The Ten Most Significant Amplifiers of All Time

[captrajesh]

Makes for an interesting read

 

[Hiten]

Nice link Captain. All "best of the best" amps :licklips: one can refer in one place.

 

[longshanks]

Looks those reviewers were once a fan of mark levinson,carver and mcintosh.

Many greats are missing like accuphase, lavardin, Atma-Sphere ,VAC , 47 labs,accustic arts, MF , nagra , luxman to name a few. simply a list of under 200 cannot be created to name the most significant amplifiers of all time.

 

[captrajesh]

I agree, there are bound to be disappointments due to omissions & commissions.hyeah:

Going by the link, the ranking of products and companies are as under: -

Most voted products in the descending order.
I - Dynaco ST70 - 8 votes
II - Phase Linear 700 & Accoustic Research D150 - 5 votes each
III - Mcintosh MC 275, Mark Levinson ML2 & Phase Linear 400 - 4 votes each
IV - Marnatz 8B, Marantz 9 & NAD 3020 - 3 votes each
V - Cary Audio CAD 805, Threshold 400A, Quad 303, Krell KSA100, Krell KSA50 & Conrad Johnson Premier One - 2 votes each

Mosted voted companies in descending order
I - Accoustic Research - 10 votes for 4 products
II - Phase Linear - 9 votes for 2 products
III - Dynaco - 8 votes for 1 product
IV - Mcintosh & Marantz - 6 votes each for 3 & 2 products respectively
V - Krell, Mark Levinson & NAD - 4 votes each for 2, 1 & 2 products respectively
VI - Conrad Johnson & Threshold - 3 votes for 3 products each.

 

[hifiashok]

will need to heavily lean on the demographic of the selection.

 

[keith_correa]

Significant != Best

 

[Hiten]

I agree, there are bound to be disappointments due to omissions & commissions.hyeah:

hehe good one.

But if you notice most of the amps had something new to offer. That's why they were on the list. New ideas, new topology. for ex. there is a mention of nad 3020 which used power envelop.

 

[captrajesh]

if you notice most of the amps had something new to offer. That's why they were on the list. New ideas, new topology. for ex. there is a mention of nad 3020 which used power envelop.

Yes, that is a very good point.:thumbsup:

 

[longshanks]

hehe good one.

But if you notice most of the amps had something new to offer. That's why they were on the list. New ideas, new topology. for ex. there is a mention of nad 3020 which used power envelop.

So only those amplifier in the list had something new to offer? i don't think so.

Lavardin had new things to offer and their design was nothing like what already existed and the same with 47 lab designs and the same can be said for many other designers and manufacturers.

Lavardin Technologies - distorsion de memoire

Amplifier

 

[Hiten]

Bro Of course there are many innovative topologies/ideas that's why I said most of the amplifier.
regds.

 

[manojrc]

Makes for an interesting read

Thanks, for the link !

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Is it all about expensive amplifiers?

 

[captrajesh]

Is it all about expensive amplifiers?

There is an old saying All good things in life are either expensive, prohibited or belong to someone else. In this case, all three things appear to hold good.:sad:

 

[Rajiv]

Is it all about expensive amplifiers?

Hi,

No, the Dynaco ST70 which got the maximum votes(8 votes)
was a budget product.

It sold for around $90,when it was introduced,at that time similar amps from Mcintosh were around $200.

Even today a restored Dyna ST70 will better several newer and more expensive amps.

The current prices for new Dynaco amps are also not very expensive.

Product Detail: ST-70 KIT (240 VAC)

Ebay prices for good old Dynaco ST70's are around $350--500 depending on condition/restoration done.

Regards
Rajiv

 

[jls001]

There is an old saying All good things in life are either expensive, prohibited or belong to someone else. In this case, all three things appear to hold good.:sad:

A variation of this theme is: all good things in life are either illegal, immoral or fattening

 

[trittya]

A variation of this theme is: all good things in life are either illegal, immoral or fattening

(to complete this) or married to someone else. . . .

Hi Capt Rajesh Sir
Thanks for the link
Could you pm me me your mob No and hifiashok's too? Lost my handset and my backup was not so recent. Regards

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

There is an old saying All good things in life are either expensive, prohibited or belong to someone else. In this case, all three things appear to hold good.:sad:

:lol:

But what where the amps that started making hifi, if not affordable, at least available to more than a few? That was a very significant thing indeed.

 

[captrajesh]

Could you pm me me your mob No and hifiashok's too?

I would love to interact him but don't have his contact details.

 

[GeorgeO]

Yes Rajiv's point is correct. Even now used Dynaco ST 70s are very popular in the US-including tweaked or restored ones. There's also a large number of EL 34 amps that owe their design philosophy to the ST 70.

 

[trittya]

I would love to interact him but don't have his contact details.

Sir It just occurred to me that it would be there in my pm inbox. Have sent you his biz card.