My Long List of Amplifiers and My Personal Review of Each!
So I have been in a long journey looking to find the best amplifiers for my martin logan montis. As you know, the match between an amplifier and speakers has to be a good "marriage" and needs to be blend exquisitely. Right now, I think I might have found the best sounding amplifier for martin logan. I have gone through approximately 34-36 amplifiers in the past 12 months. Some of these are:
Bryston ST, SST, SST2 series NAD M25 PARASOUND HALO PARASOUND CLASSIC KRELL TAS KRELL KAV 500 KRELL CHORUS ROTEL RMB 1095 CLASSE CT 5300 CLASSE CA 2200 CLASSE CA 5200 MCINTOSH MC 205 CARY AUDIO CINEMA 7 OUTLAW AUDIO 755 LEXICON RX7 PASS LABS XA 30.8 BUTLER AUDIO 5150 ATI SIGNATURE SERIES 6005
With all that said, the amplifiers I mentioned above are the ones that in my opinion are worth mentioning. To make a long story short, there is NO 5 CHANNEL POWER AMP that sounds as good as a 3ch and 2ch amplifier combination. i have done both experiments and the truth is that YOU DO lose details and more channel separation,etc when you select a 5 channel power amplifier of any manufacturer. My recollection of what each amp sounded like is as follows:
ATI SIGNATURE SERIES 6005 (great power and amazing soundstage. Very low noise floor, BUT this amplifiers NEEDS TO BE cranked up in order to fully enjoy it. If you like listening at low volume levels or somewhat moderate, you are wasting your time here. This amp won’t sound any different than many other brands out there at this volume. The bass is great, good highs although they are a bit bright for my taste)
NAD M25 (very smooth, powerful, but somewhat thin sounding as far as bass goes) Bryston sst2(detailed, good soundstage, good power, but can be a little forward with certain speakers which could make them ear fatiguing at loud volumes)
Krell (fast sounding, nice bass attack, nice highs, but some detail does get lost with certain speakers)
rotel (good amp for the money, but too bright in my opinion)
cary audio (good sound overall, very musical, but it didn’t have enough oomph)
parasound halo (good detail, great bass, but it still holds back some background detail that i can hear in others)
lexicon (very laid back and smooth. huge power, but if you like more detail or crisper highs, this amp will disappoint you)
McIntosh mc205 (probably the worst multichannel amp given its price point. it was too thin sounding, had detail but lacked bass.
butler audio (good amplifier. very warm and smooth sweet sounding. i think for the money, this is a better amp than the parasound a51)
pass labs (very VERY musical with excellent bass control. You can listen to this for hours and hours without getting ear fatigue. however, it DOES NOT do well in home theater applications if all you have is a 2 channel set up for movies. The midrange gets somewhat "muddy" or very weak sounding that you find yourself trying to turn it up.
classe audio (best amplifier for multi channel applications. i simply COULDNT FIND a better multi channel amplifier PERIOD. IT has amazing smoothness, amazing power and good bass control although i would say krell has much better bass control)
Update: The reviews above were done in January 2015. Below is my newest update as of October 2016:
PS AUDIO BHK 300 MONOBLOCKS: Amazing amps. Tons of detail and really amazing midrange. the bass is amazing too, but the one thing i will say is that those of you with speakers efficiency of 87db and below you will not have all the "loudness" that you may want from time to time. These amps go into protection mode when using a speaker such as the Salon, but only at very loud levels. Maybe 97db and above. If you don’t listen to extreme crazy levels, these amps will please you in every way.
Plinius Odeon 7 channel amp: This is THE BEST multichannel amp i have ever owned. Far , but FAR SUPERIOR to any other multichannel amp i have owned. In my opinion it destroyed all of the multichannel amps i mentioned above and below. The Odeon is an amp that is in a different tier group and it is in a league of its own. Amazing bass, treble and it made my center channel sound more articulate than ever before. The voices where never scrambled with the action scenes. It just separated everything very nicely.
