Which Solid State Amplifier is Making you Happy?


I'm trying to find a new amplifier to replace a Musical Fidelity A3CR. There are lots of candidates: Rowland 501s, Pass Labs 350.5, Levinson 431/432, H2O, etc. What are people using and what has been a good sonic investment? I'm currently driving B&W N803s, so it's a pretty normal load. My MF amp does not offer enough punch or bass control. It flattens out at higher volumes. I'll spend what it takes, new or used. Less than $8K would be nice. All comments welcome.
Peter
pscialli
The H2O Signature 150

I have to admit; I've always had a thing for a well done class A transistor amp or a good valve unit. While I've also been a big fan of the price/performance ratio class D provides, I've never met one I could live with long term. That is, until I received a prototype amp from H2O. Instead of going wax poetic about what it does well, and why I like it - the bottom line is that it is a transistor amplifier that tickles my fancy to the point to where my search for an amp for the main system has come to a close (well, for now - you know how it goes).
Thank you Rlawry, unfortunately anonymous comparisons are not even worth the weight of the electrons used to display them on a computer screen.
Rumadian, you heard the prototype H2O? So did I. If I were to hear that now, I would judge it rather harshly. Maybe that is a bad choice of word. It was anything but harsh. It sounded like a very good class A amp.

I bought the third generation of the H20 Signature monos. Since then, I upgraded the module, and caps in this well reviewed version, under direction of it's creator. Now I have this insanely dynamic, deeply penetrating, crazy real sound out of my 1 ohm speakers.

Guidocorona, aren't you going to visit me? I will have a pair of Scintillas for sale soon.
Vince, I am trying. . . closest I've been able to arrange is to be in Fresno on Sept 6th and 7th. . . but I haven't lost all hope yet! Guido
The last three SS amps I have used were all nice. The big Krells are the best of the three with my Thiels.
Krell FPB 650M, Ayre K-1xe, Parasound JC-1s.