Dynamic amps: Top 10

[Ben Gramain]

So many pretty (or not so pretty but just BIG) boxes out now that it is hard to know what to get. I am contemplating a partial return to dynamics. What are the top ten hubbub-causing high-end dynamic amps?

[tkam]

looking at the very top i'd probably say dynahi/dynamight, sds/sds-xlr and the zana deux (assuming a small run of those does get made)

[mjg]

SDS (xlr or non)

blockhead

that's the bottom line if u ask me. there are some others, but you asked for the best.

[Ben Gramain]

Top *10*

Balanced, unbalanced, no matter. Just as long as I don't have to buy the cables from Moon Audio

[tkam]

Just as long as I don't have to buy the cables from Moon Audio

Haha

[mjg]

ray samuels entire line.

nothing can compare.

if you disagree, your banned.

pretzels.

[Dusty Chalk]

Off the top of my head, of what I've heard:

Singlepower SDS-XLR

Singlepower SDS

Singlepower Supra

Singlepower Maestro

Headroom "Blockhead" (Max Balanced)

Headroom Max

Headamp Gilmore Reference

Headamp Gilmore Balanced Reference

Cary 300SEI

Cary SLI80

also-rans:

Wheatfield HA-2

AudioValve RKV

Earmax Pro

E.A.R./Yoshino HP4

I listen to this one the most, despite having access (or having had access) to one or more of the above:

Radii HAP-02

Completely under-rated, simple little design:

Creek OBH-12SE

MJG is a liar and a dirty monkey. He should refrain from drinking and posting. And he keeps using "your" when he should be using "you're". Annoys the impotence into me.

My banned, indeed.

[mjg]

MJG is a liar and a dirty monkey. He should refrain from drinking and posting. And he keeps using "your" when he should be using "you're". Annoys the impotence into me.

atleast i don't eat my own poo.

(but you do !)

[Dusty Chalk]

atleast i don't eat my own poo.

(but you do !)

I do not eat your own poo! Despite your constant flinging of it at me, you...you...dirty monkey boy!

[mjg]

I do not eat your own poo! Despite your constant flinging of it at me, you...you...dirty monkey boy!

it's you're, not your!

yes i am a dirty monkey boy.

[Dusty Chalk]

it's you're, not your!

Nnoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!1! You'reYour presistent illogic prevails, I'm melting, I'm melting...

It's "urine", as in "urine a heap o' trouble, boy".

And we should probably stop pooflingingthreadcrapping.

[mjg]

Nnoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!1! You'reYour presistent illogic prevails, I'm melting, I'm melting...

It's "urine", as in "urine a heap o' trouble, boy".

And we should probably stop pooflingingthreadcrapping.

hahahaha

stop changing your avatar every 3 seconds.

i'll leave the thread alone, i'll go be a dirty monkey boy somewhere else.

[Ben Gramain]

Consider the thread truly crapped upon. I bow to your superior flinging abilities.

[Guest sacd lover]

Add this one ..... the Supra 392.

[mjg]

sorry i messed your thread up.

earl, yer old style supra looks hawt.

[Dusty Chalk]

Add this one ..... the Supra 392.

Just out of curiosity, why "392"?

And on another note, yours looks exactly like mine -- fingerprints and all.

[Guest sacd lover]

Just out of curiosity, why "392"?

And on another note, yours looks exactly like mine -- fingerprints and all.

I had the amp modded to run at 392 volts on the two output tube positions to optimize for the 6bxl7gt or 6bl7gt tubes. I also had the 12 volt option added to this amp and I can use 12sn7gta's (which can handle 450 volts on the plate) for the outputs at 12 volts. The 6bx7gt's sound best with the 701's and the 12 volt tubes like the senn 600's .... so far. But I am still experimenting with driver tubes.

Yeah ... I need to clean those fingerprints up. The amp was all shined up before I sent it in.

[Guest sacd lover]

is that the supra x, earl?

Nope its the regular Supra. I have other plans for the Supra-X.

[Grand Enigma]

My rig sounds perfect to me

[bhd812]

So many pretty (or not so pretty but just BIG) boxes out now that it is hard to know what to get. I am contemplating a partial return to dynamics. What are the top ten hubbub-causing high-end dynamic amps?

Well if you want just the big case to make up for the small size in your pants then go sds-xlr...

I asked Mikhail at the Chicago Meet why he put the amp in such a big case..

"cause My customers want A big case.."

that's a better answer then I could of thought of..But its true..it holds to the SP way, as in Give the customer anything they want..(regardless if its a sonic purpose).

I never heard one (hopefully one day) so I am not saying its not the best, for the cost and the place in the SP line I believe fully it could/should.

Not sure if I can call a top ten but the top two amps that should share one spot is the HR2/RAptor (my hr2..only mine..modded).

the HR (balanced max I think?) big momma..either know I can not stand the HR sound (its just me, regardless of my personal taste I respect its sound)..

The rkv amp I heard should be on there but sharing the same spot with the Wheatfield..(tuberoller's model..with grados)

then again now that I think about it..the maddest should be listed with headphones also...

Like for me the rs-1 natural born amp is the sr-71...(just the rite combo to me, I explained it many times on headfi..so search why)

ok now back to our regular scheduled Gilmore/single power cock sucking and Ray Bashing this forum is becoming known for...

Are fuck Ray...lol

[kevin gilmore]

Please billy tell us how you really feel...

[mjg]

ok now back to our regular scheduled Gilmore/single power cock sucking and Ray Bashing this forum is becoming known for...

Are fuck Ray...lol

no... we are known for cursing. now stop fucking bitching. btw i own a hornet and like it u sloppy slut.

[Ben Gramain]

Muhahahahaha

Rather like Xin (but treading a different path), I have every confidence in KG's abilities as a guy who places his own priorities for what makes an amp above anyone else's... and I don't mean that in any weird way (well, not too weird a way ). It just means you have full conviction in what you do.

I think for what they are, RS's amps are a tad overpriced... if you don't look at the cast-iron build quality. If you put the amp topology aside for a moment, they are really quality items to a standard that many other 'semi-pro' manufacturers can't quite match, no matter how carefully it's done. In terms of basic build quality and a sense of what makes something look like a premium piece of kit, I think Ray Samuels and Headroom are way out there. It's a small difference really in the process, but it makes a definite difference when the box arrives on your doorstep. His amps are not perhaps the best in the respective price bracket, but neither is it the worst... and they are definitely without question the best built.

I had a Max in for a while for example. While objectively speaking in a purely sonic front it can be bested by other DIY amp efforts, it just looks and feels like it's in a totally different league. It's my supposition that how something feels and looks does have a bearing on how something sounds to you on a casual basis, provided it doesn't suck... and none of the amps we're discussing here, I believe sucks in an absolute way.

I think the 'best' amp should offer both a visual and sonic confirmation of it's intentions. This is a potential customer speaking, not a 'tyre-kicker'. Call me weird, call me suckered, I think RS's output can stand well alongside any of KG's efforts... because KG only provides 50% of the picture.

Being from the East, I can fully agree with the maxim "Size isn't everything... It's all in the execution"

[Ben Gramain]

And oh yeah... what the fuck is up with the fucking fucks? It's like being in the fucking back of a fucking school bus.

[boodi]

I've not liked 1 RS amp up to now .

Had the hr-2 ( colour ) the xp-7 ( colour , unrefined ) the hornet ( didn't make it , didn't live at all up to the hype to my ears , returned after burn in )