Theta Dreadnaught D: Good detailed amp. Looks very elegant, has a pleasant sound, but i found it a tad too bright for my taste. I thought it was also somewhat "thin" sounding lacking body to the music. could be that it is because it is class d?
Krell Duo 300: Good amp. Nice and detailed with enough power to handle most speakers out there. I found that it does have a very nice "3d" sound through my electrostatics. Nothing to fault here on this amp. Mark Levinson 532H: Great 2 channel amp. Lots of detail, amazing midrange which is what Mark Levinson is known for. It sounds very holographic and will please those of you looking for more detail and a better midrange. As far as bass, it is there, but it is not going to give you the slam of a pass labs 350.5 or JC1s for example. It is great for those that appreciate classical music, instrumental, etc, but not those of you who love tons of deep bass.
It is articulate sounding too Krell 7200: Plenty of detail and enough power for most people. i found that my rear speakers contained more information after installed this amp. One thing that i hated is that you must use xlr cables with this amp or else you lose most of its sound performance when using RCA’s.
Krell 402e: Great amp. Very powerful and will handle any speaker you wish. Power is incredible and with great detail. That said, i didn’t get all the bass that most reviewers mentioned. I thought it was "ok" in regards to bass. It was there, but it didn’t slam me to my listening chair.
Bryston 4B3: Good amp with a complete sound. I think this amp is more laid back than the SST2 version. I think those of you who found the SST2 version of this amp a little too forward with your speakers will definitely benefit from this amp’s warmth. Bryston has gone towards the "warm" side in my opinion with their new SST3 series. As always, they are built like tanks. I wouldn’t call this amp tube-like, but rather closer to what the classe audio delta 2 series sound like which is on the warm side of things.
Parasound JC1s: Good powerful amps. Amazing low end punch (far superior bass than the 402e). This amp is the amp that i consider complete from top to bottom in regards to sound. Nothing is lacking other than perhaps a nicer chassis. Parasound needs to rework their external appearance when they introduce new amps. This amp would sell much more if it had a revised external appearance because the sound is a great bang for the money. It made my 800 Nautilus scream and slam. Again, amazing low end punch.
Simaudio W7: Good detailed amp. This amp reminds me a lot of the Mark Levinson 532h. Great detail and very articulate. I think this amp will go well with bookshelves that are ported in order to compensate for what it lacks when it comes to the bass. That doesn’t mean it has no bass, but when it is no Parasound JC1 either. Pass labs 350.5: Wow, where do i begin? maybe my first time around with the xa30.8 wasn’t as special as it was with this monster 350.5. It is just SPECTACULAR sounding with my electrostatics. The bass was THE BEST BASS i have ever heard from ANY amp period. The only amp that comes close would be the jC1s. It made me check my settings to make sure the bass was not boosted and kept making my jaw drop each time i heard it. It totally destroyed the krell 402e in every regard. The krell sounded too "flat" when compared to this amp. This amp had amazing mirange with great detail up top. In my opinion, this amp is the best bang for the money. i loved this amp so much that i ended up buying the amp that follows below.
Pass labs 250.8: What can i say here. This is THE BEST STEREO AMP i have ever heard. This amp destroys all the amps i have listed above today to include the pass labs 350.5. It is a refined 350.5 amp. It has more 3d sound which is something the 350.5 lacked. It has a level of detail that i really have never experienced before and the bass was amazing as well. I really thought it was the most complete power amplifier i have ever heard HANDS DOWN. To me, this is a benchmark of an amplifier. This is the amp that others should be judged by. NOTHING is lacking and right now it is the #1 amplifier that i have ever owned.
My current amps are Mcintosh MC601s: i decided to give these 601s a try and they don’t disappoint. They have great detail, HUGE soundstage, MASSIVE power and great midrange/highs. The bass is great, but it is no pass labs 250.8 or 350.5. As far as looks, these are the best looking amps i have ever owned. No contest there. i gotta be honest with you all, i never bought mcintosh monos before because i wasn’t really "wowed" by the mc452, but it could have been also because at that time i was using a processor as a preamp which i no longer do. Today, i own the Mcintosh C1100 2 chassis tube preamp which sounds unbelievable. All the amps i just described above have been amps that i auditioned with the C1100 as a preamp. The MC601s sound great without a doubt, but i will say that if you are looking for THE BEST sound for the money, these would not be it. However, Mcintosh remains UNMATCHED when it comes to looks and also resale value. Every other amp above depreciates much faster than Mcintosh.
