Good looking and sounding amp?

For a five channel amp go to Audioadvisor.com and check out the amp and preamp by Musical fidelity. They are offered at a speacial price of $4K for the pair. Most people really like the looks. I don't personaly, but I do appreciate the design. They are available on a thirty day trial and if they are like the rest of the new line they should sound very good. If I ever did an HT system myself I would consider using the MF gear with the Gallo Micros, but with a better subwoofer (than the Gallo). I assume that they have crossovers in the preamp for this, but am not certain.

PS: The stereo amp would depend on the rest of your gear, your listening room (size) and your musical taste.

McIntosh or Electrocompaniet or Anthem in Silver.

Check out the Odyssey Stratos (http://www.odysseyaudio.com)! This is a 150W/ch amp that is available in a range of colors, but most importantly...sounds very musical. In fact it sounds better than most amps I've heard or had. It sounded markedly better than my Audio Research amps. Best of all...it's a true audio bargain (starts around $995 for stereo). Give Klaus Bunge a call (317)299-5578...you can't go wrong with this product!

First lets go down what a rough concensus, but in my ordered, would be of good sounding amps that can drive almost any load: ARC Ref 600 or 300, Krell's biggest, Boulder's best, VTL's 1250 and 750 sigatures now it gets dicey with Atmashpere's MA2MK11, Wavestream and maybe the Walcott's. Second, a larger group of smaller amps that do require some speaker matching: Nagra VPA, VAC 30/30, SF3, Pathos Twin Towers, Pathos Monos, Roland, Boulder, ML, ARC, Krell, Air Tight, Wavelenght,WAVAC-HE 833, and the Marantz T1. Note that budget wasn't a consideration. The ones I would love to have for their sound and their looks would be: Marantz T1, WAVAC HE833 and for SS the big Boulders. Those are my opinions and dreams. Oh, if I just had to live with one aroung $5K then I would get the Pathos Twin Towers and have Scott Franklin modified it because I heard these and they sound great. Have fun!