Best midrange on SS amp ?

One of the ways to have good mid-range in a SS amp is to make sure it can handle the bass fqz's of you speaker of choice without strain. That said, I can't comment on the Symphonic line..but I did compare a Batt (VK-500?, not sure if thats it's model name} to an old Krell Ksa-250. The speakers were my Apogee Duetta Signatures. The Krell crushed the Batt, I will explain why I think this took place.

The Batt, even though it was a $5,000 amp..was under strain. The Krell was at total ease and sounded that way. Both amps are rated at 250 watts per and should have driven my Duetta Sig's without a problem, the Batt mid-range began to glare everytime we pushed the volume into the 90db range, the Krell loved it and the speakers became alive with no hint of strain...(shows up most in the mid-range).

That said, I'm not selling Krell or BAT. My point is that the mid-range quality of an amp is affected by the row it must hoe and will vary with choice of speakers it must interact with. I'm talking about SS amps that are designed to be neutral. What-ever neutral means to you of course!

One of the reasons tube amp users like them so much is the fact that they clip "more gracefully" than SS amp designs, Dahhhh, don't drive you amp to clipping and the tube design has lost this advantage. Easy to say...but the speakers and room stick their heads into the mess. Tube amps maintain a better mid-range quality because of the way they clip under strain...their overall bass quality is mostly not that good but does not seem to affect the Mid-range in the way that SS amps do. This is the real reason why tube design is still a big hit...most music is in the Mid-range with the high and low fqz's as iceing on the cake.

Was not trying to bore you with my opinion, just something else to think about as you look for mid-range quality.

Dave

Well, this will probably be of no help to you as I'm a tube enthusiast, but if I were going to get back into SS I would try to find a pair of Threshold SA1's (class A Mono's) built in the late 80's and spend some bucks to get them rebuilt (if even needed). I ran Thiels with the SA3 (50 wt stereo amp - I couldn't afford the big ones then) to great effect. These were/are very neutral, grainless and dynamic amps. IMHO these were the best of Nelson Pass's amps.

Audiogabby,
Give a listen if you can to the Plinius amps. SA 100's or 102 series. Their use of NPN rather than PNP devices are more linear and better sounding tham most SS designs which use PNP output devices. These amps are noted for thier tube like midrange quality with excellent bass. To my ears, these are some of the best SS amps. I use a BAT Vk5i pre and had prviously owned ARC VTM 120 tube monos. I much prefer the Plinius SA 100Mk11 I am using as it sounds much more balanced top to bottom in my system with out losing the tube like mids.

Best of luck with your search!-Ken

If you must go SS try the BEL 1001 Mk V bridged-mono or the new Hovland Radia. Both have exceptional midranges and their frequency extremes aren't too shabby either.

Clayton Mono Blocs or Llano Trinity Amps are my choice. I have had the SA/1s and the VK-500 and the a few Krell's, they were no match for the Clayton or Llano.