The Ten Most Significant Amplifiers of All Time

[MartinT]

http://www.avguide.com/review/the-ten-most-significant-amplifiers-all-time?utm_campaign=Weekly%20Email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email-82

As usual with these lists, there is personal bias as well as a strong tilt towards American products. However, worth discussing?

For me, the Leak Stereo 20 should make an appearance and, more recently, the Ayre MX-R.

[Ali Tait]

Sugden A21 perhaps?

[MartinT]

I could add at least a representative power amp from the Chord range, in view of their widespread use in studios around the world.

[Effem]

I am surprised that Hafler and PS Audio do not appear on that hallowed list :scratch:

Given that it has so much US bias in the list, it is a real shame that some really noteworthy amps are not on there, notably Electrocompaniet, Naim, Linn and a good many others

[Stratmangler]

Why is the NAD 3010 not there ?
Perhaps the list should be called "The Ten Most Significant EXPENSIVE Amplifiers".

It's curious that Naim do not appear either.
The two brand names I've mentioned are both far more significant than those in the list, as there are far more people will have purchased and used them.

[Neil McCauley]

Not had time to look at the thread-starter link yet. In no particular order - and based only on my direct personal experience rather than hearsay:

Radford STA-25 (most musically satisfying amp I have ever heard anywhere at any price)

Mark Levinson ML2a mono pairs (all time reference standard for solid-state Class A)

Boothroyd Stuart Meridian 107 (Only 9 ever built. Possibly greatest UK built power solid-state power amp)

Krell KSA-50 (KK opines about this better than I ever can)

NAIM NAP250 (Original ammo box version. Should be considered within the time frame it was released in)

Tandberg 3200a (Forgotten masterpiece)

Michaelson/Austin TVA-1 Export (Like it or not, it was these guys that kick-started the UK tube revival)

LFD PA2M-SE. (Now discontinued. A Dr Bews classic. solid-state grip 'n grunt with a tube overlay. Brilliant)

Amcron DC-300 (been discussed better elsewhere than I ever can)

Beard P100 monoblocks (By fluke or design Bill Beard released a near faultless pair of UK-built tube masterpieces)

[WAD62]

Why is the NAD 3010 not there ?
Perhaps the list should be called "The Ten Most Significant EXPENSIVE Amplifiers".

It's curious that Naim do not appear either.
The two brand names I've mentioned are both far more significant than those in the list, as there are far more people will have purchased and used them.

To add to the NAD, the Mission Cyrus I...well it was significant for me anyway ;)

[Ali Tait]

Why is the NAD 3010 not there ?
Perhaps the list should be called "The Ten Most Significant EXPENSIVE Amplifiers".

It's curious that Naim do not appear either.
The two brand names I've mentioned are both far more significant than those in the list, as there are far more people will have purchased and used them.

Did you mean the 3020 Chris? My first "proper" amp and very good it was too at the time. The valve gear I had later was far better though.

[Stratmangler]

Did you mean the 3020 Chris? My first "proper" amp and very good it was too at the time. The valve gear I had later was far better though.

I thought the number was 3010 - sounds better than 30summat :lolsign:

[WAD62]

I thought the number was 3010 - sounds better than 30summat :lolsign:

I just presumed you'd had the predecessor...;)

[Stratmangler]

To add to the NAD, the Mission Cyrus I...well it was significant for me anyway ;)

Cyrus bringing in good performance and looks into small form factor - good one.
Pioneer A400 punched well above it's weight too.

[WAD62]

Cyrus bringing in good performance and looks into small form factor - good one.
Pioneer A400 punched well above it's weight too.

I suppose significance can be measured in either performance, or market impact...the A400 must have sold by the shed load too.

Another one, assuming we're not restricted to integrated/power, might be the Rotel RQ 970 BX phono stage, I'm still using mine now, I think I've just about got my money's worth ;)

[DAVEDWACK]

I thought the number was 3010 - sounds better than 30summat :lolsign:

Specsavers?:)

The 3020 is mentioned on 3 of the lists!

Cheers

[Stratmangler]

Specsavers?:)

The 3020 is mentioned on 3 of the lists!

