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Old Amps that can still Kick Butt

Not being a believer that time necessarily = progress, I would like to offer the following example of a sonic gem that has transcended time and can totally kick butt in a modern milieu:

The Robertson 4010. I got one of these about two years ago because it was in immaculate condition, the price was so low and I was inquisitive. I hooked it up and let it warm up for a couple of days. OMG this thing was in the super amp league: Transparency to die for, slam that you couldn‘t‘ believe for for a 50W amp.. Peter Moncrieffe wasn‘t wrong in his review of this amp: this thing is in the Sterreophile Class A component category hands down. Even after all these years.

What amps have you encountered that have defied time and can still kick butt today?


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nitrobob
238 posts
 
bpoletti

Yes, I remember that 3 speed cooling fan. Mine was 3 separate speeds. Didn’t take much to get low speed running, only after really spirted sessions would it be up on high. And we had a BUNCH of them...If you caught it in between songs you would hear the relay click up on the next speed. We torcher’ed our equipment back then. But that Hafler never flinched.
kracher
10 posts
 
Quad 303, what a wonderful amp, sheer musicality
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jallan
254 posts
 
+1 on the Alcon 535 amp, mine is a 535 II.
My old but rebuilt GAS Ampzilla sounds really, really good, but my new SST Son of Ampzilla II is better still. The old Ampzilla has new 20amp Toshibas replacing the 15amp Motorolas for the output transistors 
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jallan
254 posts
 
Adcom 535, damnable auto correct!
sourpuss123
210 posts
 
My 8b and 7 make me smile.  Almost as old as me.  This is my starting point or entry into the hobby.  I know there’s better, but I’m happy. For now.

thrive
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