Audiophiles! Are you ready to buy your last amplifier?
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
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I'm just here for your amazing shirt selection Steve.
you all probably dont give a shit but does someone know a tool to log back into an instagram account??
I was stupid forgot my account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me.
@Ezekiel Franklin Instablaster :)
@Kash Nicholas Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process now.
I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Kash Nicholas It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thank you so much you really help me out :D
@Ezekiel Franklin no problem :)
1978 I purchased my last receiver.
It was a Pioneer
SX - 1080. During the receiver wars of the 70s. Got it new in the box I forgot the exact amount but I'm sure it was under $500.00
120 watts per channel Rms. 45 years later I'm still using it. Never had to have it serviced or repaired. A few years later I came across a deal on a new Carver amplifier. The way Pioneer configured this receiver it had two metal pins in the back that bridge these four RCA connections. When removed I was able to use the Pioneer as a tuner / preamplifier. Running the Carver Through It. I had no idea when I purchased it that it had that capability.
The Carver is 500 watts Rms per channel . I had no problem blowing speakers over the years. Not from clipping / distortion but by my need for playing certain types of music at ridiculous levels and melting voice coils. Not until a club went out of business I was able to grab 2 Cerwin Vega DJ speakers.
That I was not able to destroy. Each speaker had 2 15inch woofers, 1 4x10 midrange horn and 5 tweeters. Carpeted in black with handles and wheels for moving around.
Not the most accurate speakers in the world but great for cranking it way up. Later on I needed to get 2 Klipsch RF 7 for playing music at moderate to low levels. These DJ speakers were not sensitive . I still have everything that I purchased just added more to the system over the years.
I'm 70 years old and into stereo since i was 17 years old had many systems from power A to Power A/B plus tubes and finally made a jump into Power D with the NAD C388 and never looked back beside that the unit can be updated and upgraded it has a 90% efficiency and runs cool it has plenty of power and controls my Dynaudio very well it will be my final amp
Hey Roland!
I'm turning 70 in November! Hey brother! Who would have thunk that a 70 year old would be a pier and compadre of the 60's ?
Too soon and too fast but here we are!
Question:
I'm getting:
My speakers will be the FOCAL Electra 1038 Be's
MC275 Amp (seems everybody's ga-ga over this thing. But at only 75 Wpc, I'm hoping that it will 'Do'.)
MC 2200 Preamp
MC 85 Tuner
What are your thoughts to a "New-B'?
I am 55 and I have a CBEE 325? I think NAD amp, I love it! 45 watts per channel at 8 ohms ( I am running Infinity RS4B twin 8 speakers and for me right now I think could be my last amp speaker combo so at around 3 ohms load it's putting out around 100 watts per channel) I love the sound and the power, what more can you ask for?
@@kenmarchlenski4477 The MC 275 should be more thane enough power for your Focals.
75 Watts into 93 dB of sensitivity, will give an output at 10 feet (3 Meters) of 105 dB
and an output at 3 feet (1 Meter) of 116 dB.
@@Mr._1987
Thanks James!
Means a lot to hear from you and others!
Hi Ken as some guys mention already you have more power then you need your speakers have around 92 sensitivity will be easy for your amp to drive them
I will pledge here and now to support the audio industry as long as I’m drawing breath.
It would be great to hear your thoughts on what the "last speaker/amp combo" would be in several broad categories, i.e. Class A and rock, tubes and jazz, etc.
My thoughts exactly! Last system!
Yes, please make this a series of videos.
Partly thanks to you, I'm getting a Pass Labs amp for Xmas this year. It will be connected to my Belle Klipsch speakers. Can't wait!! Don't know about my last, but it will certainly be the best I've owned.
Great investment. Enjoy and let us know how the experience was for you for us.
This video is you at your best Steve. Sharing your wide ranging experience and just speaking what comes into your mind on a thought provoking topic.
