- Thread Starter
- #41
Oops. It's because I'm using AI to translate and write. This stupid AI gave me a strange answer. I'm good at reading English, but not so good at writing it!
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Are there any amplifiers you can recommend that are 300W or higher in the $5,000 to $10,000 range?
- Thread starter Harmonia
- Start date
Oops. It's because I'm using AI to translate and write. This stupid AI gave me a strange answer. I'm good at reading English, but not so good at writing it!
- Thread Starter
- #42
I 100% agree with you. Just because something looks good doesn't mean it sounds good. Also, many people think incorrect sound is correct. While I respect personal preferences, it's too much. Especially, there are too many people who think a system with a lot of bass and loud noise is a good system.
However, in the Hi-Fi field, not PA, there's a tendency for sound distortion to worsen in cheaper systems. That's also why I posted the question. I wanted to find other amplifiers that I don't know about.
- Thread Starter
- #43
Oh..... I didn't know there were sites that can recognize AI-written text. I learned something new.
I had the translation done by AI, and it was written incorrectly! So I corrected it!
- Thread Starter
- #44
Thank you for letting me know.
However, that's a PA AMP. I'm looking for a Hi-Fi designed AMP.
- Thread Starter
- #45
Thank you for your response.
I'm curious about how the 2-channel would sound. The price is really good, so if I can overlook the design, it seems like it would be great. Right now, the product I want to try buying is the Buckeye amp!
- Thread Starter
- #46
I don't live in the United States. So I can't take advantage of the good conditions you mentioned.
boxerfan88
Major Contributor
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Accuphase has one that does 900W into 2ohm
Luxman has one that does 1.2kW into 1ohm
Check their website for details. Good luck with your amplifier shopping!
Luxman has one that does 1.2kW into 1ohm
Check their website for details. Good luck with your amplifier shopping!
- Thread Starter
- #48
I know very well that monoblock amplifiers are configured as 1ch! The translation was strange! I'm sorry!
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kemmler3D
Master Contributor
I think if you care about resale value you should go for McIntosh... Lots of juice, clean by all accounts, and they hold their value well.
I think they're overpriced, but if you're looking at total cost of ownership they may be the cheapest option in your price range.
I will also join in suggesting you go for some powerful modern class D stuff (Nord, audiophonics) and put the extra $$ towards the speakers. You can get 2x500 really clean watts for a fraction of your budget. If they don't last or you can't sell them, you're still looking at a smaller loss than buying McIntosh new and selling later.
Or just forget separates, stop fooling around, and get Genelec 8381s.. Studio speakers that even most studios can't afford....
I think they're overpriced, but if you're looking at total cost of ownership they may be the cheapest option in your price range.
I will also join in suggesting you go for some powerful modern class D stuff (Nord, audiophonics) and put the extra $$ towards the speakers. You can get 2x500 really clean watts for a fraction of your budget. If they don't last or you can't sell them, you're still looking at a smaller loss than buying McIntosh new and selling later.
Or just forget separates, stop fooling around, and get Genelec 8381s.. Studio speakers that even most studios can't afford....
- Thread Starter
- #51
Oh. I'm Sorry.
I didn't mean to speak badly of you. I've edited my message.
Your specs and performance look really impressive. So I'm genuinely curious about what kind of sound it will produce.
I just expressed it that way because the heatsink design on the top feels a bit disappointing.
Please don't take it personally?
- Thread Starter
- #52
Thank you for your recommendation!
I've heard both Accuphase and Luxman amplifiers as they are famous brands and my acquaintances use them! However, Luxman looks too much like a Japanese AMP, so I lost interest. I prefer the design of McIntosh over Accuphase!
They have world-class service and support. The reliability is the main reason I own them.
They are transparent. I have the older ST series, several models. Perhaps the only area they might have audible artifacts is a very high efficiency compression driver. Otherwise they are powerful amplifiers with no sonic signature at all. Most good amps share this characteristic: they impart no sound, just amplify.
It might be good to read up on my favorite amplifier test:
Nobody can tell the difference between amps such as a Julius Futterman OTL-1 and a Levinson and a Pioneer receiver.
I was selling high end audio when this article came out, including Levinson, and a host of other brands and the inability of golden eared audio people to pick hear amp differences didn't surprise me. I had already convinced myself that not a single member of our staff, none of our customers, none of the many industry pros who came through the store, could tell the difference between an Audio Research and a Niles commercial install amp. Niles were great amps, we installed them in SeaTac airport food court and they were able to handle any load all while doing what a good amp does, amplify the signal.
