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Most musical S.S. Amp under 2k used ?

i'm counting on you guys to fan the flames of this inquiry.

geez, i’m really going a lil crazy here with all this new and unexpected fervor toward this ridiculously addictive material. my girlfriends actually a bit worried about how much time i can spend on this stuff. guess the possibilities are endless. thank god i have a budget!!!!

just by studying the reviews i like what's been said about some of the krell's and mccormack's. which of these would be considered more musical overall - ksa-100, 150, 250 or dna 125, 225? what does 100 watts of krell sound like compared to 225 watts of mccormack?

other considerations: {please give feedback if you can... and remember - musical!}

PS Audio GCA-100

jeff rowland model 5

ayre v-3

edge g-5

conrad johnson - motif ms 2001

classe 201

gamut 100 mklll

arc 100.2

odyssey extreme

pass labs x-150.5

audio research 150.2

Meridian 205 100 Watts Pure Class A Mono block

Musical Fidelity A5

hosting a dear friend of 30+ years in my home in a couple of weeks and i really hope to have pulled the trigger on my upgrade amp. by then.

quite anxious to sit around the fire with my ole compadre - sippin on something smokey/peety & reminiscing... listening to tunes that helped define our youth. so looking forward to having the opportunity to hear some of our favorite music for the first time - if you catch my drift?

please help me to choose something worthwhile.

much obliged,
timtopper
timtopper OP
13 posts
 

thanks guys. valuable feedback.

filling in the blanks... current system:

power plant: PS Audio PS-600

pre-amp: Audio Research LS3

cd: Naim CD5i

amp: Rotel RB 981 {120 wpc}

speakers: Paradigm Studio 100's V3.

speaker cables: Transparent "The Wave"

interconnects: Interlink "The Link" 200

the listening room is 13 x 22 with vaulted ceilings.

last cd's played? jeff buckley, martin sexton, john coltrane, astrud gilberto, massive attack, kruder and dorfmeister, willie nelson, miles davis, rolling stones, mozart, mc solaar, nora jones, thievery corp., b-tribe, woodwork, stevie wonder, stevie ray vaghn, etc

hope this helps
timtopper OP
13 posts
 
tobias...
q: Have you heard two systems, one of which which
gives you that and the other the inverse, so that you know what the choice
means in listening (not intellectual) terms?
a: yes, i have heard many hi-end system demos back to back at various hi-fi shops across the country - just not in a while nor with the intention of buying in that moment. i feel that i have a good ear for hearing what sounds like instruments being played and vocals expressed. need to get out and hear more and update my senses.

chuck, thanks for both posts. i like the idea of not being so finite with this decision. need to simply get the ball rolling and choose... can always start over. i'll keep an ear out for the mf 2500a.
panderso
156 posts
 
Of your list, I've heard the PSA and the MF A5. You might consider the Nait 5i. For my money, it is wonderfully musical with the Naim CDP 5i, and if you have money left over, upgrading to the CDP 5x, IMHO, will bring forth more sheer music than a more costly amp with your present source. I've had several good integrateds and a couple of separates through my room over the last year, but nothing more satisfying than the Nait at twice the price.
klipschfan
176 posts
 
Edge M4 or M6. M4 is 70wx2 should run $500 to $700. M6 is 125wx2 under $2000. New G series is supposed to be real good as well. The most musical amp that I have owned is a McIntosh MC352. The Edge amps would be second at a much lower cost. Two weeks doesn't leave much DEMO time for you.
r3fico
34 posts
 
I would definitely add the Sim W-5 to your list. Near top of the class build quality, powerful, tight bass, detailed yet smooth. I own both the regular version and a LE version. The LE version sounds quite a bit better, btw. Haven't heard anything better in my set up and I have been through the Classe CAMS (both 200 and the 350s), a Bryston 4BSST, Rowland 201s, and the Levinson 332.
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