Most aesthetically pleasing amplifiers

[dlaloum]

I have a first generation Adcom GFA-555 that I purchased new to power MG-2Bs way back in the day. It never sounded anything but great on them. And it still sounds great today powering my Paradigm Signature S8 v.1s. Sounds great on any material.

It is possible that the Forte's were at fault rather than the 555.... (I was very cautious with that amp into the ESL57's... too easy to fry them with it!)

 

[Sal1950]

It is possible that the Forte's were at fault rather than the 555.... (I was very cautious with that amp into the ESL57's... too easy to fry them with it!)

I was just about to suggest that. The deficiency you describe more often is attributed to the Forte's than the Adcoms.
And even at that, issue could often be source related and any harshness of the recording being revealed. The Klipsch can be merceless with highlighting any coarseness there.

 

[dlaloum]

I was just about to suggest that. The deficiency you describe more often is attributed to the Forte's than the Adcoms.
And even at that, issue could often be source related and any harshness of the recording being revealed. The Klipsch can be merceless with highlighting any coarseness there.

Sold it in the mid 90's.... lot of water under that bridge...

 

[JiiPee]

Telefunken Acusta set from early '70s. Amplifier V250 in the middle.

 

[posvibes]

I really liked the Sony ES series from the mid-late 80's there was a sense of earnest functionality and shy elegance and for me they summed up what an amplifier should be. Unfortunately I couldn't afford the wooden cheeks which were optional that would have made it perfect.

 

[Angsty]

How about examples of aesthetically pleasing amplifier construction?
I am referring to good practices regarding board layout, caps, transformers, shielding, wiring etc.

Plinius amplifiers always seem to demonstrate fine aesthetic construction practices. This is the SA-Reference.

Edit: Oops - duplicate of post #42, which was also mine.

 

[Angsty]

How about examples of aesthetically pleasing amplifier construction?
I am referring to good practices regarding board layout, caps, transformers, shielding, wiring etc.

Also, darTZeel. See post #54.

Most aesthetically pleasing amplifiers

Halcro Eclipse

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Suffolkhifinut]

Still unappealing after all these years.

Everything on it works with a precision McIntosh, Krell, Topping etc can only dream of! As a German HiFi reviewer said about McIntosh. “Why would you buy one of their amplifiers when the plastic knobs look like they came off a cheap transistor radio?”

 

[Angsty]

Everything on it works with a precision McIntosh, Krell, Topping etc can only dream of! As a German HiFi reviewer said about McIntosh. “Why would you buy one of their amplifiers when the plastic knobs look like they came off a cheap transistor radio?”

I know one reason - resell value. £15 is what percentage of the initial price paid for the Sony?

 

[Suffolkhifinut]

I know one reason - resell value. £15 is what percentage of the initial price paid for the Sony?

I haven’t made an objective or subjective review of the Sony, rather a comment on its build quality, puts many more expensive bits of kit to shame. Would guess at the £15 is about 5% of its original selling price. Would have paid up to £150 for it, £15 is what they asked for and got.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I haven’t made an objective or subjective review of the Sony, rather a comment on its build quality, puts many more expensive bits of kit to shame.

And I haven't made any comment about it build quality or its performance, just about its clunky appearance.

 

[Suffolkhifinut]

And I haven't made any comment about it build quality or its performance, just about its clunky appearance.

I love clunky! Some people may think a Ferrari is beautiful, I prefer an Osh Kosh tank transporter

 

[tomchris]

Telefunken Acusta set from early '70s. Amplifier V250 in the middle.
View attachment 231212

Great system from Telefunken Excellent form factor, i.e. top-operated rather than front-operated. It it simply a superior use of space and ergonomics.



Jacob Jensen for Bang & Olufsen. He has made several top-operated units for Bang & Olufsen. His favorite approach, as well.

Dieter Rams also shaped similar units for Braun. Here is a system of his around '64/65:

​

 

[Doodski]

I prefer an Osh Kosh tank transporter

The Osh Kosh is a handsome cartoonish beast that I appreciate too. I used to work manufacturing as in wiring the units from start to finish for oil and gas industry heavy duty wheeled and tracked vehicles. This is one of them and when outfitted for oil and gas it has a flat deck with a winch and is capable of carrying 40 ton all day through 3 to 4 feet thick of mud. It's a handsome devil in person and has a nice rowdy sounding 2 stroke diesel exhaust pitch.

 

[tomchris]

The Osh Kosh is a handsome cartoonish beast that I appreciate too. I used to work manufacturing as in wiring the units from start to finish for oil and gas industry heavy duty wheeled and tracked vehicles. This is one of them and when outfitted for oil and gas it has a flat deck with a winch and is capable of carrying 40 ton all day through 3 to 4 feet thick of mud. It's a handsome devil in person and has a nice rowdy sounding 2 stroke diesel exhaust pitch.
View attachment 231324

I have a soft spot for the Caterpillar 797F Mining Truck, Nominal Rated Payload: 401 ton (US), Rated Gross Machine Weight: 1375000 lb, Gross Power - SAE J1995: 4000 HP

...and here is another, the Tucker Sno-Cat 1600, 8-15 Passenger:

 

[mhardy6647]

And I haven't made any comment about it build quality or its performance, just about its clunky appearance.

I concur, FWIW. It looks cheap to me -- even if it wasn't.
Sony was certainly capable of producing aesthetically pleasing designs, but they turned out at least their share (perhaps even more than their share) of aesthetic duds, too.

Early digital-era Sony tended towards the Knight Rider school of design, I'd opine.

Now, this particular Sony STRVX250 is cosmetically challenged -- but even if it weren't, it would still rather miss the mark, I would say.

EDIT: a couple more, courtesy of eBAY

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I love clunky! Some people may think a Ferrari is beautiful, I prefer an Osh Kosh tank transporter

Yeah but not in my living room.

 

[Doodski]

Now, this particular Sony STRVX250 is cosmetically challenged -- but even if it weren't, it would still rather miss the mark, I would say.

UhhhG! Ewwww! That Sony STRVX250 is renowned for blowing output ICs. The sound from this unit is horrendous with the cheap STK they put in it.

 

[mhardy6647]

UhhhG! Ewwww! That Sony STRVX250 is renowned for blowing output ICs. The sound from this unit is horrendous with the cheap STK they put in it.

Found that one at the dump. It worked fine, but didn't stay around for long.

 

[tomchris]

UhhhG! Ewwww! That Sony STRVX250 is renowned for blowing output ICs. The sound from this unit is horrendous with the cheap STK they put in it.

Not particularily referring to this unit, but when I am looking at the vast assortment of badly designed units that has been made by manufacturers throughout the years, I sometimes wonder..What bunch of idiots approved this waste and why do they even bother? Still, this continues to happen. It is an unrelenting condition.