That said, my future purchase (when i can find a steal of a deal) will be the Pass labs 350.8. I am tempted to make a preliminary statement which is that i feel this amp could be THE BEST stereo amp under 30k dollars. Again, i will be able to say more and confirm once i own it. I hope this update can help you all in your buying decisions!
Well folks, i am here to announce that i have purchased a component which i received 10 days ago and I finally opened it yesterday. I am here to say to you all first (before i tell my YouTube audience) that this component has been the most IMPRESSIVE component I’ve owned over the last 3 years. No it’s not Gryphon or Boulder. It has completely shown me that I had been listening to a subpar presentation since the beginning of time. This product has completely transformed my system AND also transformed ME. It has an MSRP of 6 figures but I’d buy this unit 100 times if I had to. If I had to sell everything today and keep only one thing, this would be the component I’d keep.
Stay tuned and expect the unexpected. Get ready to hear something FAR SUPERIOR than anything else I’ve owned.
I have always stated the Lumin X-1 is a remarkable DAC / Streamer for $14k. In fact, when I replaced it with a Lampi Pacific I was hard-pressed to tell the difference.
McIntosh & Sonus Faber Aída was more impressive (as it should) but it is like three times the price of the gryphon set up. I feel the Gryphon set up gave you more for the money spent and this is why I selected it.
Sonus Faber Aída 2 are AMAZING SPEAKERS. Whoever owns them should not sell them. They are also the best looking speakers I've laid eyes on followed by mágico M6.
So the best sound there was a Mac system? I tell you McIntosh has a special effect that no other electronics has. Every time I hear it I really like it but usual opt for the hyper detailed gear which keeps changing on and on. I may just take a chance and buy the Mac stuff next and see for my self. Most McIntosh owners are die hards and never change it. My dealer once told me if you want off the merry-go-round get a Mac system. He also sells Gryphon, Arc, D’Agostino etc. we’ll see.
Is this Dynaudio Confidence 60 with Diablo 300 integrated better than the sonus Faber Aída 2 & McIntosh electronics you all heard? Find out today at 11am ET !
The sad part is some people would like for me keep buying audio components and review them, go to shows using my own money and report on what I heard and take absolutely zero monetary compensation or else I am considered to be "biased". That said, these are the same folks who probably never bought a thing from me which includes a consultation, etc.
Im in Georgia doing my first store review and im sure others will follow. It’s natural, organic growth which comes when people notice the hard work you’ve put in. Who else is going to stores to give their opinion on different systems, displaying shootouts, traveling overseas to set up systems, covering shows, reviewing world class components? WHO?? NOBODY IS DOING WHAT I DOING under one single channel.
I am the only one:
Doing shootouts
Traveling to cover shows
Covering high end stores
Traveling overseas to set up systems
Reviewing world class components
Earning my stripes on a thread for over 5 years
Working a full-time job (9-5pm)
Introduce me to anyone else doing all of the above?
I’m not sitting on my @ss reviewing from my basement or kitchen pretending to know audio components as some do.
Lastly, YOU ALL have the voice and the power to help me grow by articulating to manufacturers, dealers and others exactly what I just said above. That’s really the ONLY contribution i can ask which i would greatly appreciate. You all have watched me grow in front of your eyes since i started this which i hope makes you feel a little closer to me.
Great job Jay. You have worked very hard to provide immeasurable feedback to the hundreds of people who subscribe to this thread and YouTube channel. As you and I discussed years ago, there is absolutely no reason why you should not monetize your experience in the form of consulting and/or representation of certain lines. Not sure I can agree with Viber6's statement about bias. In my mind, you have more than earned your stripes and have undoubtedly saved clients, friends and acquaintances, hundreds of thousands of dollars by avoiding/selecting brands and gear based on your expertise and your genuine interest in learning what people are looking for.
