2. amps-preamps
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Red Rose or Audio Prism?

I got interested in audio following my interest in home theatre and heard Red Rose equipment on a recent visit to New York. They had some ideas that were slightly weird to me including the suggestion that I change my video from 5.1 to 2 channels. (Just when I thought I was up to date.)Trying to research the equipment on the internet, one article suggested that amps are actually made by someone else, despite the company's sales pitch about their connection with Marc Levinstein, supposedly the "engineering" guru behind the design. Is this anything to worry about? Is this company legitimate? Whoever makes the stuff, is it any good?
golfnut18faf6
vantageaudio
182 posts
 
Mark Levinson incorporated Audio Prism into Red Rose Music and the amps are re-vamped and badged Red Rose now. The company is perfectly legitimate. Regards, Richard.
rcprince
3,073 posts
 
Red Rose's electronics are the AudioPrism gear, in some cases a little tweaked up but essentially the same stuff. They have been around for a while before Levinson acquired their electronics business. I've always liked their components, which delivered excellent sound, and I think it sounds VERY good with the Red Rose small speakers.
vtvu
97 posts
 
Go to http://www.redrosemusic.com/ for more info on the company, including the designers (Victor Tiscanero for AudioPrism electronics, and Bo Bengtsson for speakers). Mark Levinson is the CEO. I owned an AudioPrism Debut II before it became Red Rose Model 2. Very nice sounding and good looking amp. It is a little over-priced now ($5000) that they raised the price but still a good amp that has many good features (among them, switcheable triode/ultralinear modes and ground loop hum elimination switches). It is still being made at the AudioPrism factory in Washington I believe. The build quality is first rate. The amp was rated Class B by Stereophile, and its flagship mono blocks was rated class A, so they are well regarded. I only solf it to go the OTL route. See http://home.att.net/~vtvu/audio/debutcomposite.jpg for pictures of my old amp. I prefer the gold finish.
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