Musical SS Amp Under $350 w/ Adcom GFP 565 Pre Amp

B&K ST140. Tubelike sound, excellent build quality. Great factory support. ~$200-250 on audiogon.

I looked at some of your recent posts and something seems to be getting to you about your current set-up. Have you been able to quantify that there is something missing from your system's sound or are you just torturing yourself thinking that there must be something that you can upgrade (like so many of us here)? Your set-up really seems OK (Adcom pre & power; Onkyo/PS Audio transport/DAC; Monitor Audio speakers) and I don't think that $350 will provide you with the "heads & shoulders" next level type of upgrade.

Regards, Rich

Maybe trade the pre and power amp in for tubes? A tube integrated might work. I think you should take Rich's comments seriously. Make sure you are upgrading for a reason. B&K or Acurus have some amps in that price range that are somewhat musical. You might also investigate making the jump to a better $1k used integrated amp. The Krell 300i would be 'more forgiving' than you adcom stack, based on the adcom I've heard.

Aaron

Agree with Marakanetz. On E-bay Nikko is often found very resaonably. And they (were) are excellent amps.

Are you talking about the Nikko amps from the '80s? I could never afford one, but I always wondered what they sounded like.