Amplifiers:A Keeper for Life. Do you know of one ?

I auditioned the new Decware amp a few months ago. Amazing build and sound quality, with a lot of useful features. Music floated in space, and there was great drive and dynamics. I think if Decware sold through dealers it would cost at least 2-3x the cost they charge direct. Amazing value and I love how they let you configure on the website to your exact requirements.

For me, the merry go round stopped when I found VAC. I just sold my VAC 300.1a amp and am awaiting my VAC 450S. It nails harmonics, speed, resolution, musical drive, timbre...when I listen to VAC it stops being an electronic reproduction of something, and I immediately see the instruments and vocalists. Kevin Hayes at VAC, to my ears, has reached audio nirvana with offerings. My solid state amp is the Conrad Johnson Premier 350, which is definitely a keeper...so much goodness in one enclosure.

I've been into hi-fi since the early 70's have owned more gear than I like to think about. Don't know if there is such a thing as a keeper for life. My most recent plunge is a Will Vincent upgraded ST-70. Have always owned SS amps, this is my first tube power amp and I must say it sounds night and day from any SS amp I've had to date! I've owned the big ones in SS such as the Rotel 1090 which is a respectable piece. But I must say that this tube gives such depth that no SS I've owned comes close! Is it a keeper for life, don't know, but I do know that I've never owned a SS amp that I considered a keeper for life!

Yeah, the Atma-Sphere M-60 is a very special amp. I was not at all impressed with Odyssey, sorry. Couldn't wait to get it out of my rack, ick! Easily found a better sounding solid state amp then, have since moved on to tubes. I was in the Odyssey room at RMAF last year and that was pretty underwhelming, too IMO.

My speakers were Vandersteen 2's, now Merlin VSM.

My like new, refurbished Krell KSA250. Sounds about as good as it gets to me. Also, it just looks cool knowing you have a massive power amplifier that will drive any known speaker load on the planet. Overloading this monster is just about inconceivable!

Edge NL 12.1s are definite "keepers". I have owned two, still have one after the move from HT+2channel to 2channel a couple of years ago and have not heard anything in the solid state world that approaches it for the sound quality and musicality I want in my system. This, at least to me, is a 'destination' piece of gear.