Cheers

Do you mean the further numbered pages down at the bottom of the web page ?
Couldn't be bothered looking further than that ;)

[MartinT]

I did say lists in my OP :doh:

[Stratmangler]

I did say lists in my OP :doh:

Furry nuff !!!:lolsign:

[Ammonite Audio]

I was pleased to see the NAD M2 on one of the lists; and that the author acknowledged the Tact (Lyngdorf) Millennium as the progenitor of decent true digital amplifiers like the M2. One day I will buy a Millennium:)

[RochaCullen]

I'm surprised there was no mention of the Quad IIs.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Here's the list to save ploughing through the pages - 8 peoples votes I think:


Audio Note Ongaku
Audio Research 76A
Audio Research D150 (5 votes)
Audio Research Reference 610T (3 votes)
Bridge Audio Laboratories BP-1 Mk.II
Carver Silver Sevens
Carver Sunfire, Lightstar, and A Series
Cary CAD-805 (2 votes)
Citation Two
Conrad Johnson Premier One (2 votes)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Four
Dynaco ST-70 (8 votes)
EAR Yoshino 509
Electro Research A-75
Futterman H3 OTL
GAS Ampzilla II
Hafler DH-200
Hafler XL-280
Harman Kardon Citation 12
Harman Kardon Citation II
Heathkit amps
Krell KSA-100 (2 votes)
Krell KSA-50 (2 votes)
Lamm Industries ML-2 monoblock
Marantz 8B (3 votes)
Marantz Model 9 (2 votes)
Mark Levinson ML2 (5 votes)
McIntosh MC275 (4 votes)
McIntosh M50W1
McIntosh MC3500
NAD 3020 (2 votes)
NAD M2
Phase Linear 400 (4 votes)
Phase Linear 700 (4 votes)
Plinius 8150
Quad 303 (2 votes)
Rotel RB-1090
Sanders Magtech
Tact Millennium
Technical Brain TBP-Zero monoblock
The Williamson Amplifier
Threshold 400A (2 votes)
Threshold 800A


All 8 people voted for the Dynaco ST-70 - I'd have expected that in a U.S. based poll

[stevied]

Pioneer sa6500 mk2:) or ion obelisk xpac 3

[Darren]

I've only owned one of the amplifiers on that list ( krell) and owned other amps from 5 of the brands over all ( krell, Conrad Johnson, Tact, audionote, NAD )
Goodness I'd love to hear some of those others.

[The Black Adder]

I'll go with Martin and suggest Chord but also my current and favorite ever (so far) the Radford STA25 Renaissance and Radford SC-25 Preamplifer.

Oldies but bloody hell... goodies!

[MartinT]

I had a friend with an original STA-25 and he let me play with it in my system. It is indeed a very nice amp.

[Rare Bird]

A&R Cambs 'A60'

[Techno Commander]

I would agree with the KSA 50.

Also the NAD 3010, which weasnt on the list.

[Effem]

A&R Cambs 'A60'

Great little amps :eyebrows:

That is until cack handed owners put bare wire into the speaker binding posts and were not that attentive to stray wire whiskers shorting out :rolleyes:

[The Pink Panther]

A bit of a Leftfield suggestion. A significant amplifier is one that breaks boundaries. So therefore I would say the Yamaha RX-V667 AV Receiver. The reason being is : This machine has a fully loaded AV spec but on top of that it is in my opinion the first Sub £500 amp that can compete against a comparable Stereo Integrated Amplifier in this price region. Seriously a budget AV amp that can sound as good as a budget stereo amp is indeed significant.
It can be had for £300 now which is a veritable bargain. All that functionality and great stereo sound. It even has Pre outs!

Woo hoo.

[Light Capture]

Those who commented that Hafler and NAD are not on the list did not read through all the pages. Many different reviewers gave there top ten list and they differ some. Interesting reading. Thanx

[The Grand Wazoo]

Those who commented that Hafler and NAD are not on the list did not read through all the pages. Many different reviewers gave there top ten list and they differ some. Interesting reading. Thanx

Hmm, yes I took the time to list them all for those who didn't read through all the views - interesting to see them all in one place.

[WOStantonCS100]

All 8 people voted for the Dynaco ST-70 - I'd have expected that in a U.S. based poll

It would have indeed been very strange not to see that amp on the list especially considering the kits are still widely sold and built today. I would never say it's the ultimate in resolution. Yet, not to mention it, would be like discussing turntablism/DJing and ignoring the SL-1200MK2.

It would have been nice to see something from Bongiorno on that list. I admit to being a tad bias. ;)

[The Grand Wazoo]

There are not so many ST-70's in the UK though, and so over here most folks don't know of the importance it's rightly achieved on your side of the Atlantic

[WOStantonCS100]

There are not so many ST-70's in the UK though, and so over here most folks don't know of the importance it's rightly achieved on your side of the Atlantic

Even so, only one Quad??? :scratch: I thought the company was quite well known over here because of their loudspeakers...