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100W+ solid-state amps known for beautiful mids

Quad 909 back in the day had a reputation for the best mids running up to $5000. I've used it in the past and I would definitely say that the mids were the highlight on that amp. It wasn't overly coloured, a hint of warmth, but it had a purity and sweetness to its mids. Unfortunately, mostly everything else was okay at best, kind of rolled off at both ends and congested stage-wise.

I'm looking for that same purity and sweetness without sacrificing the rest of the sonic traits. What have been your guys' contenders for 100W+ solid state power amps with the best mids?
128x128hedonism
dinov's avatar
dinov
846 posts
 
Sorry I missed the 100w plus part of this. 
bpoletti
1,555 posts
 
Herron M1 is a bit over $5,000, but the mids are excellent.  In fact, the entire spectrum is outstanding, timing and dynamics are in a class of their own.  IMO, one of the best amps available at any price every manufactured.
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
If you can get a 200W+ amp, get it.
the headroom you will need.
jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
Bakoon amplfiers have the most pure,detailed and natural sounding midrange I have heard.They sound neither warm nor cold and when you hear them aspects like that become irrelevant because they just sound right.They used to make 100 watt monoblocks but I am not sure that they do any more and they are not about power anyway.They are about clarity and finesse.They sound a bit like the Dartzeel but with even more immediacy, clarity and vibrancy although perhaps not quite as good bass.They also require more careful speaker matching and are much better driving 8 ohms than 4.
big_greg
6,670 posts
 
If you can get a 200W+ amp, get it.
the headroom you will need.
Buying based on watts is not a good formula. 

Like someone else mentioned, I have Keith Herron's M1 monoblocks.  They are "only" 150 watts each, but they have a very large toroidal transformer that provides all the headroom I need.  Previously I had Rogue Audio M180 tubed monoblocks (which I loved), but the M1's provide all the power I need and are cleaner and more detailed than the M180s.

If my budget allowed, I'd be more than happy with a 100 WPC darTZeel amp.  Some of the best midrange I've heard came from a 48 WPC Line Magnetic 805iA integrated powering Harbeth 40.1 speakers.  Having plenty of power certainly can help in the right design, but there's so much more to an amp than how many watts it puts out.


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