Audio Horizons TP 2.0 Preamplifier

I would love AH to come out with an amp. Here is my two cents worth on the type of amp you should develop. It should be an SS amp and it should also be powerful. I would say 200 watts/channel as a minimum. Here are my reasons.

- I find a good preamp mated with good SS amp gives you all the tube "sound & benefits" needed. Having a nice tubed DAC or CD player makes an SS amp even more attractive.

- I am a long time tube nut, but of late have heard SS amps that sound every bit a good as the best tube amps. The current Belles 350 Reference is one example. SS has come a long way! No need to deal with big output tubes that are hot and need replacing etc....

- Powerful SS amps deliver the scale and impact needed to create a live performance setting in a living room.

- Mate this with an AH pre and tubed DAC and you have MUSIC!!!

Joseph and Victor, get a Belles 350 Reference as a benchmark and go for it.

Bill

Correction.

Point #1 - Meant to say mate with a good TUBED preamp!

Bill

I would second Bill's request and reasoning. Joseph's genius for "absolute sound" plus ss reliability, ease, and power would be highly desirable.

Joseph might agree with you guys regarding SS amps. I believe he has a pair of Levinson monoblocks( personally tweaked and modded) in his personal system. Victor has a pair of older VTL monoblocks which Joseph also tweaked and modded for him. Right now I have the VAC Musicblocs( tubes) and the sound matches very well with my TP 2.0n. I haven't tried a SS amp yet with Joseph's preamp. I can imagine that it would be difficult for Joseph in deciding which type of amp to come out with. You have the tube amp camp and the SS amp camp, and then there's the Hybrid amp camp, the Class D only camp,etc. The list goes on and on. When it comes to amps, there are too many audiophiles with varied tastes. I don't have a clue of an idea to recommend Joseph when it comes to amps. In the meantime, I'm happy with my current system so I won't be considering any more amps for a while.

I forgot to mention that amps and speakers also have to be matched up properly. Another tough decision for Joseph because of the wide variety of speakers in our systems. Yes, I can understand with Grannyring's recommendation of a 200W amp, but what about the die-hard SET camp using these amps on their ultra hi-efficiency horn systems. I have read a few posts where some audiophiles have gone with the new Zu speakers which are very efficient and are selling their mega-power amps for lower wattage SET, etc. Just another example making it difficult for Joseph to make a decision.