Which Solid State Amplifier is Making you Happy?


I'm trying to find a new amplifier to replace a Musical Fidelity A3CR. There are lots of candidates: Rowland 501s, Pass Labs 350.5, Levinson 431/432, H2O, etc. What are people using and what has been a good sonic investment? I'm currently driving B&W N803s, so it's a pretty normal load. My MF amp does not offer enough punch or bass control. It flattens out at higher volumes. I'll spend what it takes, new or used. Less than $8K would be nice. All comments welcome.
Peter
pscialli
I think I have read that B&W uses Krell at their plant to test their speakers. I have heard Rotel with B&W's so I imagine any conventional amp will drive the speakers adequately.

I have used Aragon and Krell to drive Maggies and a few other speakers and want a Plinius amp next.

Depending on your room and how hard you want to drive the speakers any amp with aprrox. 100watts plus would be adequate unless you have a concert hall.

I would make certain to match gain levels of your equipment to make certain that you do not run flat of power using the pre-amp to get the most from your equipment. Seems strange the MF would not push the speakers adequately ,but maybe there was not enough power.
Essence Emerald Amps, both an Essence II Stereo and Emerald III Reference Monoblocks. I have heard dozens of amps in my system and once I heard these I stopped looking for the Holy Grail of amps. I sold every other SS and tube amp I had.
Rlawry, which SS and tube sacred cows has your Emerald put to shame? Do give us details.
My Jeff Rowland model 8 with choke power supply still makes me smile after all these years. I recently did a AB with a 501 and IMHO my 8 was just in a different league. Far more resolving and with a much better control of the bass. The 8 also threw a far deaper soundstage and was much sweeter in the highs.
The only problem you will find is finding someone with a choke supply 8 for sale.
I just upgraded from a Krell 400cx to a new Krell EVO 402 and the improvement is very clearly audible and more musical (without any loss of that famous Krell "slam" whatever that is).

good luck.