Best amp for 5k used? SS or Tube

Well, I have not heard another solid state amplifier that could match the smoothness and involving nature of Clayton Audio.

I have heard similarly priced as well as mega-buck amps from Jeff Rowland, Linn, Plinius, Pass Labs, Mark Levinson, Krell, etc., but none of these have same level of pure musical involvement as Clayton.

That said, their M100 monos should meet, if not exceed your expectations, even if you desire at least 150 watts per side. The M100s will play 100 wpc into 8 Ohms, 200 wpc into 4 Ohms, 400 watts into 2 Ohms, and a staggering 800 wpc into 1 Ohm, and this all in Pure Class A form.

They are built like a tank and seem to last forever with effortless efficiency. They do run very warm (which is normal for class A models), but their huge heat sinks draw the heat away from the amps.

They list for $6,500/pr. new, so I don't forsee any problems getting a used pair for about $5k -that is, if you can find a pair for sale.

But if your looking for the best in solid state, compare the Clayton to any other, and I think you'll find that the choice will be obvious, if pure musical quality and convenience of operation and upkeep are of the utmost priority.

Happy shopping!

Best regards,

-Donald

Pick up a used McCormack DNA-2 (not the deluxe nor the LAE version) for about $2300. Send it to McCormack Audio for the Rev A upgrade (about $2500).

I own the DNA-2 LAE (Limited Anniversary Edition) version. Peter Moncrief of Intern'l Audio Review rated it the best SS amp in 1999. Very powerful and extremely fast faithfully articulate across the spectrum with no weakspots.

A plain DNA-2 with the Rev A revision should be just slightly better sonically than the LAE version.

-IMO

The krell amp is just overkill. I mean i would rather get the 250 monos over the 600 as it is just excess. The clayton amps are supposed to be awesome i did forget about them but everytime i see an S-40 come on (I think thats what they are called) i think about trying one out. As for the mccormack amps.... hahaha i knew thats what you were gonna say as soon as i saw your name. You always recommend them. Hmmmm i still have yet to hear one. I dont like the fact that its a hotrodded class B amp rather than the other amps which are really good class A amps. I get the impression that the McCommack is a very good amp that does nothing really great. All of its weaknesses are perfectly matched so that it does not appear to do one thing better than another, which is a very good thing, dont get me wrong. It is also supposed to be a very fun, musical and listenable amp but i wonder if its levels of detail and clarity compare with the other amps listed. I will certainly look into it. Thanks for all the help so far!!!

I am a dealer for Talon having the Khorus X, the Ravens, and the Kites in the showroom.
I also carry the Bel Canto amps, the Joule Electra's, the Pass, the Red Rose, the Electrocompaniet, and the Aronov's although they are being discontinued for a new design.
I will not talk about the Tube amps because you seem more comfortable with solid state.
We have had the Edge amps in here because alot of my good friends such as Caelin Gabriel from Shunyata and Mike Farnsworth of Talon are friends with the owner of Edge and like the product and it is one of the amps that Talon recommends.
We have taken in many Rowland amps in on trade and Talon used to show exclusively with Rowland and now Electrocompaniet.
You do not mention your preamp nor source which has a huge bearing on which amp is going to work best for you.
I will try to give you some indication of what many of the amps did with the equipment we used. I will state here that I personally highly recommend a tube preamp with a solid state amp.
In our listening sessions we used either the Red Rose Silver Signature preamp or the First Sound Paramount preamp both single ended, no remote, tube designs. A mix of Vahalla, Synergistic DR Square X, and Shunyata speaker cables and interconnects. Powercords were an Electraglide Khan to the Hydra, Anaconda VX to the Mephisto 2, 2 Audio Magic Clarevoyant to the Preamp, and Synergistic DR Square X to the amps.
The Lamm amps do a wonderful job of soundstaging and have no weakness sonically. If I was going to nit pick them it would be that they need to hire someone to design their chassis and they were not as seductive as I personally like.
The Rowland equipment has a very relaxed sound with good bottom end,looks and build quality are amazing. The Edge equipment is very fast and transparent with a touch of a bite. The Bel Canto amps which many people consider the cats meow with the Talon's are a great value and the new look is a very elegant improvement.
The Nemos are an excellent match with the Talons and like the Bel Canto's do not warm up a room which is a positive to some people. A very lush sound that in someways is more like a tube amp. I personally use the Pass 600's and have loved them from the day that I first put them into the system. Considering the fact that I have always been a tube person it is an amazing change for me. The Pass in the system described have a delicacy that none of the other amps can capture. Some of the amps mentioned are a touch more romantic, some have better bottom end, many are more aggressive. But in totality I love the Pass amps. But as any Audiophile I am always seeking improvement. I am waiting with bated breath for the new Electrocompaniet AW 220's which I have been told by one of my friends at Talon are the most amazing amps that they have heard. Pass is soon to introduce the new XA 150 and XA 200 I have been trying to get a pair since the last CES show. These are nowhere in your budget.
Let me close by stating that I listen to Folk, Smooth Jazz, and New Age music. I like a very relaxed comfortable listening environment that I can listen for hours on end without fatique. That is not the sound that every one prefers. Many of my good friends, especially younger friends like a more aggressive sound and I have absolutely no idea where your preferences maybe.
Good Luck!

Hi stewart i have discussed this on the phone with you a few times. I have looked into pass amps but many of my friends who own talon speakers really dont seem to like them. They also only got a meager review in TAS. Still i must admit i'm sure that they go really well with the talons and they have a cleanliness to them that i really admire. Is the edge equipment as clear and clean as the pass and bel canto gear? As for the other reccomendations... I'll look into the new AW 220s but can they really be that much better than the NEMOs with the talons? I must say that i hear that the nemos are really pretty bad amps and especially with the talons. As for my other equipment please check the link i gave at the top of my page it clearly displays all of my equipment including the power cord that i bought from you. Thanks