2. amps-preamps
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The most emotional amp out there?

OK gang, I need your votes for the amp you feel that brings the chills, the goosebumps, yes maybe even a teardrop or two when you sit down and listen to your particular music of choice. Although many responders will automatically think of tubes, I do not necessarily share that "prejudice". I'm trying to find that special amp to mate with my Virgo IIs that really takes me to the heart of the music...as opposed to just performing the requisite audiophile tricks (e.g. imaging, soundstage depth, etc.). I'm tired of appreciating the specific virtues of a well known amplifier that I am auditioning but never really being transported to a place where I forget about the gear and simply am enthralled with the music.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the audiophile thing as much as the next person. But I am searching for the amplifier that will transcend the need to go through the checklist of listening attributes a reviewer does and instead will simply allow me to sit back and just be enveloped by the message that the particular recording artist I am listening to is trying to communicate.

I hope I'm being somewhat inteligible here and thanks for your suggestions.

Gregg
reneaugroup309c
jgk1017
15 posts
 
Maybe H20 is the next Boone's Farm. Anybody remember Cold Bear?
jsujo
348 posts
 
Combinations/synergy, etc etc...For emotion, I dont think that is the ticket. Even some bad synegry systems will sound tremendously good, depending what your prior experience is...

Audiophiles just seem to spin around in circles and give the gear too much credit, when I think its our level of receptiveness to the music. But we seem to close up when the gear isnt to our "liking" anymore.....

So we become more attached to the capabilities of the system than the music...I am guilty of this myself, but I always find good music, as emotionally satisfying when I listen to my old Fisher 400 thru vintage EV's as when I use my main Berning pre and amps thru Quad ESL-63 system...
ar_t
165 posts
 
Yeah......I recall Cold Bear. Just don't ask why.

No, I never touched it, but the story that goes with it.......

Pat
mikelavigne
2,200 posts
 
Jsujo, i think you mis-understood my post. i agree that we give gear too much credit.....all good gear does is expand the possibilities.....but not necessarily the enjoyment or performance. good synergy is not necessary for connecting to the music. but synergy is important if you desire to get as close to hearing the unveiled musical event as possible and get the maximum emotional involvement that your gear is capable of. i would expect that participants here would typically want that.

musical enjoyment is valid in any way one wants it.....i'm no music snob. it can be over the damn phone.....if it moves you then fine by me.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,256 posts
 
For those who think an amplifier can be emotional, then can a capacitor, a speaker binding post or amp stand also be emotional? It sounds silly to me if you say yes.

If you can't connect to truly great music when played back on lo-fi equipment, then you won't connect to it on a reference quality system either. A well setup synergistically matched system definitely adds something nice to the music, but in the scheme of things its not as important as the performance itself. It's akin to going to a sports arena and the difference between courtside seats and nose-bleed seats. Who wouldn't want the courtside seats? But any seat in the arena is hugely different and better than experiencing the event on TV.
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