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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




 

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mayoradamwest
430 posts
 
I’ve heard the 160 monos side by side with the Boulder 1160 and preferred the Boulder. That’s not to say i disliked the ARC products (I do have a REF 6 at home). There was just something special about the Boulder for the music I listen to and I now have the 1160 at home and couldn’t be happier. That said, I’m glad you love the 160S. I do agree at the price point there are very few competitors who can rival it for clarity and musicality. 
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blumartini's avatar
blumartini OP
224 posts
 
My main system is Audio Research 160S with a P.S. Audio BHK Signature Preamp and Directstream Dac with Bridge ll playing through a pair of Focal Sopra ll in a room size 12x15. After quite a bit of system rolling this has been the best synergy in my room to date. My taste lean towards the musical side of things with just the right touch of detail, warmth, organic dimension, texture, and sound stage. My goal is to take the BHK Preamp out and go direct. I have kicked this around with my colleges and my gut is telling me to go MSB Discrete Dac with the optional power supply or the Lumin X1. 1st. up to the plate will be The MSB playing straight through to the Audio Research 160S if I can muster the energy I might also bring the BHK 300 Monos out to play as well. Stay tune as I will be keeping you posted.
blumartini's avatar
blumartini OP
224 posts
 
Going to switch back to my P.S.Audio BHK 300 Monos today to compare my P.S.Audio DirectStream Dac running the latest Snowmass update direct to amp ti see if the effect will be the same as my ARC 160S without the Bhk Preamplifier. 

Stay tuned.
blumartini's avatar
blumartini OP
224 posts
 
Ok so, this is what I found right iff the back was that you could use the PSA DirectStream as a DAC pre however at a cost of musicality and volume gain loss. Music at a lower volume seems conjested crying for more volume and when you do get it right it still lacks the musicality as is, however with the versatility of the BHK 300 and its tube change ease you can literally tune it to suit your liking.

You can also get my tube changes dac/preamp and dac only tweaks from my BHK 300, BHK Pream and PS Audio DirectStream Dac Post.

Cheers and Happy New Year's!
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