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Old Amps that can still Kick Butt

Not being a believer that time necessarily = progress, I would like to offer the following example of a sonic gem that has transcended time and can totally kick butt in a modern milieu:

The Robertson 4010. I got one of these about two years ago because it was in immaculate condition, the price was so low and I was inquisitive. I hooked it up and let it warm up for a couple of days. OMG this thing was in the super amp league: Transparency to die for, slam that you couldn‘t‘ believe for for a 50W amp.. Peter Moncrieffe wasn‘t wrong in his review of this amp: this thing is in the Sterreophile Class A component category hands down. Even after all these years.

What amps have you encountered that have defied time and can still kick butt today?


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1971gto455ho's avatar
1971gto455ho
499 posts
 
I’ve the pleasure of owning as new vintage Yamaha amplifiers. A Pc2002m driving 4 infinity infinitesimal 0.2’s wall mounted.
A Pc4002m driving 2 base towers, and finally a Pc5002m driving the 2 mid/treble
panels. The Beta’s will drop to 1 ohm so certainly in efficient. The sound is clean with clipping out of the question if you intend on staying in the building. I’ve seen a few big name amps smoke trying to drive these speakers. Won’t be selling any of this stuff anytime soon. 
Cheers 
orgillian197
119 posts
 
Hafler DH-220 bought new in 1984 for $329 - which is what a used version is worth today. Still drive my MG-1.5QRs very well.
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
my arc vt60 (with curcio modded input stage) and 100.2 ss amp still kick some serious butt... :)
bpoletti
1,553 posts
 
Sorry, I meant DH-220, not DH-110.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,680 posts
 
Imho....the majority of 'new' anything hasn't improved to any great degree of late.  Most boast of various 'n sundry, but it seems to come down to ones' preferences in the interactions of the other components before and after 'Item X' in the space listened within....

It seems that one can always find 'flaw' or shortcomings in Anything.

One persons' Yay is anothers' Meh....
It's commented upon daily in these forums...

The Daily Kvetch...The emperors' new robes are still transparent, and his 'short comings' are painfully obvious. ;)
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