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Amps which are Great, but either Unknown or Underpriced

Hello everyone,


When I think of Power Amps (or integrated amps) that play / sound way beyond their price-point and can be non-household names, I think of companies like:


  1. Belles (Power Modules)
  2. McCormack
  3. Coda


Can you guys please suggest other Power Amps / Companies that are also somewhat unknown or of great value?


Your suggestions would really help me and others.  Thanks!


Matt

mminor
unsound
6,115 posts
 

If I'm not mistaken:

Some Thresholds have some similarities to some Quads.
Some Nakamichis  have some similarities to some Thresholds. Some  Codas have some similarities  to some Thresholds. Some Legacys' have some similarities to some  Codas .  Some Magtechs and Sanders Sound's  have some similarities to each other and the Codas.

 

lynott
87 posts
 
Several of Coda's principals worked with Nelson Pass at Threshold back in the day. As I understand it, after Threshold's demise, Nelson formed Pass Labs, while the other guys formed Coda. 

Coda maintains a much lower profile than Pass--at least in the press--but they've done a lot of OEM work over the years, including for Innersound, Legacy and Sanders (thus some of the similarity). 
livin_262002
101 posts
 
I'd vote for Audio Analogue great sound for not a lot of money.
barbapapa
192 posts
 
AirTight ATM1. Can be run as an integrated with 2 inputs and you can use them later with a pre or phono pre. You also can add a second one for monos for driving big or unefficient speakers.
They sound gorgeous. Art Dudley's ref amp. I have pair of ATM 3 for over 20 years and only one trouble fo fix one one amp.
initforthemusic
237 posts
 
Vincent Audio. Designed in Germany, manufactured in China. I have pr. of SP-998 mono blocks. These compete with or surpass Power Amps costing many times there RRP of Aus.$6k. The fact I picked them up brand new for half that, make them a contender for one of the great bargains in audio history. 300W. into 8ohms. 50W of that Class A. these have the best grip on bass I have ever experienced and will embaress some of the overpriced big names costing truckloads more in musicality.

Havn't heard any of their  other Power Amps, but would like to try one of their Hybrids one day.

I have the SA -T8 Pre-Amp which is sublime and will beat much more expensive pre's. Also have the SA-T1 which is ok in a more budget set up if you pick one up discounted as I did.


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