Old Amps that can still Kick Butt


Not being a believer that time necessarily = progress, I would like to offer the following example of a sonic gem that has transcended time and can totally kick butt in a modern milieu:

The Robertson 4010. I got one of these about two years ago because it was in immaculate condition, the price was so low and I was inquisitive. I hooked it up and let it warm up for a couple of days. OMG this thing was in the super amp league: Transparency to die for, slam that you couldn‘t‘ believe for for a 50W amp.. Peter Moncrieffe wasn‘t wrong in his review of this amp: this thing is in the Sterreophile Class A component category hands down. Even after all these years.

What amps have you encountered that have defied time and can still kick butt today?


128x128pesky_wabbit
daveyf, I have heard a lot of ARC gear over the past 30 years at dealers, shows, homes. I would not go back for any of it. Imo, the best ARC pre/amp were the past two years of AXPONA.

We are likely on the opposite ends of the warmth and coloration spectrum in preference. Even better tube/SS amps are occluding older recordings (i.e. 50 years) that with the i.V Ultra topology are opened up, revealed gorgeously at higher levels, and without any of the noise and distortion added by Class A, A/B and tubes. It’s a stunning experience, without strain, whiteness, etc associated with cheaper, previous class D.

Last night I was using the Eastern Electric Minimax Tube DAC Supreme with the i.V4 Ultra and achieving a sound quality level unmatched by some far pricier rigs/amps using both class A, A/B and tubes. Even the upper end gear is being outdone by the IcePower module featuring IceEdge technology. If current designs are being bested, I have no interest in returning to vintage. I would only do so if cost was the overriding concern. :)

I liken this development to the wider acceptance of Open Baffle speakers versus dynamic. Over the years I have come to dislike the box coloration of dynamic speakers. If I detect too much of it, I am unhappy. Increasingly I turn to OB and dipole to rid the sound of the cabinet contribution. Some prefer this, and would think OB and dipole to be "wrong". There’s hardly a happy medium in such cases. If you inherently think the warmth/syrupy/heavy sound to the bass, etc. IS good music, then likely no class D will satisfy and you would likely think the old amps are terrific. But, to me they are distorted, adding damaging character to the music. They also do not have the capacity to drive speakers dynamically like the i.V Ultra series and other class D now.
Just as I have worked to eliminate perceived box colorations in speakers, I am working to eliminate unwanted indistinctness and occluding of the signal in amplification. Once the improvement is heard, it is understood.

You may not want to be at the same destination sound as me, but trust me, there is a world of difference happening with certain modules/amps of class D now.


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@douglas_schroeder

I know nothing about Class D, but will look into it.  Mainly, I wanted to support your conversation regarding boxes.  When I opened my shop in 1974, I thought I knew a lot.  HA!  After locking the doors every evening, the real work began.

I learned VERY QUICKLY that ALL boxes distorted reproduced music.  My guitar and bass amps are boxes, but they are built for a different purpose than hi-fi speakers.

The real revelation, after learning about box speakers, was listening to the ever-popular Bose 901 hot mess and then turning on a set of Magneplaners driven by Audio Research gear of the day and a Linn Sondek with a moving coil cartridge.  A Lincoln Mayorga Direct-to-Disc source finally got me to put down the guitar and listen to recorded music.

There it was, and I have never looked back. 

Certainly there are many boxes today that are much more refined and have much better engineering than they did in the 1970's and '80's when I had the shop, but they remain boxes. 

While I understand different strokes, I still find it interesting that people will not even try Maggies before dropping tons of money on boxes.  My point is, at least try them in your room.  If they don't work for you, at least you will know that.  And, you might learn something.  Imagine that!

Cheers!


@douglas_schroeder Your admiration for Class D ICE amps does indeed tell us how we listen differently! The best Class D amp I have heard is the current Rowland model 925 mono block, and I would not swap my modded Rowland model 8T for it under any circumstances.
With what you posted, I would suspect that you would absolutely dislike the sound of a tube SET, yet IME they can sound absolutely incredible, in the right situation. I will agree that for commercial use where high power, zero heat and longevity are required ( ala a public address system) the Class D amp makes a load of sense ( as does their pricing). For home audio with the goal of ’The sound of live ’unamplified’ instruments in a natural space’---not so much. ( this may change into the future, who knows? BUT as of now in 2021....not happening!)
ML 33H
Pass Aleph amps
Krell class A amps
Coda class A amps
Threshold amps

System/ speaker dependent....

Best,
Jose