I’ve 40 years in this hobby. Mainly a vinyl listener. Last year I bought my last speakers: Martin Logan Summits. Last month I bought my last amp: A Willsenton R8. I listen to jazz primarily and not real loud so the volume level is perfect!
IDK, I’ll never get over listening to the McIntosh/Klipschorn combo in the Jazz Coffee, Kyoto, Japan. Amazing.
My goal is to build a house that has at least 5 separate dedicated listening rooms, each setup to optimize a specific category of music. For example, a Jazz room, a rock room, a Electronic room, etc. This would allow for one to enjoy different venues so to speak in the comfort for their own home on different days of the week. :)
What exact music genres would you dedicate each room to?
Hifi is SO COMPLICATED !!!
Who can say this is the end ?
Sometimes I'm surprise too ear music from stuff I was not expecting anything... and some super expensive system leave me hungry. It happens all the time... Simplicity give better results in many occasion, even if it's impossible to upgrade.
Hifi is so delicate... you need a perfect match if you go separate.
At home, some day my system sound great, and some day it sounds just normal. Why ? I don't know... even if I think it's probably me...
A few months ago I bought my last pair of speakers/amp/pre/dac/table. I am going into semi-retirement and knew I wouldn't have the financial ability in the future. I needed to upgrade (donate to my daughter) my stereo system from the 90's that has served me well since I left the Audio sales business.
The Amplifiers: PrimaLuna Evolution 400 Monoblocks (GoldenEar Triton Reference have 1800 watts built in for the subwoofers)
Steve, my last amplifier is a pair of Cary 211/M Anniversary Edition Tube Amps. Each has 70 watts output class A, driven by some big arse 845 power triodes. I am 58 years of age and finally settled on what I consider to be one of the best the amps on the market
On Saturday a pair of klipsch rp 600m showed up at my house. Pairing them with my NAD C316 BEE is simply MAGICAL! I may already have the last power amp and speaker pair that I'll ever buy.
I LOVE NAD amps, I have a NAD C325 BEE 45 watt amp with a pair of Infinity RS4B speakers. I would not trade it for anything!!
the mc275 is a great example of a last amplifier. Its versatility and its sound while not perfect, does so many things right that its just a great amplifier and value for that matter, no doubt about it.
I am in my 60's And I just bought a Rogue Sphinx, I am vary happy with it because I can roll the tubes in the front end.
And I hope you love it cause it's on my short list...
I think the idea of having your last amp/ speaker combination is absolutely valid and possible IF you are of a certain age and experience. Its a bit like wine. yes, I like to try other wines and experience new things but at the end of the day I have enough experience that I know exactly what wine I will go to the store a spend real money on. For me, I am not there yet as I have been side tracked with home theater for a while but lately I have been getting the itch to build an audio only setup with vintage speakers and amps. For some reason I have not been able to get the Carver amazing loudspeakers out of my mind. I recalled them as being the best speakers I had ever heard from back in the day and I heard them again a couple years ago at a local vintage shop and sure enough I loved them again! I need to get out more and sit down with some other newer brands just to make sure.
Hi Steve and fellow lovers of music. Love the channel and content. RUclips was made for guys like you. After reading many reviews over the year it's great to see the personality behind those reviews. Very entertaining and enlightening. On this subject I feel I've probably already got my last amps. Bought Musical Fidelity A308 Pre and 2 x Pwr and had them over 15yrs. Paid about £6000 at the time. Needed lots of power (watts and current) to drive MartinLogan Ascents and for the last few years B&W 802D's. Recently had to have them serviced at a not insubstantial cost of £1600 so hopefully they'll last me a good while yet.
I was bitten by the Hi-Fi bug in my early teens. At 68, I've finally reached my audio nirvana. My system; a Sony HAPZ1ES media player buffered through a iFi Micro iTube 2 and feeding a Vincent SV 237MK hybrid integrated amp. Final bliss is furnished via a pair of bi wired Klipsch Cornwall lll's. Steve's video on the Cornwall lV's was tempting, but I have decided I am content to put this journey to rest and just enjoy my system.
congrats!
