McCormack , Aragon or Forte

The Forte amps to me have a pedigree that is hard to beat, the designer of which I believe is Nelson Pass (one of the gods if not the god of SS amp design).
I had one here for repair a while back, can't remember which one it was but it sounded very good with a passive preamp, it had quite a high Class A bias as it ran very hot.
They also use what's called IGBT output transistors which are like a Mosfets on the input, but Bi-Polar (bjt) output, so they can give better current supply to harder speaker loads like your Apogee's than a ordinary Mosfet can supply.
I say they are a poor mans version of Nelson's top amps. And can be picked up cheap, do your home work as there are a few different models, get the right one and you'll be happy.

Cheers George

One more vote for McCormack amplifiers ...they are capable of multidimensional lifelike sound. With SMcAudio upgrades, non of the other amps mentioned will compare. Good luck and enjoy!

Not all Forte amps used IGBT's, and the ones that did weren't from the pen of Nelson Pass. Though he was there at the time (and on his way out), Mr. Pass was not a fan of IGBT's.

Yes Unsound you are correct, the one I had I in for bias control repair I think I remember now were BJT (bi-polar), 2N3055 & MJ2955 or MJE15003 & MJE15004. Don't know were I got the IGBT from. They can still push current as just as well also into those Apogee's

Cheers George

Nelson Pass did design most of the Forte4; and I remember company brought in this engineer from Sweden who instituted the IGBTs, to whom Nelson Pass gave full credit. As a tube guy I just loved the Forte 4. My favorite solid state amp of all time. I admit I only have experience with a dozen or so SS amps.