Pro Amps - What have you tried?

I've listened to some decent Crown power amps as well as some Bryston gear - the lowest output pro power amp, the 2B is particularly nice sounding and I have a pro version (the only difference being no power switch as they are intended to be ganged in a rack and switched on remotely) in my dining room mini-system.

2 of my favorite amplifiers are a Smart Theatre Systems TA 242 ( modified ), and a Yamaha P 2160 ( modified ). Both sounding different, as the STS is a mosfet / Hafler design. Both sound excellent with my Klipsch Lascalas ( modified ). They " follow " the music very well ( prat ), better than many audiophile amps I own, and have owned. They also have input level attenuators, which I have not removed from the circuit, as I go direct from the source into them ( most pro amps, if not all, that I am familiar with, have these attenuators ). The Yamaha is as neutral as I have heard from an amplifier, while the STS adds a bit of warmth. 

Hi Mr Decibel!

Funny, I worked for Smart, possibly during the period those amps were being assembled.  Smart bought the Hafler modules in bulk and supplied their own toroidal power supplies.

I'm glad you like them, but I always thought they were a little thin. I brought my Sumo Andromeda one day, slightly less power, and it smoked the Hafler on dynamics and guts. I have read some believe it depends very much on which Hafler's we're talking about.

Best,


E