Peace 🕊
This might be weird but I love the way you look and dress. Super stylish and with lots of personality. I get a 60's vibe that I really dig but with a modern twist and thats killer.
Wow, Steve , I couldn't take my eyes off your shirt on this episode. Talk about vintage !
He's still wearing the last shirt he ever purchased 1968.🤣
Since I have chosen my last speaker (Altec 604 8g's) by default I have chosen my last amplifier. I started with a vintage Classe DR-2 but quickly obtained a custom SET with 45 output tubes. Wow, what a change in the overall juice or musical presentation. I then decided to take a plunge and order a Yamamoto A-08s SET also with 45 output tubes. This amplifier puts out a whopping 1.75-2.0 watts of pure SET pleasure. My listening room is 18 feet by 35 feet and no visitor has commented that there was a need to more power. It took a while to received the amplifier. It was a purchase based on blind faith since they are somewhat rare to find in the US. I am so happy with with my choice and I can truthfully say that this amplifier will be with me on the trip on the grand golden escalator.
Due to the combination of my curiosity and the enormity of choices and reviews, I will never have my last system.
Same here.
I really love your videos... you love music!
I've been into semi high end audio since to 70s, had several fine amps, just ordered my last amp, a McIntosh MC275 MkV.
Thanks for all you do, Steve!
Fantastic! Thanks for watching
Hi Steve my wife and I have the Denon AVR-1000 receiver. From 1993 - 105Watt @ 4ohm.
A very very good product with 1st class components; and naturally made in Japan.
I'm a bloody noob in DIY, and I built a pair of Standing 2.5-way fully activated Speakers with two 5" Mid/Bass and one 1" Softdome. Each Box got three 25W LM1875. One Amp for each Chassis. For down below I built a 45l closed 12" Subwoofer driven by two paralleld TDA7293 with about 170W. My PC is Player DSP and Active Xover. No Kit, no plans, just Information from the Net!
My last amplifier is the Rotel RA 1592 purchased in October 2019. This integrated amp plus the KEF R3. I'm very satisfied!
So much good information Steve! I think sound quality is subjective, and different people have different tastes, as well as different hearing, etc. So each person can use your experience to make the best choices for them
I have been listening to my solid-state amp (Electrocompaniet ECI 3) for past 20 years & thought have enjoyed the best of music.
Till I brought in this tube amp (Reisong A10) highly recommended by Steve.
I am amazed by it as it gives me a whole new experiences of music listening.
Yes, this would be my last amp till my hearing fade away!
Okay, I'll go there, lol. I have a NAD C 325bee amp (45 watts per channel) driving a pair of Infinity RS4B speakers with a Bluray player for cd with a Schitt audio Modi DAC, and a little bear tube buffered preamp for my Technics SL1900 turntable and a Yamaha Dual cassette deck (which I barely use) as my complete system and I know there are a lot of systems that probably blow it away but I love the sound, so, for now, this is the last setup...until I change it, lol. Great video!! Thanks for the upload!!
I have my last amplifiers - a pair of vintage Harman Kardon Citation II amplifiers strapped for mono. This gives me 120 watts per channel with a matched octet of Gold Lyon KT88 tubes driving a pair of Acoustat Monitor IV electrostatic speakers. I'm happy! 😎👍 Cheers - Luther
I’m waiting on Doc Brown’s Flux Capacitor so I can have an amp with 1.21 gigawatts. 😂
😀
I hear it won’t play anything after 1958!
I'm 51 years old and about 10 years ago I purchased an HK 3490 receiver not realizing it might be the last piece of Hi-Fi componentry I would ever buy, but that's what it's turned out to be. Barring a breakdown or hitting the lottery, I can't see myself ever justifying an upgrade. It sounds fantastic, it still looks contemporary, and I paid $99 for it. I can honestly say that if I spent ten times as much, possibly a hundred times as much, any sonic improvements would be arguable.
I agree.
