Ultra High End Amps...who makes them?

[sphinx]

Looking for info on currently available ultra high end amps. No, that JBL or the 1980 Rockford Fosgate Punch amp don't apply. I'm looking at amps > $5K and still in production.

So far, I have found two; the Audison Thesis and the Rockford Fosgate T15kW.

Can anyone add to the list?

[calvinhpk]

HSS Fidelity full tube amp
TRU Technology C7 series
Brax GE
Genesis Class A
Musee (Japan)
Mcintosh MCC
Celestra VA
Sinfoni Desiderio
Luxman CM20000
Zelos Audio
Phass RE series
Bewith A-110S
Pioneer ODR amp
Alpine F1 amp

just to name a few

[TO-3]

Originally Posted by sphinx

Looking for info on currently available ultra high end amps. No, that JBL or the 1980 Rockford Fosgate Punch amp don't apply. I'm looking at amps > $5K and still in production.

So far, I have found two; the Audison Thesis and the Rockford Fosgate T15kW.

Can anyone add to the list?

Kind of rare these days, but sometimes they appear on ebay. PPI 2500F1

[luka]

don't know about price, but Digital Designs has lamp amp too

[Glowbug]

Originally Posted by luka

don't know about price, but Digital Designs has lamp amp too

New Digital Designs Car Audio Tube Amplifier [audiojunkies]

Milbert's around that price, too.

The question is where the point of diminishing returns is, as always.

Pioneer ODR amp

I'm still kicking myself for not having $2k a couple years ago for a complete ODR system that was for sale on Ebay. I don't think he got any bids for it - head unit, speakers, amps, everything.

[sphinx]

Wow! Lots of choices here. Coming from the home end of audio, a couple of these are scratches even before I listen or see them. Why?

Thinking more about this purchase, if I'm dropping 5 or 10 large on an amp, I want something made my a company who specializes in high end amps. I don't want an amp from a company that also makes $199 amps available at BestBuy that some 16 y/o also has in his 1992 Honda Civic. Would owning a Ferrari be as sought after if they made $10K econo boxes available on Ebay? There needs to be some exclusivity associated with the product.

I don't want a "high end" amp made by a company who also makes boom boxes, disco lights, and sewing machines. For example, this is why Sony or Yamaha will never be considered high end in any of their markets.

Last but not least, it's gotta look like it costs big dollars. Some of these externally don't look much different than those China amps they spit out by the thousands every week.

That deletes Rockford Fosgate, Tru, Brax, Pioneer, Alpine, Phass, Genesis, Luxman, Celestra, and Audison

[Glowbug]

Alpine and Pioneer both make extremely high-end audio processors that are being used by SQ championship-winning competitors. I don't think you're going to find a P9 combo or F#1 Status setup at Best Buy, even though they're both by companies that make lower end products. Ditto for Clarion with the DRZ9255, or even Panasonic with their tube-based head unit. I'm not saying SQ judges are the end-all and be-all (far from it), but there's a bunch of people out there who think they sound pretty darned good

How "different" does something have to look? At the end of the day, isn't it about the sound and quality of the product, not the name?

If you can get a chance, go to a IASCA, MECA or USACi SQ show. I think you'll find you don't need to spend $5k to get a world-class quality amp

[damage]

Originally Posted by sphinx

I don't want a "high end" amp made by a company who also makes boom boxes, disco lights, and sewing machines. For example, this is why Sony or Yamaha will never be considered high end in any of their markets.

Yea... never...

Yamaha Centennial... Yamaha MX10000.... Yamaha NS-1000... Yamaha Grand Pianos...

Yamaha has no idea what they are doing...

[luka]

This guy has 2 in his ferarri, I guess they are good
What, what!! - Digital Designs

[Luke352]

Originally Posted by sphinx

Wow! Lots of choices here. Coming from the home end of audio, a couple of these are scratches even before I listen or see them. Why?

Thinking more about this purchase, if I'm dropping 5 or 10 large on an amp, I want something made my a company who specializes in high end amps. I don't want an amp from a company that also makes $199 amps available at BestBuy that some 16 y/o also has in his 1992 Honda Civic. Would owning a Ferrari be as sought after if they made $10K econo boxes available on Ebay? There needs to be some exclusivity associated with the product.

I don't want a "high end" amp made by a company who also makes boom boxes, disco lights, and sewing machines. For example, this is why Sony or Yamaha will never be considered high end in any of their markets.

Last but not least, it's gotta look like it costs big dollars. Some of these externally don't look much different than those China amps they spit out by the thousands every week.

That deletes Rockford Fosgate, Tru, Brax, Pioneer, Alpine, Phass, Genesis, Luxman, Celestra, and Audison

About the only amp there that I agree shoud be off your list is the Rockford, the rest of those companies make some beautiful amps that have some serious technology in them. It's a shame you are so blind and misinformed as your going to end up with something of lower performance just because you think another item looks more exclusive.

You could pay $5000 and get $2000 worth of performance and $3000 worth of wank factor.
Or you could pay $5000 and get $4000 worth of performance and $1000 worth of wank factor.

I know which i'd rather!

So would not buy a BMW 7 series, a M6 etc.. because BMW also make cheaper cars like the the 1 series?