Personal amp evolution


Seeing the over night success of the speaker evolution thread, it may be interesting to see what type of amp(s) we have all run. Same deal as the other thread-we will sort of create a puzzle of our systems you'll have to visit multiple threads to put everything together!!! ;)
For me I started:
Adcom GFA-565 monoblocks
Rotel RB-990bx
Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 5
Balanced Audio Technology(BAT) VK-60

either a CAT JL2, BAT VK-75se or Tenor 75Wp on the horizon.
tireguy
Streetdaddy,
I think you listed a bunch of amps in a preamp evo thread. You might want to give it another try. Happy Thanksgiving!
Ah, this a great thread.

My amplifier evolution began from an XAM Mk 3 integrated at at age 5.

Since then:

Harmon Kardon Citation 30

Marantz 2230 receiver

Kenwood KA-8100

Belles 1 amp and preamp

Naim NAC72/NAC32.5/Hicap/NAP110 -- later on NAP160, 250, & 135 monoblocks

Other amps/preamps along the way:

Krell KSA 50
Classe DR-4
Classe DR-5
Classe Audio DR-2
Classe Audio DR-3VHC

Audio Research D70MKII

Bedini 25/25 Serial #50 -- one of the good ones before Bedini went to the cheaper version with smaller heat sinks
Every speak with John Bedini? Fascinating guy to talk to -- especially about his free energy experimentation with Tom Bearden.

Electrocompaniet Ampliwire II

Mark Levinson ML-1, ML-6A monoblock preamps with separate power supplies

Paragon E preamp -- neat two piece jobber with a massive power supply for a preamp -- real nice sounding too

Quicksilver 8417 (6) tube version monoblocks
Quicksilver Mini-Mite monoblocks (presently own)

Antique Sound Lab Wave AV 25 monoblocks (presently own)

Naim Nait 3 integrated (had a few of these) My favorite was one I had modified so that the amp and preamp sections were split with a jumper that was added to the back of the unit.

Tremendous flexiblity allowing for use with an outboard power supply like snaps, flatcap or Hicap. Could also be used as a separate amplifier. As I recall it sounded very nice with a Hicap inserted between the NAC 92 preamp and NAP 90MK3 amp -- what the Nait3 really was -- an NAC92 and NAP 90.3 shoehorned into one box. The best sound of course was using the Nait3 as a preamp/Hicap and then your choice of amplifiers.

Naim NAC 42/NAP 110 (presently own plus an olive NAC 62 and original chrome bumper (green light Hicap serial number 44,XXX something).

Presently I use my old Naim NAC42 and NAC62 with a Hicap to run my Electrocompaniet Ampliwire AW65, Quicksilver and ASL tube mono blocks; they sound terrific -- noticably better than with my NAP110 (which while still a cool amp needs a service).

Electrocompaniet Preampliwire IIA (presently own)

Electrocompaniet Ampliwire 65 (presently own)

NAD 3130 integrated (presently own)

Many FM tuners as well, plus a few cassette decks, speakers etc.

Enjoy the music!
JimmyBlues
1. Panasonic (2 years)
2. Pioneer (4 months)
3. Yamaha (3 years)
4. Parasound (8 years)
5. Audio Valve (9 years)
6. Bryston (one month)
7. Krell (2 months)
8. McCormack DNA (6 months)
9. McIntosh 501 monos (1 month)
10. Llano (1 month)
11. Jadis JA-500 (2 years)
12. Lamm M2.1 (1 year)
13. Krell (still)
14. Musical Fidelity KW Monons(2 years)
15. VTL 750 (6 months)
16. Tube Research Labs GT-400 (still)
17. Tube Research Labs GT-800 (keeping it until I die)
Heathkit AD27 (I still have it) 1969
Dynaco Stereo 80 (I have a NOS ST80 in a box)
Dynaco Stereo 70
Dynaco Stereo 120 (Replaced my popcorn poper)
Pioneer SA-9100
SAE 31b MKII
Technics SE 9060
Phillips AH 578 (lots of slam, HOT,you could fry eggs on it)
Dynaco 400
Kenwood LO-7M
Dynaco Mark III (modified by VanAlsitne) 1980
Audio Research D79 (to many problems but sounded great)
Hafler 500
Threshold 400A
Audionics CC2 (I still have)
Dynaco ST70 (modified by VanAlstine)1984
The birth of my first child 1985
VanAlstine Omega III 440HC 1996
4-Dynaco MKIII (Modified w/Triode Elec. boards, SDS power supply,w/4pr NOS Genalex KT88's)(I still have)
VanAlstine Omegastar EX 440HC (I still have)
VanAlstine Ultimate 70 (this is a great little amp)(I still have)
Audio Research D400 MKII (I still have)
Audio Research VT200 (the best so far)