levels. For me this is a big issue. The ability to listen to music comfortably at more realistic levels is THE luxury of high end. Neither the linear solid state or switching amplifiers do second order harmonics like tubes which is why my nCores are relegated to the studio. I have finally found a pair of affordable 200 watt pentodes that can drive my speakers effortlessly. Even though tubes may have the most amplification faults, those faults are an easy trade off for the characteristics I value in entertainment playback as opposed to the desired clinical playback the switching amplifiers provide in my studio. Technical evolution will continue, for now its about the right tool for the job. |
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