2. amps-preamps
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Mark Levinson 29, 27.5...

I have owned a dozen power amps. Let's keep this specific. Just talking amps not anything else. Cables and the preamp and source, the speakers especially matter of course a lot. I'm specifically just talking power amplifiers. The amplifiers I have liked the most were my ML 29 and 27.5. I upgraded to three other brands one by one of other power amps. For me, for my system, I'm now convinced the 23.5 will be the best. Best balanced output 20-20K dynamic, deep, fast. Please advise me what amp you LOVE with your floor standing loudspeakers and top shelf sources and preamps and interconnects and power cables etc. I like the rest of my system. I tried to get some more SPL by upgrading my ML 27.5 100Watt and the three more powerful amps I tried were sorely disappointing. The two objections I see are what were the three amps and it's subjective if you like ML...

What is the best amp? I don't want to disparage the competition but the three amps I used were more wattage, more expensive and current modern successful brands.

I will enjoy comparing a 23.5 to all the other power amps I've had but there have to be a dozen super better, what are they, I want one ASAP thx!

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jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

my 2 cents as follows - i will separate into 2 groups, lower power and higher power solid state power amps only (no integrateds):

lower power (significantly less than 100 wpc) ... belles sa30, first watt f5/f6, audio sector patek se (47 gaincard clone), agd audion - used with spendors harbeths

higher power (100 wpc and above) ... hegel h20, audio research 100.2, classe ca2100 dr, smc mccormack dna125 - used with magnepans vandersteens

 

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ghdprentice
7,016 posts
 

For you ML or Boulder.

 

For me Audio Research Reference 160m. I am sure you would not like these.

 

i

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,514 posts
 

the speakers especially matter of course a lot.

Yes, they do. Without knowing that I could not even begin to suggest anything.

pedroeb
493 posts
 

Not only are speakers important, but indirect sound can mean you need a warmer sound to mask the perceived harshness.

Indirect Sound

Source:
Understanding Baffle Step and Diffraction

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