Best power amp below US $ 20.000,00 ??

If you put any stock in Chris Martens' review at The Absolute Sound (http://nuforce.com/reviews/TAS-Ref9.pdf), the world class amps that he compared them to, their receiving a Golden Ear award and Editor's Choice Award for 2005, as well as a number of other reviews and accolades, I'd venture a guess that the NuForce Ref 9 Premium analog switching amps may well be the top contender.

The question is what would you buy with the $17,500 you'd have left over?

Perhaps you might consider an APL 3910 at $6500 or APL modified Esoteric UX-1 at about $16000, arguably the best digital sources on the planet. (no argument from me).

-IMO (oh yeah, I am a NuForce dealer and user)

Stehno -> I read that review. That is why I want to listen to NuForce amps as well, even though they cost pennies next to other amps we are discussing here. I should have them after X-mas - I was hoping to get them this week, but unfortunately, me dealer told me the pair he has is not fully broken in yet :-(

Philefreak -> H2O does not have distribution in Europe, at least AFAIK.

Ramy -> thanks for sugesting Gryphon Antileon. I think I can borrow one.

Mikelavigne -> I read all darTZeel reviews. I'm also watching all dart threads here on AgoN with great interest. So far, I have only one chance to listen to the dart combo - during The HiFi Show in London this September. I have to say, I liked the sound a lot. I'm going to CES this year too, and dart is on of the must audition products, together with Lamm, CAT and deHavilland.

The thing that is worryng me though, is Branimir comment on the Dart in one of the threads. His friend, who is also using Eidolons Vision, is already regreting the change from ARC Reference to Dart, which to his ears is not that great at all. There is a possibility, that his dart is not fully broken in though.

Elberoth2, for what it's worth, the Atma-Sphere MA-2 amps have no problem with the 3.6 ohm drop of the Eidolons. They've been a great match for all the reasons you list as to why you liked the SET amp. But, they will be difficult for you to audition in Europe.
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Twilo,

Hey I just happen to own both amps that you just mentioned. I am going to keep the lamm 2.2. While the rowland is a tube-like solid state amp, the lamm 2.2 is a hybrid that really mates the solid state and tube gear together seamlessly.

They are both excellent but with my emmlabs dac and transport and wilson speakers, the lamm is better.

I think that the rowland is one of the best all solid state amps ... just depends on the other equipment you got and how it all works together..

The weird thing is that while many people agree about the rowland in general and the 302 in particular, I am having a devil of a time selling it? Most of the time, I just get tire kickers who end up buying krell stuff. Well their loss.

Rushton -> Atma MA-3 is around 28k new, which is a over my budget. I could probably strech it a little bit more if only Atmas weren't so ugly ! I think my wife would divorce me If I got those home. j/k. Plus, them must generate an awful lot of heat, which maz be an issue in the summer months (I have A/C in my room, but I tend to switch it off when listening).