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The most emotional amp out there?

OK gang, I need your votes for the amp you feel that brings the chills, the goosebumps, yes maybe even a teardrop or two when you sit down and listen to your particular music of choice. Although many responders will automatically think of tubes, I do not necessarily share that "prejudice". I'm trying to find that special amp to mate with my Virgo IIs that really takes me to the heart of the music...as opposed to just performing the requisite audiophile tricks (e.g. imaging, soundstage depth, etc.). I'm tired of appreciating the specific virtues of a well known amplifier that I am auditioning but never really being transported to a place where I forget about the gear and simply am enthralled with the music.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the audiophile thing as much as the next person. But I am searching for the amplifier that will transcend the need to go through the checklist of listening attributes a reviewer does and instead will simply allow me to sit back and just be enveloped by the message that the particular recording artist I am listening to is trying to communicate.

I hope I'm being somewhat inteligible here and thanks for your suggestions.

Gregg
reneaugroup309c
sherod
1,690 posts
 
213Cobra,

Which version of the VAC Avatar did you listen to?
sherod
1,690 posts
 
By the way, the most emotional amp I've ever listened to is my refurbished 1959 Pilot 402 receiver. Something magical about the sound that I can't quite put into words.
whoopadeedoo
50 posts
 
Hands down winner for me is Art Audio Jota (preferably high power version monoblocks)
audio_blow_hard
25 posts
 
It would have to be a single ended amp. They convey the right tonal quality that is necessay. The 845 is a good tube at doing that. The 300B not quite as good. For emotions like slam then perhaps some solid state amp.
twl
3,251 posts
 
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't chime-in with my preference for my David Berning custom choke-loaded 45 SET-ZOTL with battery-power. A one-off variation derived from the Berning Siegfried SET-ZOTL, custom built by David for me a few years ago.

The Type 45 triodes are my favorite, and I'm currently using the Emission Labs Mesh-plates. I use NOS Sylvania for the 6SN7 tubes.

The big thing for me with this amp, is that it gives the "true" Single-Ended-Triode sound, but requires no output tranformer to get in the way of the frequency extremes. This provides the SET "Golden Midrange" for the entire frequency spectrum, instead of limiting that beauty to just the midrange.

It is quite spectacular, when paired with the high-efficiency single driver speakers that are needed for it's very low 2wpc output. Naturally, the very deepest bottom octave is sacrificed(speakers roll-off at 41Hz) in a system of this type, but the rest of the spectrum easily makes up for that(unless you are the most ardent deep bass-freak!) I've seen "bass freaks" forget all about the deep bass when being mezmerized by this system. The coherence and "rightness" of the sound makes you forget all about "parcelizing" the sound, and you just melt into the music.
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