Best amp under $6k, in your opinion?

My understanding from another owner who has posted in the threads is that TRL does not offer a trial period.

However, I have not asked this of Paul, so the info is second hand.

I was given a money back offer on my D-225. There was no need to take them up on it.

It is a great amp that can handle difficult speaker loads. The transparency is amazing. I think the leap of faith for me was more about the TRL house sound. Having had a TRL digital mod done to my DAC I got a taste of their house sound before I bought the amp. The question for me was how much more I could handle. It's a quite addictive sound, especially when you add more TRL components and cabling to the mix.

You don't see these amps come up used for a reason. I sold mine by word of mouth. Saving up for my next TRL project. Battery powered monoblocks.

I don't understand why you would sell the D-225 when you speak so highly of it. Now you have VAC monoblocks because you are saving up for TRL monoblocks? Couldn't you do that while owning the D-225?

No disrespect, but I'm not following the reasoning.

Good to know about the money back offer from TRL on the amp.

I can see how my reasoning might not make sense (not that I've ever placed a high value on reasoning). I could have held on to the D-225 (sold it to another TRL family member). Ultimately I wanted to try something different (not to mention I got the VACs for a price I could not turn down). I've always been curious about VAC and in their own right, and especially with my Audiokinesis Stormbringer speakers, the Auricle MB-70s sound great.

It will be awhile before I can pursue the battery powered momoblocks and I have two other projects I'm working on (building a TT and getting back into analog and digital tape). So as you can see variety is the spice of life for me.

I have now purchased the Dude preamp by trl - this is a tubed unit. My previous favorite pre was the Audio Horizons TP2.1. The Dude bests it in all areas and by a good margin.

If one is interested in the new trl gear they must be ..

1) patient , as Paul hand makes these one at a time and sometimes he gets behind or is waiting on parts.
2) Must not want audio jewelery as the amp and pre are very standard looking - perhaps a step above DIY. They don't come with manuals, footers, thick face plates etc.

But, what you get is glorious sound and Paul's talent in circuit design.

For me, when asked what the best amp is for under $6000, the D225 is a proverbial "no brainer" when considering sound quality alone.

Also, Paul's current D225 has some updates that include the power supply. I also use his power cord on the amp which really was a match made in heaven. I am waiting on this speaker cables now.

Bill