Not sure if scm meant for for the 3060 specifically, but I would guess that you would have to use the factory supplied cord for the 3060, unless you get a custom one made.
I currently only represent Artesania Audio for stands and I will be disclosing my next line (not another stand manufacturer) very soon. I can be contacted at jayaudiolab@gmail.com.
By the way, my email address is always on the description of each video i release.
Over 5 years of owning some of the best components out there has been enough for me to know what I can select and cosign on. If I put my name behind a product (artesanía stand is one brand i represent - i am a dealer for it) then this means i believe in it and stand behind it. As i said, i have my resume written on 386 pages here. I have earned my stripes and know when something is special and rather than having to buy from dealers, why not have the line myself if I keep buying it over and over again? Why let dealers keep making money off of me?
I do the leg work, i review the product, i buy it with my own money and they carry the lines and they make the money selling it. I gotta pave my own way and create opportunities for myself.
My unbiased reviews will continue except I’ll have lines that will be very close to me based on my hands-on experience with them.
Notice i didn’t have to explain myself here to anyone because I financed myself and I’m not a publicly traded company nor do I have business partners that loan me money. When you ride SOLO, you get to do whatever you want.
With that said, I won’t keep explaining myself over and over. I think i have been very clear with everything and everyone.
I rather live 15 years as a lion than live 30 years as sheep.
This all sounds exciting for you, but what do you mean by your "representing" of certain companies? Retail/online dealers "represent" certain companies mainly because of good business relationships, but that doesn't necessarily serve the interests of customers, due to the business bias. The value of your thread has been your unbiased findings on equipment you have bought and sold, which has been unique, unlike any dealer or magazine. Now I wonder how you can combine the goals of one, business advancement and two, honesty in evaluations.
Jay,
I don't think any of us really comprehend the work involved in what you do in your spare time. We are all grateful and wiser because of it. Thank you.
It has been a great journey--Cheers to that! Good luck and best of successes on your new ventures. I hope they exceed your wildest imagination. You deserve it!
As many of you know by now, I started documenting my journey on here since October 16th, 2016 for a total of 5 years, 5 months as of yesterday.
It has been an amazing journey and I am blessed to have been able to own everything you guys have seen and of course express my opinions along the way. That said, this has been a tremendous amount of work which includes herniated disks, driving hundredths of hours in order to locate equipment that I wanted to review and thousands upon thousands of dollars out of my own pocket plus time away from my family. I have been riding here SOLO without a single dime being given to me by any single manufacturer (although some loaned me a few things for me to play with and I am appreciative of it).
In order for Jay's Audio Lab to succeed and continue to grow, bigger things need to happen which includes partnering with individuals/brands/sponsors who all understand that I will not deviate nor change my core.
I can not grow alone and I have pushed BY MYSELF to almost 10k subscribers. If my goal is to grow larger, I need to have "extensions of me" that provide me the help needed.
The forum will continue to stay alive because it is very special to me. I will respond questions that may have to do with a particular video or something that i was not quite clear on video.
This thread is now supplemental to my main body of work: YOUTUBE.
The trip to Puerto Rico that you guys saw, the invite to fly to Denmark to visit the Borresen & Ansuz factory (all comped by the audio group from Denmark), etc are all precious opportunities that came to me because of YouTube.
The reality is that Youtube is moving my needles far more than the thread and it should be no surprise to many of you since forums dont have the level of exposure that YouTube does.
I have to partition and be strategic about my time on a daily basis. I need to remain focused and also hand-pick specific components that I will represent and will use on my channel, but do not get it twisted. NOT ONE of these product manufacturers came to me asking me to represent them. IT WAS ME who decided to call them and represent them based on my own findings and trials with such products. I will continue to review other brands that I don't represent and still give my unbiased opinion on their products so that will not change.
Lastly, and I want to be sincere here with you all, man to man conversation, the reality is that most (not all) who read this thread have never really bought anything from me or even paid me for a single consultation. There is nothing wrong with that, but I have done over 5 years of work here and Youtube has brought me far more success in the 2 years I've been on it than this thread has in 5 years. I wish I had started the channel 5 years ago!
