best amps?

vintage : Quad II, Marantz 8 & 9, Leak TL12.1
modern : I don't know because I haven't heard that many
future : Class T digital amps, maybe?

Hon
 
Originally posted by wadia-miester
Pains me to say this, Tom Evans (sorry Anthony Mattews) 'Soul amps' a candiate for the title without question :)
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Don't they have those valve thingies :eek:
 
I haven't heard every amp in the world but the two best in my limited experience are the Sugden A21a and Lavardin IT. Totally musical, no harshness, no glare, no sogginess.

I have heard pre-power combos costing thousands, producing hundreds of watts and the Sugden A21a at £1k was way way more musical. The Lavardin IT just sounds like a slightly bigger A21a with a tiny bit more depth and slightly tighter bass.

Why do people needs hundreds of watts?
 
Originally posted by alanbeeb
I haven't heard every amp in the world but the two best in my limited experience are the Sugden A21a and Lavardin IT. Totally musical, no harshness, no glare, no sogginess.

I have heard pre-power combos costing thousands, producing hundreds of watts and the Sugden A21a at £1k was way way more musical. The Lavardin IT just sounds like a slightly bigger A21a with a tiny bit more depth and slightly tighter bass.

Why do people needs hundreds of watts?
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To drive inefficient or power hungry speakers? ;)

Not ever heard any Lavardin amps but I'd certainly put the A21a integrated from Sudgen down as incredibly good value for money, so long as you match it with efficient speakers. I tried deming a pair of Quad ESL-989s with an A21a and it just kept on cutting out whenever the going was just about to get good. :rolleyes: Shame because it certainly was very well judged IMO i.e. did music and hi-fi in equal measure, and didn't seem to impose itself on preceedings when kept at the right volume levels. :MILD:
 
Originally posted by alanbeeb
I haven't heard every amp in the world but the two best in my limited experience are the Sugden A21a and Lavardin IT. Totally musical, no harshness, no glare, no sogginess.

I have heard pre-power combos costing thousands, producing hundreds of watts and the Sugden A21a at £1k was way way more musical. The Lavardin IT just sounds like a slightly bigger A21a with a tiny bit more depth and slightly tighter bass.

Why do people needs hundreds of watts?
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I am just settling in with a 35W Lavardin IS Ref and it has blown me away - I mean really! I'm now looking for a used IT. The transparency, clarity, agility and general presentation have completely captured my attention.
 
I've always been impresed by the EAR 509 monoblocks when I've heard them. They seem to have the tight bass of solid state amps with that midband that you only seem to get with valves.

.
 
Originally posted by HenryT
To drive inefficient or power hungry speakers? ;)

Not ever heard any Lavardin amps but I'd certainly put the A21a integrated from Sudgen down as incredibly good value for money, so long as you match it with efficient speakers. I tried deming a pair of Quad ESL-989s with an A21a and it just kept on cutting out whenever the going was just about to get good. :rolleyes: Shame because it certainly was very well judged IMO i.e. did music and hi-fi in equal measure, and didn't seem to impose itself on preceedings when kept at the right volume levels. :MILD:
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I've been driving my quad 988s (82dbW sensitivity) mainly with the Lavardin IT but also with the Sugden a21a power amp.... you must have wanted really loud for it to cut out!
For me, one of the great strengths of the quad electrostatics is the ability to sound 'right' at low to medium volume levels... if you want loud then its maybe not the speaker for you. But there is another thread for speakers....
 
Julian - boy those NL reference are understated arent they? I thought Lavardin were modest looking, but... and a mere 800 wpc :eek:
 
For me there is no question

Once you have heard these .....

Nothing else has come close sadly, but maybe one day:D
 
Originally posted by Robbo
they are bonkers! I want them!
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Sell the house Neil, that should cover it;)

I look forward to the Omiga PSU for the Evo, based on the Dynaudio design:D Just imagine if they put their mind to a source component!
 
Originally posted by alanbeeb
I've been driving my quad 988s (82dbW sensitivity) mainly with the Lavardin IT but also with the Sugden a21a power amp.... you must have wanted really loud for it to cut out!
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Hi Alan,

Originally posted by alanbeeb
For me, one of the great strengths of the quad electrostatics is the ability to sound 'right' at low to medium volume levels...
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Absolutely agreed :) , most cone speakers just sound like someone's suffocated all the musicians with a blanket when you try and play at very low levels in comparison to the results from a Quad ESL.

Originally posted by alanbeeb
if you want loud then its maybe not the speaker for you. But there is another thread for speakers....
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I think the 989's will be loud enough for me. I've auditioned them extensively at 2 different dealers. The second dealer I heard them at had a much larger listening room (larger than my listening room at home) and was using a much larger/more powerful amp and there was no problems attaining the levels I require. The first dealer was the one usiing the A21a integrated, I presume the A21a power amp is identical to the A21a integrated but obviously without the pre section?
 

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