Favorite Solid state Amplifier? Least?

[sndscietist]

My Favorite list goes as follows
1. Carver Pm1200
2. Carver M-400
3. Peavey CS-800 "78 Series"
4. Peavey PV4C
5. Crown XLS-602

My least are the QSC PLX, RMX and all the other ones with the transformerless S.P.S. to me they seem to sound crappy

[djk]

Carver M400 = no bass, sounds OK for mids and highs. M1.0T has good bass, better than the M1.5T

Never heard a QSC that I could stand.

[kilowattski]

Favorite: My DIY Pass Labs Aleph 5
Least Favorite: Any "Pro Audio" type amplifier

[TerryO]

I guess that my Ulta Cheapskate side has influenced me on this, but I like my Sansui AU-7900 Integrated amp (1973?) the best. I found it at St. Vinnie's a few years back with a price tag of $19.95, but it was 25% off day, so I payed $14.95. It sounded really grungy until I sprayed the Volume pots with contact cleaner. Last year our Stereo Club (PNWAS) had a amplifier "shoot-out" and I think the old Sansui did pretty good, it certainly surprised some of the members, being nearly as old as they are:^)
Was it the best? Nope, I think that the new Moon Audio amp
and a member's modified Scott 222 tube amp sounded better, but I'd say that the Sansui came in third although there was a Quad tube amp (model unknown) that rivaled it. There were quite a few amps that sounded worse, including the Club's 3 year old Conrad-Johnson SS amp (a lot worse by common agreement).
The club's system consisted of a Sony 777 player, Siltech cables and Ariel 7b speakers. The Scott amp didn't have the "grunt" to drive the Club speakers so a pair of Silverline speakers (supplied by the Scott's owner) filled in and made a wonderful combo IMHO, although it introduced a variable into the comparison that inflenced the results.
As for worst, there are a lot of them to choose from for that honor, including some that are very expensive. But I'm not going to go there.
Best Regards,
TerryO

[DSP_Geek]

Favourite: until I hear some UcDs, the old Yamaha P2200 was nice when it warmed up, which took about half an hour. I borrowed one from a pro place for my rig, and it controlled the bass nicely while still retaining a sweet high end.

Loathed: Crown D-150. I heard it on a vinyl / B&W801 setup, and everything above the lower mids was so bad I had to leave the room.


Francois.

[Nelson Pass]

I think that when you talk about your favorites you have to
put it in the context of the system and what you like and don't
like, and so on. Otherwise, opinions come off as arbitrary.

[GRollins]

In this type of discussion many people are revealed simply to prefer high volume. They deny it, saying they like this or that or the other thing, but they give themselves away in short order.
Ditto for those who are obsessed with bass. The sad thing is that so many people think car stereo represents real bass. Ain't so...not by two or three octaves. Not to mention the (lack of) quality.
A top of the line high end amplifier will sound quite different played through Magneplanars, JBLs, or Bose. Given the variables involved, you're mainly hearing the speakers, not the electronics. It's one thing to say that the room, speakers, etc. are variables...it's quite another to be able to hear them.

Grey

[Mr Evil]

I like whatever happens to be the most recent one I've made myself. I dislike anything that doesn't have a blue LED and/or shiny bits!

[djk]

"I think that when you talk about your favorites you have to
put it in the context of the system and what you like and don't
like, and so on. Otherwise, opinions come off as arbitrary."

I would tend to agree when talking favorites, but the Crown D-150 and DC-300A tended to sound like broken glass on any speaker that had any kind of high end.

"Least Favorite: Any "Pro Audio" type amplifier"

If you tack a couple of bypass caps into an Altec 9440A it is one of the best sounding amps I have heard, better than 99% of hi-fi amps. Not to be recommend to most as many of the semis are not available when needing repair.

The later AB Systems 400 and 600 are virtually the same as a Leach, and sound like it too. I have bought several 600s on eBay for $150~$200.

[sndscietist]

Originally posted by GRollins
Given the variables involved, you're mainly hearing the speakers, not the electronics. It's one thing to say that the room, speakers, etc. are variables...it's quite another to be able to hear them.

Very good point, i feel i should elaborate because i have eliminated some variables over the past 3 years. I have a set of peavey Project ones. those consist of a set of 115-HD low cabs, a set on 115 internationals for mids and a set of CH-4c's for highs. the whole system runs on 2 amps a PA1000X and a PV4C the crossovers are home brew style crossing at roughly 980 hz. i'll upload the photos when i find my camera (misplaced it again).

this system has been run outside with every amp i mentioned above excluding the carvers. the QSC's seem to cut out around 12Khz where the peaveys seem to take the highs higher. to eliminate any doubt the same test was done with a set of yorkville Y115's same thing happened, the bass was muddier and the highs were cut.

now the fact that i like resonant and harmonic bass not forced bass. one more thing that i dislike about certain amps these days is the attempt to make them look high tech. i personally prefer a preferated blank front panel with 2 pots a switch and a power LED