@@tommyheron464 I should also note that at the same time I bought a pair of Infinity Primus P362 (slightly dumbed-downed Revels) which similarly have served me very well. I don't have a "listening room" or a conservatory, I have a living room and I have neighbors, and at normal, everyday listening levels, they do everything I need, and I paid $200 for the pair.
I'll be the first to admit that if I hit the lottery or invent the next great thing, I'd probably treat myself to some McIntosh gear and a new pair of Ohm Walshs, but I don't need them.
Sensible unlike %99 of "audiophiles". Room treatment is absolutely paramount when buying a "hi-fi, hi-res" system. If your room is shit then doesn't matter how much you spend on the system. I recently purchased the flagship KRK V8s active for £900, Raga 1 turntable £280, Raga phono stage £100, fiio DAC for TV/blueray/streaming etc £20.
£1300. I wasn't happy??
Then i spent £50 on sound diffusers. Sounds amazing now. I know a £50 component wouldn't have made a difference at that point.
@@tommyheron464 ...also bought a HK DVD48 SACD (and HD-CD 🤪) player for $37 from the same Harman Outlet eBay store. I also bought a HK PS210 subwoofer for $103, but it was a lemon. Since then I've added a $20 Bluetooth receiver to kinda bring it up to date a bit.
@@tommyheron464 The room is (almost) everything. I should also note that I'm often listening to old, imperfect recordings, many hideously so, so what's the point, you know? I'm listening to these recordings in a better way than most of the original engineers mixing them did, or when they were digitally remastered for CDs, or re-remastered for SACD, and re-re-remastered for a 50th anniversary re-released box-set.
I think some of us would like you to review more powered speakers! Two reasons - first of all we trust you, and secondly we may not have lots of space or expendable income. You make a REALLY good point about having the matching of amplifier and drivers, etc. already being done for you. I can’t express how small of a space I live in, so the space savings of active speakers would REALLY be great for me. And. while all of this mixing and matching is fun, it´s getting expensive. I just don’t want to go about buying a set, or an amp-passive speaker set-up, then find out that it doesn’t work for me, regret it and have to spend more money to upgrade or replace. I’d, at least, love to know which companies are doing a good job at matching amps to drivers and other hardware in powered speakers? It’s not because I don’t enjoy what the search for a quality set up involves, again, like you said - I’m older now, and I’m just ready to stop chasing the sound so hard and just find a really nice sounding set-up that I can afford and that works in my space!
I have bought my last amplifier for sure. Gryphon Diablo 120.
There's no end man! Too many different things to try but I'll never replace my Sansui 9900Z. Makes every speaker sound great!
I’m building a super hybrid 80w amp. It has matched bipolar junction transistor input stage, matched triode configured pentode value mid stage and complimentary MOSFET output stage. I’ve added DC heater supply and both the main and heater transformers are toroidal. My friend and I also designed/build single elliptical driver transmission line speakers. I originally build one in 1993 and having been gifted a turntable for Christmas by my wife - I thought I’d build a new one. I do have a Sonos system but feel a pure stereo setup will do the music more justice. Oh and I’m adding a Raspberry Pi running Volumio to play my ripped CDs from my NAS.
I bought the last amp for the rest of my life 20 years ago and I knew it then, that I wouldn't be buying another amp after getting a brand new (then) McIntosh MC 602 with recently adding an OPPO Blu Ray player as a preamp for 2 channel and 7.1 decoding for movies. Then I added a McIntosh 151 for movies also, didn't need it but got a good deal on a used one and it looks and sounds fantastic with a McIntosh 7205 5X200w.
This is the finest system I've ever had after a lifetime of building them. I'm done after adding lot's of Wire World cables, at this level, they make a huge difference. Anyone that says wires don't make a difference simply doesn't have high end equipment to take advantage of them or haven't tried WW cables or their ears are shot, all three of those things are common. Also, GIK acoustical panels can change your world too but don't buy any of those until you educate yourself so you know when to use a defuser or absorber, huge difference in acoustics.
