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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
discnik
161 posts
 
I am listening to Three Chords and the Truth by Van the Man on a Cary SL-100 / Adcom GFA-535ii combo and can find no fault. Not pushed hard, the little 535 is no slouch. It drives the large Advents really well.
william53b's avatar
william53b
211 posts
 
Love questions like this, great question, interesting answers. Lots of good info.


I have an Adcom 555II that I am trying to decide whether to rebuild from the resistors up, not just the caps. Nelson Pass design, how bad could it be with a soft start circuit added into it?



curlyhifi
157 posts
 
KSA 200S
KAV 300i
jhills
615 posts
 
One of my all time favorites was the old mid 80s PSE Studio II (80/150W) paired with my Audible Illusions - Modulus II Pre. driving Vandi 2Cis and then in the early 90s upgraded to the  Studio IV. (100/195W) driving my Quad ESL 63s. Incredible sounding and performing amplifiers. By anyone's standard, then and even now, might be considered sonic gems......Jim 
nighthawk
259 posts
 
I still enjoy my 35 year old Tandberg 3006A with 3008A preamp driving ADS L1290s in my second system. Very easy to listen to.
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