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Personal amp evolution

Seeing the over night success of the speaker evolution thread, it may be interesting to see what type of amp(s) we have all run. Same deal as the other thread-we will sort of create a puzzle of our systems you'll have to visit multiple threads to put everything together!!! ;)
For me I started:
Adcom GFA-565 monoblocks
Rotel RB-990bx
Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 5
Balanced Audio Technology(BAT) VK-60

either a CAT JL2, BAT VK-75se or Tenor 75Wp on the horizon.
tireguy
rwhit10
5 posts
 
1972-75 Pioneer reciever 45w/ch/x2
1975-90 Sansui Intergraged amp 85w/ch/x2
1990-95 Denon Reciever 85w/ch
1997 Denon AVR5700 reciever 140w/ch/x5
2000 Denon 5700 as processor, 2 McIntosh MC126 bridged 275w/ch/x6
2006 Parasound Halo C1 processor, Halo A21 and A51 amps 250w/ch/x7
tabl10s's avatar
tabl10s
1,083 posts
 
Update from Nov 05':

Carver 1.0(Yamaha C80/Polk Jr+/B&W CM2 Concept 90).

Adcom 565's(Sumo Athena/B&W 802 Series 2).

Classe 15(same as above).

Plinius SA100 Mk II-later upgraded to Mk III(Blue Circle BC3/BC3000/Merlin VSM-SE/Millenium).

BAT VK75(Hovland HP100/Merlin Millenium).

Antique Sound Lab 1009's(Hovland HP100/Merlin VSM-M/ASL Twinhead/VSM-MX.

Ars-Sonum Filarmonia(Merlin VSM-MX with "e" upgrade coming soon).

Each configuration was said to be my last...we'll see.
jim_swantko
301 posts
 
JVC receiver (no idea what model - early 80's)
Marantz MA500 Mono-blocks
Linn AV5125
Another Linn AV5125 (Aktiv system)
Levinson 336
philipma1957
2 posts
 
I will list home theater amps only.
(1) Pioneer 497?? Cost 250.
(2) Kenwood 509 cost 399.
(3) Nad t761 cost 500 (rebuild).
(4) Audio refinement pre 5 and 5 marantz ma500 monoblocks cost 800 for pre 750 for monoblocks.
(5) Next came audio refinement multi 5 cost 1250.
(6) Finally!! Audiorefinement Pre 5 (cost 800) Audiorefinement Multi 5 (cost 1250) and Audiorefinement Multi 3 (cost 675) and Nad 2400Thx (cost 250). I biamp with the multi 5 for the mids the multi 3 for the tweeters and the nad 2400thx for the surround tweeters. I use a 5 channel 2way diy crossover (cost 300) and 8 diy passive volume controls (cost 530). Total cost around 3800 for killer amp and pre sound with great analog volume control.
The nad has seperate volume controls. I can change the volume on any of the 5 tweeters (Focal Tlr) or any of the 5 mids (Focal 7w's). Sub amps are another story. I lot of this gear was bought and sold right here on audiogon. If I was to do it all over I would buy 5 Nad 2400Thx amps around 250 a piece with The Audiorefinement pre 5 cost 800 and the 5 channel 2 way crossover cost 300. Total cost would be 2350 a saving of around 1500 and less cables. Phil
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
Principal 2CH systems:

*1950s vintage Pilot tube mono receiver with RCA speaker (mid 60s)

*Kenwood receiver with Altec VOTT(early 70's)

*Technics receiver with ESS AMT1 (late 70's)

*Nakamichi Stasis receiver with Fried floorstanders(mid 80's)

*Bryston 4NRB with Magnapan 3.3R(early 90's)

*ARC VT130 with Wilson W3/P2(mid 90's)

*BAT VK75SE + Cary 2A3SE w/Merlin VSM (Y2K to present)

The modder's bug struck me around Y2K & has extended the life of my current amps for the foreseeable future...V-Caps almost deserve a category of their own.
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