Hi Steve, enjoying your channel! My experience is that everything made these days doesn't last long enough to be my last anything. My last two AVRs started having issues with dead HDMI ports after 2 or 3 years. One of my dynaudio speakers has major distortion, not sure if that is the output from the AVR or the speaker itself. My audioengine speakers for my computer died after 18 months (failed internal power supply) and had to be replaced. I'm not young, but my impression is that things made today just aren't made to last, and I plan to be around for another couple of decades. You and many other youtubers provide great reviews of how equipment works when new, but I haven't found anyone using things for 5 or 10 years and then reviewing how the equipment worked over that long time period. That would be really helpful for people wanting to buy their "last" speaker, amplifier, etc - but there's very limited data to support those trying to do this.
David UWP well said
I'm in my early 60's and am perfectly happy listening to my Prima Luna Dialogue HP and Klipsch Heritage Cornwalls for the rest of my life. I've also cut way back on buying physical media and really enjoy streaming on Tidal, Qobuz and Amazon HD using a Bluesound Node 2i. Keeping it simple works for me.
Prima Luna 🥰
Why?
A daisy chained SET tests higher then a prima luna...
That's not smart money
Musical Paradise
I found with the system I have now, any speakers I have hooked up sound good. I listen fairly quietly but 600 watts per channel works well at low levels. Some people will never understand that.
😳😬🤩🤦♀️
So to put things into perspective, I’m 66 and recently retired. I’m so close to pulling the trigger on the Schiit Aegir. I own a pair of efficient speakers (Zu and my last) and I’ve always wanted a class A amp but financially they’ve been way outside of my budget..... until now. I’ve fed my speakers D, AB and AB tube amps but I’m hoping for the ideal match with the Aegir amp. Won’t know until I buy one for a test drive. Btw, real world cost for the Aegir is $1K when you include tax and shipping. Would be interested in hearing from any Aegir owners out there.
I don't know about the Aegir but, I have the Freya+ feeding a pair of monoblocked Vidars then into a pair of Klipsch RP-6000F speakers and SVS SB2000 sub and, at 64, I believe I have found my last system. I also have their Mani phono preamp and their Loki tone control. I spent my younger years around diesel engine noise so my hearing, not being what it once was, benefits from the Loki quite a bit. Schiit audio, at their price point have, in my opinion, great products.
Save your money, get yourself a kickass pair of headphones - the rate things are going, you're young enough to probably see the the world go to shit sooner than later
Eric Younghans, the Aegir is very tempting indeed. I’m using a single Vidar with a retubed Freya preamp driving efficient Tekton Double Impact speakers. Extremely satisfying SQ. I’m not sure if the Aegir would be enough of an improvement to justify changing the amp. In my case, tube rolling offer significant changes in my system.
Have you looked at Sugden Audio? I own an old A21a which I will NEVER sell!
@@ShadowPoet While headphones have a place in audio, they can not reproduce the low frequencies in the same manner as speakers. I like to feel the bass drum in orchestral music and the low register of a pipe organ. One does not get that same experience with headphones.
I have a couple of Carver amps running my 5.1 system
Sounds good enough to me
Sunfire 5.1 pre with my carver 200w amp pushing my Apogees... sweet sweet sound!
I think I’m there. Pass Labs XA30.8 paired with Spendor D7s. Gorgeous for jazz, acoustic, blues and Americana.
Well Steve I had the same experience 26 years ago when I bought my Conrad Johnson premier 11-A hooked up to modified Altec Lansing voice of the theaters ; Valencia. There is just no reason for me to improve any longer because nothing, even made today, sounds as good as what I already have at this price point. I think the key element here is at what price point do you finally throw in the towel and say enough is enough.
Steve described me perfectly. After a lifetime of modest systems, I took the DIY route as a craft and as a way to leap into a higher quality without the mega $.
