Best Amp for under 10K?

Go find the Pass Labs equipment. I'd put it up against ANYTHING regardless of price... I'm not kidding!

I hate to say it, but you might also take another look at your preamp... Take your preamp with you and audition the X600's with it. Then compare it to the X0 preamp...

I promise, you will be blown away! Very tube-like without the hassle!

There is a reason why Nelson Pass is so well known... Go listen and you'll understand why...

Steve

PS - No, I'm not a dealer and I have no relation to Pass. Have simply been blown away by his equipment... Simply a whole step above what else is currently available...

In the ten grand ballpark tube gear, I like the Atma-Sphere MA-1 Mk2.2 in an OTL amp, or the Wolcott Presence in a push-pull tube amp, or the DeHaviland GM-70 in an SET amp. Disclaimer - I'm a dealer for Atma-Sphere and Wolcott.

In the ten grand ballpark solid state, I like the Clayton M-100 monoblocks or big S-2000 stereo amp, depending on how much power you need. I'm having a hard time coming up with another solid state amp I like as much in the same price ballpark. Yup, I sell the Claytons, too.

In used gear, if you like a sweet midrange and don't mind giving up some dynamics and bottom end, the Pass Aleph series was among the nicest sounding solid state amps ever made.

This short list is by no means complete, as I'm sure it leaves out many worthy contenders. The thing to do is not to get the "best amp", but to get the best amp for your speakers. Since I'm not familiar with the sound and requirements of your speakers, I really can't make a specific recommendation.

Best of luck to you in your quest!

All of these are excellent recommendations. I want to include the Sim Audio Moon W5 amplifier to this list. It is a great amplifier and would cost half of what your considering spending. I am not sure if any of the suggested amplifiers are that much better than the Moon W5 in its ability to drive speakers with authority while not sounding hard. It is a very musical amplifier that will not make you concentrate on the low or high end of the musical presentation. It will make you concentrate on the music. Good Luck.

I would check out the new CAT JL2...supposedly phenomenal. After discount, you should be at 10k.

Other cheaper options:

BAT VK75SE
Cary V12 MK2

You can't go wrong with all 3.

I think the VTLs are ok, but they have so many tubes to replace....

I think Firebird is a loony bird. Rowland and Goldmund no good compared to awesome Krell, and Sound Factory second-rate speakers compared to all-time best KHARMA LOUDSPEAKER, supreme best. I hear designer Charles is a real nice guy too, he likes the picnics in the park. All-time best Lamm gooder choice too, Vladimir is total GENIUS, you know it.