My BIG-LOTTERY amplfier(s)

[Feanor]

JohnMichael asked us what we'd like for you dream speakers which I though was a great idea.

So to complement that excellent exercise I though we might consider what would be our dream amplifier (or amplifiers if mono) you would like to go along with the speakers.

To kick it off, I've come up with a couple of options for myself:



Pass Laboratories XA100.8 monobloc pair, (100 wpc Class A), or
Vitus Audio SM-101 monobloc pair, (100 wpc Class A).


Pass Labs XA100.8 mono ...
https://passlabs.com/images/uploads/Product_images/288/xa100.8_banner__large.jpg

Vitus SM-101 mono ...
http://www.vitusaudio.com/files/4405/gallery/16420/large/193032.jpg

[blackraven]

I have not heard either of these amps but I would like to have the Pass Labs Xs-300

https://passlabs.com/products/amplifiers/xs


this D'Agostino Momentum Mono block

D'Agostino | Master Audio Systems | Extraordinary New Creations from the World's Most Famous High-end Audio Designer (http://www.dagostinoinc.com/)

I would have to consider a high end tube amp like this Atma Sphere-

Atma-Sphere (http://www.atma-sphere.com/Products/#MA-3)

Tough decision

[Jack in Wilmington]

I heard these once at my local shop. They had them driving a pair of Sonus Faber's (don't remember the model) and it was the first time that I really appreciated the SF's. Before they had always sounded lifeless and veiled. My dealer had them in for a demo, along with ARC to see which one they wanted to carry. They wound up selling ARC. This is the MB 450 series III signature mono block.

9655

[Hyfi]

My exotic selection would be the $200K Dynaudio Arbitur Mono Blocks along with the Arbitur Pre to drive Consequence Speakers. I have heard this whole setup.

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/hk06/dynaudioamp.jpg

http://audiotrakt.at.ua/DynaudioConsequ/Dynaudio_Consequence_Ultimate_Edition-2-.jpg

[Feanor]

I have not heard either of these amps but I would like to have the Pass Labs Xs-300

https://passlabs.com/products/amplifiers/xs


this D'Agostino Momentum Mono block

D'Agostino | Master Audio Systems | Extraordinary New Creations from the World's Most Famous High-end Audio Designer (http://www.dagostinoinc.com/)

I would have to consider a high end tube amp like this Atma Sphere-

Atma-Sphere (http://www.atma-sphere.com/Products/#MA-3)

Tough decision

The D'Agostinos are gorgeous lookers to say the least; (those side panels are solid copper) ...

http://www.dagostinoinc.com/images/press-2.jpg

The Pass Xs300 is no doubt terrific but a bit over the top, (at $85,000/pr), for my humble requirement. The XA100.8's are a paltry $19,300/pr.

They might sound great but personally I will (i.e. would if I won a big one :smile5:) avoid tube power amps.

[blackraven]

The D'Agostinos are gorgeous lookers to say the least; (those side panels are solid copper) ...

http://www.dagostinoinc.com/images/press-2.jpg

The Pass Xs300 is no doubt terrific but a bit over the top, (at $85,000/pr), for my humble requirement. The XA100.8's are a paltry $19,300/pr.

They might sound great but personally I will (i.e. would if I won a big one :smile5:) avoid tube power amps.


I thought that we were talking about our big lottery power amps. Money is no object when you are worth 100 million.

[Hyfi]

I thought that we were talking about our big lottery power amps. Money is no object when you are worth 100 million.

I heard the Canadian Lottery does not pay out too well :)

[Feanor]

I heard the Canadian Lottery does not pay out too well :)
Ha! Well maybe so -- no $100M lotteries anyway.

But even if I had, I'm still inclined to think I'd put some limit on my expenditure. Is there a practical limit somewhere even you had a billion dollars?

Dunno about the "cheap" Pass XA100.8 specifically, but John Atkinson at S'phile said that the XA60.5 was the "best-sounding amplifier I've ever used". I dare say he's used a few.

[Feanor]

I thought that we were talking about our big lottery power amps. Money is no object when you are worth 100 million.
So fair enough. I guess if I had a 25' x 40' x 18' listening room and, say, Wilson Alexandria XLR's, I'd want something more that a paltry pair of Pass XA100.8's. Say maybe a pair of ...

MBL 9011 monoblocs, ($106,000). Parenthetically John Atkinson say that the model down, the 9007's measured performance was about the best he'd ever measured.

http://www.openaudio.co.kr/review/20080827/MBL_9011.jpg ... each monobloc weighs 223 lbs.


Or I could concede to you, Blackraven, and go for the Pass Xs300's -- 298 lbs/side in two pieces.

http://www.tonepublications.com/media/139.jpg

[JohnMichael]

The D'Agostinos are gorgeous lookers to say the least; (those side panels are solid copper) ...

http://www.dagostinoinc.com/images/press-2.jpg

The Pass Xs300 is no doubt terrific but a bit over the top, (at $85,000/pr), for my humble requirement. The XA100.8's are a paltry $19,300/pr.

They might sound great but personally I will (i.e. would if I won a big one :smile5:) avoid tube power amps.

Yes I will take two of Dan's mono amps and matching preamp. I find them beautiful and Michael Fremer's review mentioned they are one of the two best amps available.