Looking for a high quality Solid State amp.

Excluding the Luxman amps I don't know of any Japanese solid-state amplifiers. There is the American made Schiit Audio Asgard that I adore with my He Audio HE-5LE's  

What is your price range?

I don't know about you but the Matrix M-stage has one of the best craftsmanship I have seen in an amp. Just because it came out of China doesn't mean it is automatically bad. 

But whatever, Audio Technicha has their house amp but I can't remember the name.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roker 

 

300 to 700 

 

I know it's a big range, but I want to know what my options are.

 

I hear you. I don't know anything in that range. But my advice is to buy at the upper range and be patient and look for a used unit that way the upper range of your budget when going used will really bring you further towards the 1K range of new units. 
 

I would get a 1970's Marantz 2230/2238B/2245 for about $150 including S&H and the spend about $350 on a full re-cap and clean-up. Will surprise the heck out of you, plus you can use the speaker outs to drive an Stax energizer, speakers, or an AKG K100 or similar (HiFiMAN HE-6) using a pigtail. Good luck.

I'd vouch for a Burson or a Schiit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roker 

But I don't want to go with the "budget" Chinese designed.  So this keeps Little Dot, Matrix, gd, and all the other guys out of the picture.

Preferably I want to go with a Japanese audio company, but those aren't always easy to get a hold of.

 

I just would like some ideas, please.

I'm using a Crown D-75A with my D7000's.  Crown recently moved the production of this model from the US to China, however, if that matters to you.
 

TTVJ and Pete Millet will be coming out with a new SS amp in the $500 range.