Actually there was one area where the Niles sounded better than many other amps, even expensive ones, it was stability into low impedances. They could actually drive a first-generation Infinity Kappa for example.So after my run in sales, seeing so many customers unhappy with their odd sounding speakers and fragile electronics, and knowing amps really don't make much of a difference, I got Bryston gear. One of the distinguishing features of audio is unreliability, as I stated before that is one of my main criteria. Electronics can be made reliable, but it isn't much of a driving factor in high-end home audio. In fact, at times the opposite. There are other brands and models that I am sure have equivalent quality and reliability to Bryston, but they aren't going to sound any different, unless they have performance flaws.
edit: fixed a sentence
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- Thread Starter
- #54
Thank you for the recommendation. It's true that McIntosh is indeed the brand with the most value when sold second-hand. I was thinking about looking for something else apart from this alternative, so I decided to write a post after some consideration.
I just learned about Nord and Audiophonics amplifiers for the first time. I'll check their specs and performance carefully.
I was looking more for AB amplifiers or A amplifiers rather than Class D amplifiers.
Genelec active speakers are great speakers. I don't know much about studio speakers. I've listened to many hi-fi and high-end speakers.
- Thread Starter
- #55
They have world-class service and support. The reliability is the main reason I own them.
They are transparent. I have the older ST series, several models. Perhaps the only area they might have audible artifacts is a very high efficiency compression driver. Otherwise they are powerful amplifiers with no sonic signature at all. Most good amps share this characteristic: they impart no sound, just amplify.
It might be good to read up on my favorite amplifier test:
Nobody can tell the difference between amps such as a Julius Futterman OTL-1 and a Levinson and a Pioneer receiver.
I was selling high end audio when this article came out, including Levinson, and a host of other brands and the inability of golden eared audio people to pick hear amp differences didn't surprise me. I had already convinced myself that not a single member of our staff, none of our customers, none of the many industry pros who came through the store, could tell the difference between an Audio Research and a Niles commercial install amp. Niles were great amps, we installed them in SeaTac airport food court and they were able to handle any load all while doing what a good amp does, amplify the signal.
So after my run in sales, seeing so many customers unhappy with their odd sounding speakers and fragile electronics, and knowing amps really don't make much of a difference, I got Bryston gear. One of the distinguishing features of audio is unreliability, as I stated before that is one of my main criteria. Electronics can be made reliable, but it isn't much of a driving factor in high-end home audio. In fact, at times the opposite. There are other brands and models that I am sure have equivalent quality and reliability to Bryston, but they aren't going to sound any different, unless they have performance flaws.
edit: fixed a sentence
Thank you for your excellent advice. Unfortunately, the PDF file you linked is not available. So I can't download and view it. That's a shame. Of course, Bryston amplifiers are also one of my considerations. Thank you for your advice.
I've had the opportunity to listen to tube amps with various speakers for quite a long time. So I know them well. I've listened to them connected to very expensive and large speakers from famous brands.
Fortunately, I was able to listen to the Audio Research 750SE and VTL Siegfried Series II amps for several years around the same time. So I could compare their characteristics while listening. They were such hot amps that in summer, they weren't cool at all even with the air conditioner on, and in winter, I didn't need a heater at all.
Among tube amps, only a few companies like VTL and Audio Research are currently making high-output amps exceeding 600W. So I think it was a very meaningful experience for me to be able to listen to these high-power tube amps.
At that time, I could really feel how attractive the sound of tube amps was. I could experience a sound full of texture that's hard to feel from much more expensive monoblock solid-state amps exceeding 1000W.
VTL had a stronger tube feel, while Audio Research had more of a solid-state amp feel to it.
I haven't listened to any old tube amps other than the latest ones. So I'm very surprised to hear that you couldn't distinguish between the old Audio Research amp and the Niles amp when compared. It's surprising that you couldn't feel the difference between the products of that time.
I'm well aware that the quality of audio products has become more standardized in the last 10 years. Speakers over 20~30 years old tended to set up crossover networks to produce better treble and use more stimulating materials for tweeter units because the quality of source devices and amps was lower.
So when matching old speakers with recent amps or DACs, there were cases where too much treble came out, making it uncomfortable to listen to. I recommend that people don't set up systems with very old speakers. Old speakers often sounded better when matched with old amps.
Of course, sound can be adjusted in various ways, whether by improving room conditions, adjusting speaker and listening positions, or using EQ. But when it comes to basic product matching as we think of it, I advise as above.
