Best power amp below US $ 20.000,00 ??

Rowland 302 and Lamm 2.2

Under 20 dollars?

I would say that they are all pretty similar at that price range.

Now, at 30 dollars things get crazy!!!!!

I'm looking for an amp to drive my Avalon Eidolon Visions. The source is AA Capitole mk II SE run direct. The AA is a temporary solution - I plan to replace it with a full function pre and a better source components when I'm done with the amp.

Right now I’m running the Nagra PMA monobloks (the piramids) which are on a dealer’s loan. The amps sound quite fine for the price – better than expected for shure (especially after reading the trashing KK review in HiFi News) but do have some graynes, which IMO is inheritent in almost all solid state designs.

The nagra VPA (with KR 845 tubes option) that I tried before PMAs, were much better in that regard, the sound was much sweeter and smoother, but still didn’t gave me the harmonic completness, harmonic “rightness” I’m looking for. Nagra VPA is definately Teejay’s No.1 flavor, i.e. pristine clarity, fine sharp details, speed, very extended top/bottom frequencies and great PRAT.

The BAT 150se monobloks I had before VPAs, sounded a little bit better in that regard, but still didn’t have the SET magic in the midrange. They were also a little bit "heavy-footed" and lacked ultimate microdynamics & resolution. The other downside of BATs is that they produce LOTS of heat (much, much more than the VPAs) and that may be a problem in summer months.

The amp I liked best so far was a SET amp based on a single GM70 triode - 30 watts of pure triode magic. That amp had everything I was looking for - fine textures, microdynamics, holographic soundstaging, harmonic lushness, natural timbres. And surprisingly – on the contrary to the common knowledge – they have absolutely NO PROBLEMS driving 87dB efficient (3,6 Ohm minimum) Avalons ! The bass was very good indeed and they could go louder than I normally listen in my 14 x 19 foot dedicated room. Unfortunately - this amp was made by a local DIYer and I'm not quite ready for this.

I still want something of the shelf.

Next week I’m gonna try some local ICE based amp and a Nuforce 9s. The next amps that are waiting “in line” are Krell 400 & 700cx, some Classe monos, Plinius SA102, Pathos In-Power, Pass X-600.5, Electrocompaniet AW-400, Mac MC-501. It is gonna take some time though, since I ALWAYS borrow the amps for at least a week for home audition.

Pls note that I live outside the US and some amps are simply not available here (in Europe).

The best I've ever heard Eidolons is with Rushton's Atma-Sphere MA-2 MkIIIs. Perhaps an older iteration of the MA-2s would be in your price range? They'd be a great choice in the sense that if you like the sound of a SET, good chance you will appreciate the magic of OTLs. Good luck,

Spencer

Elberoth2, in your 14' x 19' foot room you may not need a 'big amp' that is typically associated with Eidolons.

you mention your interest in an 'SET mid-range' yet have a 87db, 4 ohm speaker. depending on listening habits, finding an amp that can control your speaker and also give you the midrange magic you seek may be a challenge.

i have not specifically heard the Vision version of the Eidolons.

you might consider the Swiss made darTZeel. it fits your price criteria and will give you a magical mid-range clarity (but not added warmth or shimmer). normally i would not recommend the darTZeel for the Eidolons; but with your particular sonic priorites it may come closest to the ideal.

some SET fans (both 300B and ML2.1 owners) that very recently visited my room commented on the very tube like naturalness they heard from the darTZeel. they could not believe there was no tubes in my signal path from what they were hearing. yet the darTZeel is quite dynamic and extended top and bottom.

if you were to eventually upgrade to the darTZeel battery powered preamp you would have perfect synergy.