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30 Amplifiers Totaling $428,740.00 In Search of Audio Nirvana

Yes it’s true! I have both owned and auditioned 30 of the top selling amplifiers Totaling $428,740.00 in search of that secret sauce called Audio Nirvana. All though there is no one size fits all, they all have their own special touch of magic for someone at a price point and sound signature that will be a fit for your musical listening taste. With that being said, this long list of amplifiers ranging from $2500.00 MSRP to $85,000.00 is what I experience through trial and error while running the gamut of Class A-AB-D and Tube Amplifiers from a variety of the top Amplifier Make and Models listed below.


Anthem Integrated 225

Adcom 575SE 

Audio Research 160S

Bell Canto 600M 

Block Audio

Bryston 7BSST2 

Divalet Expert Pro 220 

Gryphon Diablo 

Krell Evolution  

Hegel H30 

Luxman M900U 

Merril Eliment 118 

McIntosh 452 

McIntosh 601 

Octave Audio V110  

Musical Fidelity Titan 

Parasound A21 

Parasound JC1 

Pass Lads X250.5 

Pass Labs X350.5 

Pass Labs XA160.8 

Pass labs XS300 

Plinius SA-250 

PS Audio BHK 300 Signature 

Primaluna Premium HP 

Primaluna Prologue 

Sim Audio W7 


I actually couldn't believe it myself until I looked at my spreadsheet 5.5 years later and said WTF have I done? All that said I can truly say it has been one fun ride! 

The purpose and goal for posting this long list is of amplifiers was to share my thoughts and experiences with you from a unbiased point of view with Absolutely No Quid Pro Quo :)


Cheers




 

128x128blumartini
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Without a reference system (see The Audio Critic) all of this is for naught! All conclusions reached are at best just random!

rsf507
2,334 posts
 
A reference system is your own system/room. All things are judged against others NOT someone else's system IMHO
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,691 posts
 
(Oh, good....for @ least once...I'm not totally on a limb, sawing the 'inboard' side...*s*)

Unless one has an 'acoustic memory' that rivals that of a 'published reviewer' (which, I've noted, the status of which is discussed almost as much as the item reviewed)....

How can one discern  A over Y?  *hands up in supplication*

BTW...It does begin to sound (NPI...) like 'mania'.... I can identify with that, given my 'take' on the 'hobby'....;)  But....*vaguely boggled*
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,691 posts
 
(....I'm glad for bluem that at least he's settled down for awhile with the current 'rendition'....;)....one needs to take a break periodically....)
blumartini's avatar
blumartini OP
224 posts
 
For those who focused more on the overwhelming amount of amps I have owned and "Auditioned"! Best you go back to the original post and "READ" it again, "Owned and Auditioned"!!!  Guess I should have been more specific, my mistake. So to clarify I have acutely owed a 1/3 of the amps listed and the rest I have had unlimited access to from a private owner Audiophile friend who like me has the time and energy to play and learn. We as hobbyists have conducted blind test with a mix of friend both private owners and other professionals in the industry.

Hope this will help.

Cheers 
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