What makes you build a system around an amplifier?

willemj wrote,

"Moreover, image and ’air’ can be quite delusional/artificial properties. Just go to a good concert hall and listen to a symphonic concert. Imaging there is usually far less precise than what you hear at home from your audio gear."

>>>>>This is easy. Just disregard the illusional, delusional, artificial image and air. Only worry about the actual image and air in the room at that time. See, that's not so hard, is it? Put another way, it is what it is.

No matter how much you have in the end you would have had even more if you had started off with more. - Old audiophile axiom

If you want it all, air, dynamics, tinkling of glasses in a small club look no further than Nina Simone’s first album, Little Girl Blue. Don’t Smoke in Bed, Mood Indigo, etc. That's what I'm talking about!

I want to make it clear, this thread is definitely not about perfect amplifiers. :)

It is about amplifiers you fall in love with.

Best,

E

My search actually ended a while back as a result of owning a Plinius SA-102 amplifier, upgraded/modified by Vince Galbo. This amp hits all of my audiologic buttons, and then some. Nice to, at least, have the amp search resolved.

erik,
I'm just getting back to you to try to give a better answer to your interesting question. After 43 years, I am still very attached to my Mac 2105. I originally bought it because I was told it was the best there was by a person I trusted, and I had the money. After I got to know it, I started to become attached for different reasons. I had a chance to compare it over time to Marantz receivers my friends owned, then an Apt Holman amp, and then an Adcom, and finally Quicksilver monos.
Before I go any further, I want to say that at the present time, I rotate it with an 8 watt Audio Note Kits 300b integrated and a 40 watt class A Cayin 265i solid state integrated which I love for different reasons. Returning to the Mac, what I learned from the comparisons with other amps, and they were not analytical comparisons, was that by chance, I had bought an amp that really suited me from the get go. What made it a keeper was it's powerful , if somewhat dark character which always seemed to present music in the way that felt right to me, and I could hear that character no matter which speakers I used.
I do view amplifiers like people...each has its own personality, its weak and strong points; and some you just fall in love with despite technical imperfections. I believe that an amplifier is the emotional heart of my system. Preamplifiers are very important too of course, but for me the amplifier is the emotional center.
I use the other amplifiers I mentioned when I feel like a change, or when I will be listening to music that plays to their particular strengths. The Cayin for instance has incredible PRAT. I never really believed in that term until I bought this amp. It's amazing.

Anyway, the Mac is like a trusted friend, and even though it sees a lot less play time these days, I will always keep it and know that whenever I use it, I won't be disappointed.