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
started with this hobby over 30 years ago
Kenwood integrated
SAE 200
Dynaco 70
Pioneer integrated
BGW 750
Hitachi receiver
Muse 100
Sumo gold
Stax Dm 100 monoblock
Krell KSA 200B
Bryston 4B
Bryston 4B-ST
Bryston 7B-ST
KR audio Antares 300
Tom Evans Linear A
Nikko Reciever w/Baby Advent spkrs
non-descript Sony CD player
many years pass
Classe CP-35, Classe CA-100, W/Hales Concept 2 spkrs
Not so many years pass
Add 2nd CA-100 and run as monoblocks
Add CAL CL-10
Again years pass
put toghether 2nd system for other room
Jolida JD1501 w/ Totem Arros
a couple of months pass
Selling the Classe stuff, keeping the Hales
I really am taken with the Integrated set up of the Jolida tube pre-ss amp
But where to go next?
what will sound good with the Hales?...
Jolida 502b?
Manley Stingray?
Rogue Tempest II?
VTL IT-85?
Suggestions?
Old Montgomery Ward Receiver(sold to a second hand store)
2 Sony Receivers(sold one to a friend and another gave to folks)
Ead Powermaster 1000(sold on here)
Ead Powermaster 2000(current amp)

Bought this amp without hearing it for 2 channel first and ht as a bonus. Mated with my old ead theatermaster 5.1 signature (soon to have Boelen mods) it has brought me nothing but sonic bliss. Love how the combo draws you into listening to music for hours and hours.
Various, nothing meaningful or that I can even remember
Adcom 565 monos (1994)wow what an upgrade
Golden Tube SE 40 monos - my first tubes
Denison HT Receiver (fall 2006) - move to HT/rejoin the hobby
B&K 507 S2 HT Receiver
Conrad Johnson MF5600 (5 channel) to run mains, center & 2nd zone
Pass Labs X150.5 (to run mains) center/rear/2nd zone to CJ
CI 200 digital amps (auditioned several), got that digital amp junk out of my system and couldn't find what everybody was talking about!
Mark Levinson 331.5 (still own and love, my summer amp)
Krell KAV 1500 (big, typical 5-channel amp weaknesses)
Theta Dreadnaught II (big, typical 5-channel amp weaknesses)
BAT VK-60 factory monoblocks - my winter amps, still own and love
Proceed BPA 3 (used for center channel and rears for my very low demanding HT needs for which it does a fine job)

It has been 12 months now since I got back into this hobby and I have been fortunate enough to try a couple of other amps mixed in with these that I did not own/purchase but borrowed from others. I feel pretty content with my system and actually like the fact that I have to change amps when the seasons change as it gives me half the year to enjoy tubes and half the year to enjoy SS.

I have learned that even after buying some of the highest rated 5-channel amps (Theta Dreadnaught II for example) and having a couple of others, that I have come to the conclussion that a 5-channel amp cannot perform at the same level as a dedicated 2-channel or mono amp can (of relatively similar price points). I have also come to the conclussion that I prefer a stand alone HT processor and for my needs one that is a couple of years old (ie. about 10-20% of its new price, as my demands for HT are low) combined with a good stereo pre-amp that offers either unity gain or an HT pass through.