They are tweakable. That was a source of fun for ten years. Now they are dialed and will be with me as long as I have the space for them. Luckily, I decided to buy a lifetime supply of NOS tubes before Russian sanctions drove the price 10x.
Love my amps. Great source of pride and listening pleasure.
They are BTW, 110W OTL monoblocks with 4x6C33C tubes per side. Employed Bruce Rozenblit's patent. Premium part throughout. Very powerful, dynamic, transparent with natural and engaging timbre.
That's very coincidental that you purchased "all the tubes you needed before they raise the prices" do you have ESP? I don't.
@@Mr.Robert1 No ESP. I knew the tubes sold for $5 a few years ago and were up to $18 when I built. Given they have not been made for 30 years the price could only go up. So any time I saw NOS 6C33C tubes for $20 or less I bought them. Today they are more like $60.
I guess I too have bought my last amplifier. It was a subwoofer amplifier so that I can use a subwoofer with my vintage (1970's) receiver and speakers. I really like the results.
No tubes for me, thanks. Way back in the 60's, when tubes were all that there was, I built a couple of amplifiers and was not impressed.
Lol...I have an old mono sub amp I bought in the early to mid 90s from Parts Express...Its so powerful the Police haven't stopped asking for demos going on 20+ years now.
I thought my Krell 400i would be my last amp. I then heard the Sugden signature a21se class a amplifier. Love it. I am 65. Greetings from Wales.
Fond memories of the Sugden A21. The specs weren't as good as its rivals, but the sound was to die for. I haven't heard one for decades and never could afford one back in the day (early 1970s).
Sugden is one of the really great names in audio. Congratulations.
I love their tag line - "Rescueing Music From Technology." That's just fantastic!
I am kind of searching for a tube amp to take me into my golden years. I have always dreamed of one and kind of at a place in my life I can finally pull the trigger.
I'm very happy with my old Bryston 7B Mono blocks driving my 801s.
The word Last takes all of the fun out of an enjoyable hobby.
Succinct, to the point! Love it!
I'm 69 and have bought my last power Amp. It's a Danish made OVC push pull tube Amp, 35 watts.
Yes, I believe that my Devialet D1000 Pro is going to stay here a looooong time following the 8 years done so far with half of it as a Devialet D-Premier/D250/D250 Pro. It's hard to beat in objective technical terms and sounds amazing to my ears. The simplicity of the set up is wonderful. Perfect elegance and not much to worry about as long as it's fed by clean power.
I purchased a new at the time Vincent SV 236 MK and now 6 years later have no desire to change it though I did decide to get a Luxman L 480 from 1979/80 because I enjoy these particular vintage amplifiers. It can be never ending no doubt but I will leave that to others because basically if it sounds good to you enjoying the music should become the priority. - I tube rolled the Vincent and settled on a 1960's Ten Kobe 12AX7 driver and a pair of early '60's Tungsram ECC83s for the left and right channel. Brought that integrated hybrid to life. Now I can spend money on records.
Devialet expert pro 250 with the Hyperion 968. Magic. Both purchased on canluckaudio used for $13000. Devialet has built in phono board and pre amp, and dac. , and can stream to it.all you need are speaker cables.
Good question... but very hard to answer. Even WORSE now days that there are many streaming, music sources, interfaces and widgets which have driven a WHOLE NEW direction for music. And many of those "features" are now becoming part of the AMP. My old house I had a lot of space to work with so I had a tube amp + preamp + DAC + Tuner + cd player (also record player and tape deck); and I had a lot of patience. New house is also smaller (we downsized for simplicity) so I needed best sound per cubic foot. My new system is 3 boxes and pair of bookshelf speakers. New house is a "smart house" so that means I have become addicted to "Alexa play my 80s party playlist in kitchen" or streaming TuneIn from an old city in my office. My wife also made me be honest to myself "when was the last time you played a record or a cassette tape?" And she was right... I ripped my favorite songs from my 2000+cd collection and listen to mp3s 75% of the time. The rest of the time it is Digital radio. It was a difficult decision between Rotel A14, NAD M10, Cambridge cxa81... finally I went with Marantz pm7000n. You may look down on that... but my Marantz is ONE box, USB for my mp3 database, cool remote app, sounds very good, Heos multi room, good digital inputs for my HD tuner and CD player and of course Alexa voice control.
