2. amps-preamps
  3. 1261017691

Pure Class A shootout

Hi after doing a lot of research and listening, I think pure class A is still the way to go for me. I'm wondering if you have any opinions on the following amps and how they compare with each other:

1) Gryphon Colliseum (mono or stereo)
2) Gryphon Antileon Signature (mono or stereo)
3) Pass XA 160.5 or XA 200.5
4) Krell Evo 2

They will be powering Rockport Altair's or maybe Rockport Arrakis (still debating that one too).

I see a few dilemmas. For Krell, it seems like the spirit behind their products Dan D'Agostino is no longer with the firm and thus maybe their brand/lineup in the future may be compromised. Also, Krell's preamp reputation is not as good as their amplification. That's similar to Pass as well - great reputation on the amps but not as reputable on the pre-amps. Don't get offended as I'm only talking relative terms (i.e comparing products at very very lofty levels). For Gryphon, their amp and preamps are supposedly top notch, but right now the Euro is extremely strong vs the US$ and I'm thinking I should be picking up something American as it's more of a bargain. Gryphon + Rockport is a "formula" and I know I can't go wrong with it but I'm wondering if there are other options.

So I guess the question is:
1) Have anyone ever compared the best Pure Class A amps? How do they compare with one another? Yes I know they are all good at this level but unfortunately I have only listened to the Gryphons mated with Rockports.
2) Any other options that I should consider? No tubes please as I have no desire to mess with tubes.
3) Should I even compare/consider the older pure class A amps like the ML 33/33H? i.e are the new pure Class A leaps and bounds better than the older reference lines?

Thanks, -Isaac
changster
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
Changster wrote:
"2) Any other options that I should consider? No tubes please as I have no desire to mess with tubes."

It *is* possible to get the benefit of tubes without the mess - check out the Butler Audio Monad, these are amazing amps and you NEVER have to mess with the tubes:

http://butleraudio.com/esoteric.php

I recently saw a *pair* of Monads selling for ~ $7k right here on Audiogon. That is a smokin' deal...

-RW-
ras422
182 posts
 
Add symphonic line Kraft 300 to your list.
drjoe
130 posts
 
If I am not mistaken, true class A amps are 25% efficient.
This means that if the amp is 100watts it will be drawing
400 watts off the wall with no signal. This would be with
an 8 ohm load. A lot of amps are true class A at low power,
at higher power many amps switch to class A/B.
True class A amps usually run hotter than the gates of hell.
drjoe
joc3021
101 posts
 
Clayton Audio makes the best class A amps (or any other type) I have ever heard. I've owned two of their models, S-2000 and M-200.
kurt_tank
1,189 posts
 
My friend uses the Rockport Antares, (great speakers, probably the best I've ever heard actually), and he uses the Lamm hybrid M2.2s. These are 220 wpc monoblock amps, with one 6922 tube in each, (so tube rolling is a snap). However, they are not full Class A amplifiers, although they are heavily biased into Class A, (i.e. the first 41 wpc are full Class A, and then from there it goes into Class B). So basically, only the really loud musical passages actually go into Class B.

The Antares are the predesscor to the Altairs, and based upon my friend's system, I doubt you should be going with anything less than 200 wpc, to be honest. And a 200 wpc full class A amp would be a beast. (And I agree with Drjoe, that they would be hotter than hell, as even the M2.2s will warm up the room a few degrees.)

My two cents worth anyway.

Good luck in your search.
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