Anyway, your experience and opinions have made me think anew. I should look into PA amps as well.
kemmler3D
Master Contributor
Class D state-of-the-art has gotten a lot better in the past 5-10 years. The old problems have been minimized and in measurable performance they beat many good Class-A designs, but at a much lower cost / weight. If you decide to simply go for clean power, they are worth looking into in 2025.
In the end, a good speaker is a good speaker. It can be a matter of taste, but many things about good studio or home speakers will always be held in common. When they are measured on a Klippel, the best home speakers behave like the best studio speakers. So, if you want the absolute best sound you should consider studio speakers. After all, it will provide "what they heard in the studio", which some consider ideal.
Of course looks also matter and the 8381 will not compliment every decor. But something to think about.
- Thread Starter
- #57
Class D state-of-the-art has gotten a lot better in the past 5-10 years. The old problems have been minimized and in measurable performance they beat many good Class-A designs, but at a much lower cost / weight. If you decide to simply go for clean power, they are worth looking into in 2025.
In the end, a good speaker is a good speaker. It can be a matter of taste, but many things about good studio or home speakers will always be held in common. When they are measured on a Klippel, the best home speakers behave like the best studio speakers. So, if you want the absolute best sound you should consider studio speakers. After all, it will provide "what they heard in the studio", which some consider ideal.
Of course looks also matter and the 8381 will not compliment every decor. But something to think about.
Thank you for providing additional detailed advice. I've also heard through reviews that recent Class D amplifiers have improved a lot.
The amplifiers I'm familiar with are Class A or AB amplifiers. I've used them a lot myself and have heard them many times from acquaintances or at shows. So I'm relatively unfamiliar with Class D amplifiers.
I'll look into them in more detail.
There are many recommendations for Buckeye AMPs, so I'm very interested too. I like products that produce accurate sound, and there are many reviews saying they provide good sound without distortion. I'm getting interested and need to look into them more.
And I know that studio monitor speakers offer quite good performance for their price. I was able to listen to the Focal SOLO 6 studio speakers for over a week, and I had an enjoyable experience with their accurate sound and good low-end response compared to bookshelf speakers.
It's just that the design of studio monitor speakers is disappointing, so I'm willing to pay more for hi-fi or high-end speakers. But in terms of sound accuracy and performance, I've been feeling lately that studio monitor speakers are superior.
I'll rethink about speakers as well. Thank you.
Keith_W
Master Contributor
If you want to engage with us, please stop using AI to translate your text. Use a translator. ASR has a policy about AI chats, and I am very close to pushing the report button. I'll give you a bit of leeway because you are new, you don't know the policy, and for now I am assuming you are here to ask questions in good faith.
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So, given that your basically looking for audio jewelry, it's safe to say that you're on your own. You'll need to find something that suits your visual needs. All we can do is give you some suggestions, but so can the nice AI tool that you've been using to communicate with us, or just Google for it 
You may consider a different route, given that looks are important. Why not commission a custom build? For this kind of money, you can surely have an amp made in a fully custom case that makes it really stand out from the crowd. You can just fit one of the excellent Class-D kits in there, or maybe ask one of the companies that already sell this stuff to customize a case.
As for high-powered amps, this one surely would qualify:
www.audiosciencereview.com
Though, probably one of the lower powered brothers and sisters of the Hypex or Purifi family would in general perform better if you really don't need the power reserve.
As @kemmler3D already mentioned, skipping the amps and looking at an all-active setup might be interesting as well. A combo like this is probably the very best one can buy for halfway reasonable money: Genelec 8361A + W371A
Obviously, you may not at all like the look
.. Oh, and it will also save you on a kilobuck DAC because these things have everything integrated.
You may consider a different route, given that looks are important. Why not commission a custom build? For this kind of money, you can surely have an amp made in a fully custom case that makes it really stand out from the crowd. You can just fit one of the excellent Class-D kits in there, or maybe ask one of the companies that already sell this stuff to customize a case.
As for high-powered amps, this one surely would qualify:
Apollon Hypex NC2K Monoblock Amplifier Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Hypex NC2K based amplifier from Apollon. The unit was kindly purchased new by a member and drop shipped to me for testing. The NC2K has different options and starts at 1.990,00€ or US $2,342 as of this writing. The version I have has the...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Though, probably one of the lower powered brothers and sisters of the Hypex or Purifi family would in general perform better if you really don't need the power reserve.
As @kemmler3D already mentioned, skipping the amps and looking at an all-active setup might be interesting as well. A combo like this is probably the very best one can buy for halfway reasonable money: Genelec 8361A + W371A
Obviously, you may not at all like the look
.. Oh, and it will also save you on a kilobuck DAC because these things have everything integrated.
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