Hi Steve, I am around the block .Casta Italian Horn Speakers . I have the B models . They were $6,000 new many decades ago. And now are $21,000 Wow, I will never get another Speaker. I have a fantastic Amp , Audiozen Alchemy Hybrid tube Amp with a separated linear 90watts power supply. Both have never stopped surprising me. Just get a new stand made for me at $1115 Candian, 3 Selves 2 “ thick birds eye maple 48” long 18” wide, and 30” tale. Next year I am looking for an integrated tube amp. Just love your show from here in Canada
Active vs. passive? As someone who purchased my first system as a college student in the early 1970s, I love actives! My first speakers were relatively massive ( for apartments), powered Advents. The were very well reviewed at the time, and were bi-amplified with four eighty watt amplifiers ( two per speaker). I also bought the Advent preamp/ FM Tuner, and a Bang and Olufsen turntable. I had it for thirty years! It worked well and brought endless musical enjoyment. It was around $1500 in 1973, I believe ( for everything). My 1973 VW Rabbit cost around $3,500, new. They are 6-7 times that now . So, that was like a $10,000 system today! For a college student, that was a huge amount of money. It was a very simple, excellent solution for me then. It could be again today.
However, I may be too much of an audiophile now. How so? It reminds me of body building! Years ago (late 70s, early 80s), I owned a chain of fitness centers. Nautilus ( a new equipment maker), had just come out with a futuristic line of massive, and multi-specialized weightlifting machines, along with a revolutionary training method. The promise was, you could get amazing strength gains in 2-3, 30 minute workouts per week! It actually worked. It was a very intense workout. However. You really could get great results. The problem? The body building community loved their long, complicated workouts( which were much lower intensity). They loved to hang out and talk with buddies, and endlessly tweak their routines! Sound like audiophiles? Most body builders would not even consider the Nautilus method! They were too attached to their way of body building. It was more like their identity. Many audiophiles are that way also, in my view. They love their expensive, time consuming, complicated systems, and the endless tweaking, conversations about it, and reading on the subject. Actives are a nonstarter, with many audiophiles! Too easy, simple and good. No tweaking, agonizing over choices, no reading about other options. That is their life!
I like high sensitivity full range speakers with low watts tube amp of great brand
I just wanted to get the nad c388 and every week, you keep making me want something better...Tannoy and tubes 🤣
I thought i bought my last amp ! The
Yammy AS-1100 bur still love my vintage
Sansui G-8000 monster reciever its a beast !
I am 63, and have been using my Carver CT-17 preamps/ tuner, TFM-45 and CB-15 for the last 29 years, and they sound phenomenal, with my Polk SDA 2.3’s The only component I would like to add, would be the PrimaLuna Evo400 integrated tube amp. I’m Happy.
My dream amplifier is a Macintosh. I know there are some that sound better to other ears but this is what I want. I had there top end car audio back in the day and I've always wanted a Big Macintosh for home use. That being said I agree with you and hold Levinson in good shape would be awesome
My friend tried to shame this Bryston set up with his MacIntosh stuff. I mean really? Then the Blue Jeans cables versus my DH Labs Air Matrix? Really? Well anyway then he went into his Wharfdale speakers vs. my Infinity Kappa 8s and I just shook my head.
@@JohnDoe-np3zk I have never listened to someone system and down it. I don't have a big wallet like some people and I know some people income are lower than mine. I get what you're saying. I have Yamaha equipment now and it is by far not the best I have had but it's what I have now
Yup the Mc 275 latest version is my last .. but it's paired with 96 db speakers
@@mzondi1970 well I still use my bought new Yamaha CR700 receiver as a tuner never been in the shop 45 years!!!!
