Needed: Honest Advice on high-end amps- either mono or stereo


I'm perplexed by the offering of high end amps. I have heard some really expensive amps- ARC 300m, D'Agostino, Burmeister,  the 1200w Macs- all impressive but....

In your HONEST opinion- are the THAT good? 

For the money (Let's pretend you and I  can afford them- may of us can) are they transformative? Exceptional? WAYYY better than a lesser mortals out there? 

Forget economic proportionality- most of us are wealthy. We can pay to play. My question is: are they EXCEPTIONAL or just moderately better for much more money? 

This is an honest question seeking thoughtful answers..... 

 

 

yesiam_a_pirate

Absolutely, if you are an audiophile who values sound quality above all else. 

What these can do is incredible. The rest of your system must be up to it, of course. They also must be of the sound type that you’re interested in. For instance, I own Audio Research reference 160s. I also had the Audio Research reference 160 M for two years. These are incredible amps if I could afford an Audio Research reference 330 I would buy one instantly, there that good. One caveat, some of the monster power amps may not be necessary given your speakers... a lower powered version of the same quality and somewhat smaller wattage may be appropriate. 

 

Now, if you’re going for the Sound, spectacular the imaging from ceiling to floor off onto the side walls. Not natural in musical, but absolutely incredible. Then the Burmeister Boulder and some of those other brands are for you.

 

In the late 1970s after trying multiple " expensive amps" and being completely disappointed, I bought one of the most expensive amps on the market. It was designed by Pass, a Threshold S500. I took out my first bank loan after college. In today’s dollars it was $20,000. That showed me how much truly high-end equipment was worth and it’s only gotten better overtime. That showed me that beyond any question high end amps were worth every penny. I have never been disappointed when buying a high end amp... I do my research and buy one with the house sound I am looking for. 

 

Obviously, if you’re in it to get the maximum music for the smallest cost, none of this stuff is for you. You need to value sound quality. 

I have owned all the burmester amps from the 956m2 all the way up to the 159 signature monos, the 159 is next level and each step up the ladder it got better and better, 

Post removed