What preamp & power amp to buy?

Are these recommendations Lamm, Pass, Rowland, AS ... based on personal experience driving Rockport Ankaa or just the components in the Stereophile recommended Class A+++++?

Kclone,

I have the Herron combo and love them, no artificial bloom, no grain or hard etch sound, just very liquid with outstanding dynamic swings and really draws you into the music. I have owned Belles, Rogue, Classee,CJ, AR, Bryston and many others and the Herron equipment is head and shoulders above them.

Get the Herron equipment and enjoy world class sound for many years verses the other manufacturers who change their equipment every other year. Too me, Herron sounds right.

Wig wrote; I have owned Belles, Rogue, Classee,CJ, AR, Bryston and many others and the Herron equipment is head and shoulders above them.

Can you elaborate because that's a bould statement made by you, are you sugesting you had everyone of these pces paired up with your present speakers, specifically what were the differences and the actual pces of gear you make referrence to.

In the end as you are reading all these replies you are going to get endless opinions, that's all they are.

You need to either get pces in your home and compare, try and find others with the same speakers and go and listen. Might involve some travel time but in the end your ears need to hear and make the decision.

I compered the Herron VTSP 3a preamp directly with a Red Wine Audio Isabella and an Audio Research REF 5. All 3 were great, but Of course I ended up with the Herron. If the Herron amps are as good as the pre, then Wig may have a valid observation.

If you bought your speakers through a dealer, I would start there. Would to they recommend. You should then be able to go there to audition. You could also do a search of virtual systems on this site that have Rockport speakers.