Anyhow, I hope you all don't take offense with anything I've said above. I know we are all grown men here and real talk and truthfulness is always the way to go.
As you know, I have loved this thread for over 4 years, checking it pretty much daily, if not hourly. Have met friends through it even. I enjoy the participation, the discourse and the community. As you have transitioned to youtube, I must say, I enjoy the youtube content when you give your opinions/review of your gear.
Fwiw, I don’t try to discern SQ differences over utube. And fwiw it’s worth again, I have never read a comment on your utube videos, in part, as I really have no idea who the posters may be or their histories/audio backgrounds, in the discourse that has been ongoing here, even if in fits and starts.
Curious your thoughts on how this thread merges/diverges with your growing youtube presence (congrats btw) and the members only subscription you have proposed. You have provided a very personal presence and response overall to the huge variation of followers you have amassed here or over youtube. Will you continue to try to do both? Is there one venue you envision will be most fruitful for participants at this new stage (and with easy real time posting and responding)? Have you outgrown the initial purpose of your thread here? Mainly curious about your vision these next couple years, your business ventures and if/where we can support. Thanks again
As always, wish you success pushing the envelope. take care
I agree, you have been away far too long...circle back and watch my videos or read the thread. I write here and do content on YouTube. I don’t want keep repeating myself (it’s already too much to manage YouTube ). If people want to know what I’m doing all they gotta do is subscribe to my channel.
Lastly, I feel like I’ve worked my @$$ off on here for over 5 years (it’s well documented here on this thread?) so if I feel like representing something i believe in then i will do exactly that.
Why? Because it’s my journey and I am behind the steering wheel. I’ve done it ALONE, with zero sponsors so i don’t really have to explain myself? However, i still do it because I believe in transparency.
My body of work is documented here throughout the 380 pages found on this thread.
If my answer to your question above seems strong, it is because you came at me with a tone i didn’t like.
MrDecibel said, "Dynamics, fast detailed transients and smooth natural decay ( what you hear at live, uncompressed, non amplified performances ), ime, can only be produced by horn loaded loudspeakers."
I mostly agree, and that applies to loud SPL's especially. But for SPL's at 20-80 dB or so, electrostatics are king for resolution and fine detail. Horns are king among dynamic drivers. Avantgarde is my favorite low coloration horn speaker, although I haven't heard newer companies' horns. Horns allow low power amps, which are more likely to be SOTA than megawatt powerhouses with lots of parts.
The amplifier that will be unveiled soon is not a brand I'm going to represent. That said, it is at the top of the mountain with the Mephisto. Which one will i prefer? You shall find out...
Maybe the new CH 10 series stereo amp is the incoming one? that would certainly fit the price tag. not sure what others are out there as most are monoblocks at that level.
All comments above are welcomed and appreciated 👍.
I respect what you all believe in and I’m not trying to change anyone’s preferences. The Jay from 4 years ago that had neoliths in his living room would have been laughing at the Jay from today. I’ve transformed (as we all do) and I’m now looking back at my mistakes. Do you all remember my amps on the floor way back when? Do you remember me without bass traps in the corners?
A lot has changed since then and I am getting ready to break the news of the next brand i am going to represent. If you ask WHY? simple: there is NOTHING LIKE IT and trust me I’ve tried a boat load of components that are aiming to do the same but can’t.
I’m being strategic about what i want to put my name on. I’m not going to be a convenience store - selling beer, pizza, gas, Tylenol, etc etc. When i put my name on something, it will be because I’ve tried a ton and i keep going back to it. That said, i will STILL bring more gear in for review. I don’t represent Gryphon and yet i feel like a cheerleader for it? That goes to show you that even if i don’t represent something, i will give it props if they are well deserved.
Mrdecibel, trying to do a YouTube channel at 68 is not a smart move. It will take a toll on you and it is A LOT of work. Don’t forget the commentary that is associated with each video.
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