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What is the ultimate, cost-no-object solid state amp today?

post #1 of 78
4/17/08 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't checked in on this in a while. Out of curiosity, what are considred today's top solid state amps?
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post #2 of 78
4/17/08 at 11:53pm

Angstrom

I know Wayne swears by his special Angstrom Two Box amp. He probably heard all of the top-end offerings to date so I'm eagerly waiting for his answer.
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post #3 of 78
4/17/08 at 11:57pm
My reading of this forum the last few months gives the clear impression that a majority would say a Balanced B22, designed by AMB, built by you or a pro builder. It has strong competition from the Headamp GSX, the Max Headroom and the Ray Samuels Apache. YMMV.
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post #4 of 78
4/18/08 at 1:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by papomaster View Post
I know Wayne swears by his special Angstrom Two Box amp. He probably heard all of the top-end offerings to date so I'm eagerly waiting for his answer.
The Angstrom is a tube amp, not SS....he was asking for SS amps...The HEADCODE is supposed to be a very good SS amp...
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post #5 of 78
4/18/08 at 2:06am
Until I hear better, it's the balanced B22. I've heard the dynamight, GSX, Apache, RP-010, each of which are a bit of incremental downgrade from the B22 (those being the "highest end" SS amps that come to mind at the moment).
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post #6 of 78
4/18/08 at 2:13am
I am still a fan of the balanced dynahi the beta is great but soft sounding to me compared to the dynahi, to each there own. The gxs is awesome but it's a long wait to get one atm. I thing the apache and rudi offering while nice are not in the same league as the dyhna, gsx or beta amps.

I have not heard the SP Harmony but I really want to check it out hopefully it will be at CanJam
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post #7 of 78
4/18/08 at 3:58am
Cost no object.....SinglePower SS1.
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post #8 of 78
4/18/08 at 4:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by derekbmn View Post
Cost no object.....SinglePower SS1.
Yes, I were going to suggest the Singlepower SS1 as well.

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post #9 of 78
4/18/08 at 8:14am
These are pretty cool and they all share similar symmetrical, cascoded topology.

Dyna-GBFet, Beta22, Headcode. Yes, these are IMO the best.
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post #10 of 78
4/18/08 at 8:48am
SP SS-1 would be my choice if I was having a cost no object SS amp built, but I have not heard it. However the SP transparency is the best SS amp I have heard. Had it here since Nov.
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post #11 of 78
4/18/08 at 8:52am
I own a GS-X and balanced beta22 and in my opinion there are as good as it gets. At listening volumes I can not tell the difference between the two after a couple weeks of listening. Both are amazing with the HD-650s.

With the AH-D5000's I'm assuming markl is using I thought I should state that actually in my case (single box beta22) the GS-X is slightly preferred to the beta22 because it's got a little less noise when the volume is cranked (no way to listen to music I'd blow my ear drums out) but I know that this can be rectified easily because it's only in one channel (I'm going to give it a try this weekend but it appears to a wire sitting somewhere it shouldn't).
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post #12 of 78
4/18/08 at 9:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
Yes, I were going to suggest the Singlepower SS1 as well.
I wonder if you can pay half and just get the reference section? Who needs to pay 14 grand and get a amp with treble and bass adjustments? I don't.
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post #13 of 78
4/18/08 at 10:59am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
a majority would say a Balanced B22, designed by AMB, built by you or a pro builder.
Who are the better known, established builders? I'm reluctant to have some DIY-er who may be gone tomorrow building my amp.

Quote:
the SP Harmony
Quote:
the SP transparency
Where can I get info/pics on these? SP's site hasn't changed in a decade.
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post #14 of 78
4/18/08 at 11:53am
MisterX builds the b22, and he is known to have excellent craftsmanship.

Rockhopper audio (Thrice) also build these.


As for info the SP amps, just email Mikhail.
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post #15 of 78
4/18/08 at 12:21pm
I don't think Thrice builds the B22 anymore aside from his current build list. Same with Mashall, although I haven't been in contact with Marshall for a long time. I contacted him atleast 6 months ago and he says he was no longer building them. IMO, from a design standpoint, the B22 is the king. Of the commercial offers I've heard the GSX and the Apache, and while they sounded ok, I don't think they were anything super speical.
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