@mountz the Aesthetix is a great hybrid amp and compares well to ARC with most speaker loads better bass. There are three levels now, Eclipse is sublime. When I compared them a REF150se edged it in midrange magic.
30 Amplifiers Totaling $428,740.00 In Search of Audio Nirvana
Yes it’s true! I have both owned and auditioned 30 of the top selling amplifiers Totaling $428,740.00 in search of that secret sauce called Audio Nirvana. All though there is no one size fits all, they all have their own special touch of magic for someone at a price point and sound signature that will be a fit for your musical listening taste. With that being said, this long list of amplifiers ranging from $2500.00 MSRP to $85,000.00 is what I experience through trial and error while running the gamut of Class A-AB-D and Tube Amplifiers from a variety of the top Amplifier Make and Models listed below.
Anthem Integrated
225
Adcom 575SE
Audio Research 160S
Bell Canto 600M
Block Audio
Bryston 7BSST2
Divalet Expert Pro 220
Gryphon Diablo
Krell Evolution
Hegel H30
Luxman M900U
Merril Eliment 118
McIntosh 452
McIntosh 601
Octave Audio V110
Musical Fidelity Titan
Parasound A21
Parasound JC1
Pass Lads X250.5
Pass Labs X350.5
Pass Labs XA160.8
Pass labs XS300
Plinius SA-250
PS Audio BHK 300 Signature
Primaluna Premium HP
Primaluna Prologue
Sim Audio W7
I actually couldn't believe it myself until I looked at my spreadsheet 5.5 years later and said WTF have I done? All that said I can truly say it has been one fun ride!
The purpose and goal for posting this long list is of amplifiers was to share my thoughts and experiences with you from a unbiased point of view with Absolutely No Quid Pro Quo :)
Cheers
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Tomic601: I use an Aesthetix Callisto Eclipse for my pre and agree that the Eclipse is the way to go. Ref150SE?? - I don’t see that on your list, but presume you are speaking of audio Research. I would suggest you audition the VM-220, tubes are perpendicular and has bass with tubes that must be heard. (preferable to my Ear). I also have the Bel Canto Ref600m and feel they are great for class D, but lack the midrange warmth that a tubed amp provides. Have you ever listened to a tube buffer with SS amps? Much less fuss than a tube amp but you do get warmth. I have also gone through the heard with headphone amps and settled on the Woo Audio 5-LE with 1940 tubes, but that is for another discussion. |
@stringreen Great answer, would have loved that but could no get them to perform in my listening room so I have been working on how it could be possible. Cheers |
stringreen You should have bought tickets to live concerts.Attending a live performance and listening at home are two different things. While both can be great experiences, neither is really a good substitute for the other, imo. |
- 74 posts total