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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The Aragon 4004 MkII by Mondial Designs on a design by Krell’s Dan D’Agostino. It’s been serving me marvelously for the last 20 years feeding into a pair of Kef 104/2. 
Second that Coltrane 1

I have a 1999 Plinius SA100 Mark 3 matched with the M16 Pre.
Amp recently juiced by Ralph Abramo of Pliniusrepairs.com. (the Ultimate upgrade) with all new caps, relays, switches, etc.  What a difference he made to an already wonderful amp. Drives Dynaudio C1 Signature monitors through Tara Labs cables.
Even the Plinius integrateds  are wonderful.
@calvinandhobbes, I belong to a similar school of sound, i.e tonal accuracy and timing being the fundamental goal.

Check out Croft amplifiers from UK.
http://www.croftacoustics.co.uk/