Best amps I ever heard

[Martyn Miles]

Probably not exotic enough for some, but my Quad 34/303 sounds superb with my
Harbeth P3-ESRs.

 

[Arkless Electronics]

In no particular order (ie I'm not claiming any specific one is the best) the best power amps I've ever heard are

Hiraga "Le Monstre"
Krell KSA 50 MkI
Radford STA25
Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300
Very modified Leak Stereo 20
The best of my own designs

 

[Donivey]

+1 for the Sugden, though my Pass XA30.8 is very good as well.

 

[Conster]

Exposure 16 monos

 

[Thetiminator]

In no particular order (ie I'm not claiming any specific one is the best) the best power amps I've ever heard are

Hiraga "Le Monstre"
Krell KSA 50 MkI
Radford STA25
Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300
Very modified Leak Stereo 20
The best of my own designs

Did you ever hear the MF Titans Arkless?

 

[narabdela]

Kerr McCosh pre-power combo.

 

[maccar]

Accuphase C2420 with a P4200
Mac

 

[realysm42]

The amount of Krell mentions intrigues me; is this a big call out for the brand in general, or are there particular model(s) people covet?

KSA50 / 100 seems to be the best?

@arkless: do you have info on your own amps?

 

[TheDecameron]

Kerr McCosh pre-power combo.

Now that’s as esoteric as it gets! I loved visiting James Kerr for Hifi and classical albums in the 80s.

 

[david ellwood]

The amount of Krell mentions intrigues me;

It intrigues me also, with its jelly like grip.

 

[radamel]

It intrigues me also, with its jelly like grip.

Indeed. I never liked the sound of a setup driven by a Krell amp.

 

[tomek]

I seems, tat Class A (Sugden, Pass, some Krells) is the best ... It is difficult for me to say what was the best amp, because it was always a system.

 

[Arkless Electronics]

Did you ever hear the MF Titans Arkless?

No

 

[Arkless Electronics]

The amount of Krell mentions intrigues me; is this a big call out for the brand in general, or are there particular model(s) people covet?

KSA50 / 100 seems to be the best?

@arkless: do you have info on your own amps?

Krell are indeed very good amps.

No I have no info on my amps. All prototypes for my own use only.

 

[radamel]

Krell are indeed very good amps.

Why do you say that? What makes them "good amps" in your opinion?

 

[sq225917]

Umm, cos they sound good and go twenty years between services.

 

[radamel]

Umm, cos they sound good and go twenty years between services.

They do not sound good IMO.

 

[Darren L]

Best at home, so far probably Sugden, Copland or Unison Research, best at a friends, Jeff Rowland, (in his system) or maybe Audio Synthesis.
Heard an Audio Research pre and Krell monos which sounded great.

 

[Arkless Electronics]

Why do you say that? What makes them "good amps" in your opinion?

They sound great! Early ones anyway. I have no comment on more recent ones and don't know them "personally".
Good engineering, being class A and having low feedback the most important aspects. The huge power supplies are far less important.

 

[radamel]

They sound great! Early ones anyway. I have no comment on more recent ones and don't know them "personally".
Good engineering, being class A and having low feedback the most important aspects. The huge power supplies are far less important.

The most recent ones are clearly overrated IMO.