The End-Game Solid State Amplifier Master List

[George Hincapie]

The Phantom is an unknown quantity and shouldn't be in this list until that changes.

Where is the Flux Volot?

 

[George Hincapie]

Including the not yet released iFi Phantom seems premature.

Agreed. TOTL is agreed by concensus. It has no place in this list for the moment.

 

[George Hincapie]

Heard the Cen.Grand Silver Fox at Munich High End. It outputs 20W into 30 ohm and drove the current hungry Stealth beautifully. The emotional impact of this amp is adorable. Something the Bliss could not do. I will probably get a Silver Fox and might even sell the Riviera - trading refinement for emotion. The Zähl is not for me, heard it right after. I’m neither mastering albums nor am I interested in dissecting music.

The hype around Cen. Grand is crazy. Really not sure if it's genuine. The brand seems to have come from nowhere.

 

[572217]

The hype around Cen. Grand is crazy. Really not sure if it's genuine. The brand seems to have come from nowhere.

The company exists since 2011. Trust your ears, hype is irrelevant.

 

[George Hincapie]

The company exists since 2011. Trust your ears, hype is irrelevant.

I have never heard of them until weeks ago. I do trust my ears though.

 

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Thanks, everyone for the great input. Agree that the Phantom should not be on the list, so I've created a new one of upcoming amps to be heard still. Please keep them coming!

 

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Updated list with member recommendations.

 

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Added the Mass Kobo Model 465.

 

[572217]

I’m not sure if you want to include the Riviera AIC-10. The pre section is tube-based and the power section is solid state. I own one and it is a refined piece. Power is adequate at 10 watts into 8 ohm and it makes the current-hungry Stealth sing.

 

[smallcaps]

I’m not sure if you want to include the Riviera AIC-10. The pre section is tube-based and the power section is solid state. I own one and it is a refined piece. Power is adequate at 10 watts into 8 ohm and it makes the current-hungry Stealth sing.

I'll add it and see if anyone objects. Would be interested in hearing the debate on the other amps, too. Thanks for the recommendation

 

[geek707]

Erzetich Deimos says Deimos V2023 will be available in June 2023.

 

[geek707]

and Fluk Violot is out of stock in 115 volts.

 

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@geek707 noted and will edit. Thanks!

 

[geek707]

@geek707 noted and will edit. Thanks!

I curious what app you are using for music on your MBP?

 

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I curious what app you are using for music on your MBP?

I use Foobar for my local collection and Spotify for discovery.