AGD Duet Monoblocks

AGD Duet owner here since last summer and they work great with the DeVore Super Nine speakers!  I've owned a number of amps over the years and the Duets have brought out the best in the DeVore's.  First time I have ever used mono blocks (due to space issues, etc.) which have made me a believer in that design. (Okay, and they are the most expensive amps I have ever used. :) 

They are also compact in size, put out plenty of power and have both RCA andXLR inputs. I run my streamer/internet tuner directly into the RCA inputs of the amps, which allows me to bypass my tube based preamp, thereby saving tube life.

The clincher though is that the amps are upgradeable by the owner which will save  time and money. While there are other fine GaNFET amps out there, AGD is the only company I am aware of that offers this feature which is important (to me) since the technology is still relatively young.

@bartsw Thanks for the additional advice about their being desktop amps. Makes sense. I suppose, that I’m impressed in them sounding this good regardless, but your point is important. The fact they *can* sound this good, with the level of cheap construction you’re suggesting, does seem proof of concept of something.

After all, the Fosi V3 with the power supplies and the op amps is about 17x less expensive. Obviously they are built to a price point and may not last 20 years, but if one had to buy another set in 5 years, they would still far cheaper than say the other models.

P.S. I think we'd agree, too that there are plenty of real audiophile amps without protection circuits that will happily kill speakers. I don't know if the Fosi has speaker protection or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do. ASR reviewed them and probably mentions that.

I am intrigued by what I have read here. I have not considered Class D till now, but based on the comments and other research it sounds like AGD offers something special. I am using an Audionet amp right now, which honestly will be very hard to beat. Any comments on the Audion or Duet amps for jazz and low volume listening?

I’ve posted this before in other threads but I’ve been a tube amp guy since hearing my first tube amp about 12 years ago. I’ve probably had 15 or so amps in and out of my system with most being tube amps but also some solid state and A couple other class d amps. Whenever I went away from tube amps I always went back as I just couldn’t capture the texture and palpability in the music I get with tube amps. A couple solid state came very close like the First Watt SIT3 and Coda S5.5, with the Coda probably being my favorite solid state before AGD. I will just say that when I tried the AGD Tempo amp I was blown away that I didn’t miss my tube amp. I wound up upgrading to the AGD Duets and love them. Sold a few other amps including an LTA Ref 40+ and the Coda and a Primaluna. Loved all those amps and could’ve lived with any as a final amp but the AGD just doesn’t really leaving me wanting for anything. I did hang on to my Line Magnetic LM845 amp which is a great change of pace from the AGD and I just love how the LM sounds and looks but because it runs so hot and I’m in Phoenix I use the AGDs 60-70% of the time. The LM throws a bit of a broader higher sound stage but it’s not as precise or detailed and has to be paired with the right speaker. I got it at a steal of a price and I’ll keep it as long as I can, but I never hook the AGDs up and think “can’t wait for it to cool down so I can go back to the tubes.” I actually usually remark on how I’m hearing more into the music without losing what I love about tubes. I pair them with an LTA preamp and sometimes a Don Sachs preamp and I love the sound and versatility with the AGD amps. Of If I had to go to 1 amp this would be it. 

Talking about THE AGD Duets, I listen to them in last year's audio show here in California and all I want to say is, it an end game power amp if match to the corresponding speaker. it just sings and sounds beautifully. it pairs well with a variety of speakers. 

however, the OP said he has the gryphon gear. Well, that IMHO, is my end game.

the choice to move to and AGD gear and live with its house sound MAY or may NOT be suitable. it's a choice the OP has to considered. if I was in that position, i would audition the AGD before making the switch. 

I heard the Gryphon and I in my personal Opinion only, I will not switch as I compared them in that show. I did that comparison and in knowing that agd will present their best gear, and Gryphon, too. based on my listening comparison, the gryphon still is my choice. But the AGD comes very close