2. amps-preamps
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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
dazzlingmd
71 posts
 
In college, I scraped together some money for a Sherwood receiver (no idea what model--from the late 80s), driving Bose 401 speakers. I thought it sounded great at the time. Would love to compare that head to head with my current system. After that, my amp progression was:

Denon receiver (again, no idea what model)
Carver AV-705
Sunfire Cinema Grand (still use that one for my HT system)
Bel Canto Ref 500m monoblocks
Primaluna Dialogue Premium

And while I do like the Primaluna lot, I think the amp journey will continue over time.
sunnyboy1956's avatar
sunnyboy1956
424 posts
 
Sony TA 515- circa 1978
Arcam FMJ 22 integrated circa 1998
Arcam FMJ P30 power amp - 1999
Bryson 4 BST - 2000
Bryson 14 BSST- 2001
Lyrita tube mono blocs 2004
Conrad Johnson LP 70S -2007
Wavac HE 833 V2- 2013
End of journey
lloydelee21
1,202 posts
 
End of Journey indeed Sunnyboy1956!!!
zavato's avatar
zavato
1,409 posts
 
If we start at the beginning I had a Pioneer SX-450 receiver (1977) which continued to be in use until a few years ago when a relative I gave it to put it out for collection. It still worked.

In 1985 I bought an Akai 45 wpc receiver. No recall of the model number- it was a forgettable amp was bought solely on specs vs cost. The Pioneer sounded better.

Around 1989 I bought an Adom GFA 545, 100 wpc. It was solid but a bit cold/hard. Their smaller power amp sounded better.

In 1990 I bought a pair of Magnepan MG2.6R speakers. The dealer urged me to sell the Adcom and get a more powerful amp. I traded the Adcom for a Bryston 4B.

I had the Bryston 10-11 years (during that time I bought a used AR solid state amp- might have been 75wpc? Didnt keep it long)

Sold the Bryton and bought a Proceed HPA-2. I also had an Ayre on loan for a bit but liked the Proceed better.

Kept the Proceed until 2003 or so and bought a CJ MV60SE

Kept the CJ until 2009, sold it and bought a Rogue Temest II Magnum. I thought it was better than the CJ (I was using a CJ LS172 preamp, which to this day remains the finest Pre I ever owned).

By summer of 2013 I decided my 10 year run of tubes was over. Sold the Rogue and am happily now with a Pass INT-150
rugyboogie
199 posts
 
Added a mint condition Classe DR3b.
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