TOP TEN solid state amps of all time?


Audigon members really responded well the the Top Ten Tuners of All Time. Literally a wealth of information for all of us.Plus the civility of members was outstanding. We can disagree but still share our opinions. Lets keep this discussion the same.Also lets keep the price new or used at 10K or less. To start this thread I vote for the Threshold 400a Class a amp.Cant remember the new price but used is $400.00 to $600.00 average. I my opinion one of the best amps ever made. In the class A/B amps vote for CM LABS,one of the first true mil spec amps produced. Doubt if many of you remember CM Labs though.
ferrari
I have a lot of respect for the Jeff Rowland Design Group products. I think they have a very natural, unforced, unelectronic sound. I also like Electrocompaniet, but would give the nod to Rowland.
While I have heard some of the models mentioned above, in perticular Jeff Rowland design group amps, I have extensively listened and own Classe upper line products, in perticular the CA-400, I own( New version CA-401, I have not heard) is a great value and sounds lush, unforced, in most part natural and unelectronic. I have no intention of change. To give you an example, I heard Krell FPB-300 ($9000.0 retail) and considered trade in for my Classe CA-400 2 years ago ( I almost did awed by the Krell mystique). Then I listened carefully, every thing else remaining same. I found Krell sound, too analytic, rather too focused, too prestine. Vs. Classes's more faithful sound stage ( not too deep) and lifelike focus of adequately detailed wall of lush sound. My test: I move around the house casually , going upstairs, wondering around in the back yard and front yard, while a small jazz ensemble, or good vocal or good piano recordings is on, and without cheating to myself, I listen :does the sound sounds realistic? No games. Classe always came ahead in projecting life-like presence in the house. Note that I would not put their lesser models in the same category, and I have heard them all in my system. The CA-150,the CA-200 and even CA-300 were lacking something. CA-400 indeed is a great amp. The new omega's, the omnicrons I have not heard and besides they cost more than $10K anyway. It is CA-400 baby!
Cello Performance II monoblocks. Lightning fast, articulate, sweet, and powerful. One chassis is the power supply (energy is stored in a dual choke instead of capacitors), and the other is the (one-channel) amp. This monster doesn't run out of steam - it's built to drive a one ohm load. This amp has no personality - delicate and airy in one turn and powerful and dynamic in the next. Its real strengths are in its ability to manage micro-dynamic contrasts and to maintain an utterly unconfused and solid soundstage. The music is therefore real and exciting. It doesn't harden up, get hazy, or really even act like its working very hard.