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?
So far, I have found two; the Audison Thesis and the Rockford Fosgate T15kW.
Can anyone add to the list?
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
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
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.
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. 🙁
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 🙁
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 🙁
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 🙂
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 🙂
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Yea... never...
Yamaha Centennial... Yamaha MX10000.... Yamaha NS-1000... Yamaha Grand Pianos...
Yamaha has no idea what they are doing...
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An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
This guy has 2 in his ferarri, I guess they are good
What, what!! - Digital Designs
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?
thought about building your own if you want "exclusive"?
you want "true tube" sound? build a set of push pull 45's, 2a3's, 12sn7's, 6v6's,.......the possibilities are endless. schematics for them all over the net.
and i'll be honest, i can't see the acoustics of a car ever being good enough to produce the same sound stage that the same set up in a home setup could create.
you want "true tube" sound? build a set of push pull 45's, 2a3's, 12sn7's, 6v6's,.......the possibilities are endless. schematics for them all over the net.
and i'll be honest, i can't see the acoustics of a car ever being good enough to produce the same sound stage that the same set up in a home setup could create.
It's pretty impressive how close you can come...at the cost of some modification of the car's interior, sometimes. But still, no substitute for a well-treated room 😉
well, you are right about how close you can get, but "impressive" = $$$
i may have to see about getting to one of these shows to hear a tube set up in a car.
SQ is obviously a factor but so is industrial design, exclusivity, and bling factor. I can easily make a system sound exceptional with a $1k amp. That's not my goal. Besides, the speakers/xovers and car acoustics are the most determinant factors when it comes to SQ anyway.
If I'm driving around a Ferrari Modena and some guy pulls up beside me in his $30K 92 turbocharged and nitrous injected Honda Civic with rusted doors and flat black hood, yes he'll beat me in a straight line but what would you rather be driving? Hope that gets my point across.
If I'm driving around a Ferrari Modena and some guy pulls up beside me in his $30K 92 turbocharged and nitrous injected Honda Civic with rusted doors and flat black hood, yes he'll beat me in a straight line but what would you rather be driving? Hope that gets my point across.
Depends on if I wanted the car for road courses or drag racing 🙂
Agree completely.
What is your goal?
Generic appearance
good SQ, unique industrial design, exclusivity, and bling factor
if your main goal is to have an amp that looks good/unique/badass/exclusive. and quality and performance can take a back seat to this, then my suggestion is to go to any CNC machine shop and have them cut you a custom heatsink the replicates your most exclusively awesome amp (you can even make up a name). this way you can bolt a ultra sleek looking heatsink with fins,fans,grates and LEDs and hell you can even bolt on pointless random tubes all over it. bolt your ultra awesome heatsink to whatever amp you like.
i think you will be further ahead in money, sound quality, and prestige. and it will be completely one of a kind. you could even diguise a 300w amp for a 3000w amp
i think you will be further ahead in money, sound quality, and prestige. and it will be completely one of a kind. you could even diguise a 300w amp for a 3000w amp
sphinx
I know exacly what you mean. There are alot of superior quality amps out there. I too have never seen on that truely has it all.. looks, sound, the works. I usually settle for ugly as long as it works..Even Zapco back in the day had excellent quality but they wheren't all much to look at for some..Personally I can do with out all the fancy lights and bull..I too want a amp that is bullet proof, looks like the finest model you have ever seen and so clear that you can hear an ant fart..
The only problem is a mail order bride would probably be cheaper..
I know exacly what you mean. There are alot of superior quality amps out there. I too have never seen on that truely has it all.. looks, sound, the works. I usually settle for ugly as long as it works..Even Zapco back in the day had excellent quality but they wheren't all much to look at for some..Personally I can do with out all the fancy lights and bull..I too want a amp that is bullet proof, looks like the finest model you have ever seen and so clear that you can hear an ant fart..
The only problem is a mail order bride would probably be cheaper..
You want exclusivity, don't think of that one special amp you can get.
Think many.
You want to belong in the club, buy an Audison Thesis. Like you said, all the amps on your list are in PRODUCTION. It's not an exclusive thing.
You want to be beyond the club? into exclusivity beyond comprehension of those in the know? Buy THREE or four Thesis amps. I guarantee you will turn heads.
Think many.
You want to belong in the club, buy an Audison Thesis. Like you said, all the amps on your list are in PRODUCTION. It's not an exclusive thing.
You want to be beyond the club? into exclusivity beyond comprehension of those in the know? Buy THREE or four Thesis amps. I guarantee you will turn heads.
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