Leach Super Amp

As you've probably seen from his profile at Georgia Tech's website, Professor W. Marshall Leach, Jr., is a highly distinguished academician in the field of electrical engineering. Around 1980 he had his own company, "LSR&D, Inc." which manufactured The Leach Superamp monoblock amplifiers ($1598 per pair, at that time), and also a lesser stereo model.

They were reviewed by Peter Aczel in "The Audio Critic" vol. 2 no. 3, Spring through Fall, 1980. That was well before Mr. Aczel went over to the dark side and adopted the belief that all amplifiers meeting certain basic criteria sound the same. He named the Superamp "the best-sounding high-powered amplifier tested so far, regardless of price."

If you wish, contact me through Audiogon and I'll email to you a scan of the review.

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks Al for sending me the review. It was pretty interesting.

Does anyone have the Leach Superamps still and care to share their thoughts about them?

I believe I found a pair by me and am considering them.

I've always been curious about vintage or higher end monoblock amps for 2 channel music enjoyment but I currently have a newly restored Threshold 400A and my system sounds good to my ears. I'd have to part with the 400A for the Leach power amps. I don't know if I want to do that.

Thanks and advise when you can.

I owned the Leach LSR&D stereo amp back in the 80's and they sucked. Dry, cold sound! Leach does not believe in matching transistors.

Pass on them!

Can you audition them first;if so give them a listen then decide.

Not sure what you have , but i have heard leach based amplifiers before and the sound and stability was fantastic for the era. Since it was an open circuit, available to DIY , most builds are not the same so I'm not sure my comments would be the same for your amplifier.

I would give them a shot !!!!!