Ultimate Amplifier for the next 20 Years

Nothing on the original post list is a 20 year amp. And the $5,000 budget is a serious constraint. I can imagine a pair of Audiopax 88 monoblocks being satisfying for 20 years, but they are $15,000/pair.

However, there is one choice at $5,000 -- a used pair of McIntosh MC501 monoblocks. A new MC402 stereo amp would be just behind them. Not only will these amps actually last 20 years, but they'll power anything you'll buy in associated speakers and sound sensational doing it.

Phil

Paul,

You mention the NuForce. Srajan at 6moons has made some comments in comparison of the Nuforce as well as other ICE based amps, and the only ICE based amp he thought standed above the rest of the crowd was the pair of H20 Signature Monos he reviewed. I don't know if you have auditioned these yet, however would recommend audition as they are $5500 new and have an in home trial/audition and/or money back guarantee.

With any new amp, I can not emphasize the point of trying the amp in your room, with your speakers, and your system.

With that being said, I am not certain any amps today will be making the cut in 20 years...

Here is an excerpt from Srajan's review of the Nuforce Ref 9

"From where I'm sitting, NuForce is in exactly the same boat as Tripath, ICEpower and Hypex. Class D has clear advantages - operational efficiencies, cool operation, small possible packaging and lower costs than equivalent power ratings in traditional linear implementation. Good amps can clearly be authored using the Class D concept with its various proprietary wrinkles. Statement amps, too. My first samples thereof were Henry Ho's H2O Audio monos which use an ICEpower module sans SMPS and instead rely on an absolutely massive traditional linear power supply. Those amps were full-bore no-compromise compete-with-the-best beasts priced a lot higher than the NuForce minis.

The Reference 9s very much fit the mold of the Class D amps I've heard thus far - ultra-transparent, fast, very resolved and revealing of extremely low-level information but not as harmonically developed and tonally full as their older (first-rate) competition. Over the ICEpower amps I'm familiar with (H2O excluded), the Ref 9s go an important steps further in how they handle bass. In short, they avoid the unnaturally chiseled, overdamped, monster LF-transient mien that struck me as out of proportion and texturally discontinuous in those ICE sessions. They also exceed the Tripath amps I've heard in body though they still fall short of Class A amps, especially and undoubtedly tubes."

Sounds like you're set on the Classe, Paul. Enjoy!

I've got a Levinson 331 driving a pair of Aerial 10Ts. These speakers love power so I've been trying some other amps with a bit more muscle than the Levinson's 100 amps. While the McCormack DNA 500 is something I'd love to hear in my system, there is no nearby dealer and new, it's out of my price range.

So, I have been listening to both the Nuforce 9s (latest) and the Butler 2250. I'd have to say that most of what I've read or heard about the Nuforce 9s seems true and definitely worth a listen. Articulate, dynamic, extended, detailed soundstage -- they really play to the audiophile in me. Definitely a lot of bang for the buck. But (IMHO after just a few days of listening)... they may be a bit of a left-brained/yang kinda amp. For me, the verdict is still out on how musical they are after extended listening. (not sure if I'll still love them in the morning ;-)

The Butler 2250 seems much more a right brain/yin amp. VERY musical! Plenty of power, very dynamic and extended, and has a mid-band to die for. What this adds up to for me is that it is highly engaging musically. Maybe a PRAT thing. One late night with the lights down low and you just might change your mind about how you listen to your system. Strangely, this amp doesn't get much press but check out the review on 6Moons...

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/butler/2250.html

Truthfully, I haven't decided what I'll replace the Levinson with (or even if I will). I'd still love to hear the DNA 500, but the Butler is definitely an unsung hero worthy of a listen.

I'm going to toss yet another vote in for the JC-1s. I acquired a pair on Saturday - actually Bob Crump's (one of the designers of the amp) personal pair. I am driving Sound Lab A-1s with them. In over 30 years of putting together audio systems, I have NEVER had a piece of gear make such a difference - with one exception, the acquisition of the Sound Labs in the first place. They do not run all that hot under load, and are merely warm to the touch in idle.