@@copperheadviper7904 my speakers go to 0.8 ohms it is silly the Macs cant drive them
I have been playing this game for 50 years. Looking back and if I could have started over I would buy Mac tube amps and call it done. Quality and value for the money is priceless.
Come and see if my stereo shop has anything you like
www.hiendchina.com
I am fortunate to have found my last speakers in 1975. My KEF 104s were up against stiff competition back then especially from the big Klipschorns. Over the years I have only been confirmed in my choice.
The amplifier took me longer. Mostly that was because the receivers just could not ruin the KEFs. But I decided to build out a fully retro system and chose Marantz 1060 from 1975. A perfect match!
I think this was the first solid state item of its kind from Marantz. People talk about how this amp seems to mimic the sound of tube amps of the previous generation.
The pre amp in the 1060 is also mentioned as being a cut above because Marantz did not wish to spend money and time developing a separate pre amp for this release.
Finally, I am not a good customer to talk such things because I know what is good enough. One interesting observation is my speakers did not like the "Monster" cables I tried.
I can only assume the damping factor was chosen based on the light wires of the era. The big cables seemed to muddy things up. But everything seem complementary now.
I have an Adcom 5500 ampnwhichbI love ,I purchased it based on my favorable impression of an Adcom system a good friend who worked for the navel Ordnance station being a physicist who seemed to be very knowledgeable on all things technical. One day the neighbors way down the street were getting loud so He calmly put on his Stairway to Heaven cd cranked thru his Adcom system with Infiny Reference Six speakers it made me a believer in all things Adcom and Infinity so there..
I am fully prepared to buy my NEXT speaker.
I have a PrimaLuna tube amp and a solid state Parasound A21 bought them 4 o 5 years ago, "end game" amps to me in their respective categories. So that's all I need and what I'll have to the end of my days. :D
I love my Carver amps- 760x, 500x, 753x. They all sound smooth, natural, dynamic and powerful. These will be my last amps.
Intriguing. I'm leaning toward tubes and high efficiency, probably horns. That kit HR recommends appeals. I enjoy the approach, Steve, inherent in this instance.
YES I BOUGHT MY LAST AMPS LAST YEAR THREE PAIRS OF AUDIO POWER LABS 50TNT CLASS A TUBE AMPS PRICE RETAIL 47 500 DOLLARS A PAIR !!! TWO PAIRS OF AUDIO POWER LABS 833TNT CLASS A 200 WATTS PRICE RETAIL 175 000 DOLLARS A PAIR ! WITH THESE FABERGE WONDERS I FEEL SO RELAXED IN MY AUDIO WORLD IN NORWAY AND MARBELLA SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve I would love for you to show us your system and tell us why you like the components you currently have. Thanks!
Presented as a vid not for beginners but for advanced audiophiles who've been around the block, to my ears this vid was the opposite: an introductory overview of basic either/or questions facing the neophyte, choices that experienced audiophiles have made and remade for years -- and are now looking for "last" answers.
i love the retro look that is brushed silver and big VU metres dancing,but with the new digital inputs so its like a all in one jack of all trades but has a decent sound
Steve, I pulled the trigger on the OA RR2160. Ordered it today!
I want my old set-up transcriptor turntable with Ortofon MC20 cartridge, Sony ST4950 am/fm tuner, Yamaha CA-810, pre-amp and twin Luxman 6490 amps driving Dahlquist DQ-10s. Add in my old Revox reel to reel and I could die happy!
I have recently purchased my last Preamp and Mono Power Amp setup. I have PrimaLuna EVO 400 pre and power amps. After 40+ years of high-end audio I am completely satisfied. I will probably experiment with tubes at some point but the EL34's are pretty good. I have efficient speakers, Klipsch RF7III with dual REL S/5 SHO subs. It like the sound. I doubt I have bought my last speaker though.
I'm usually broke so I have never owned a really high-end amp. I am coming into some money soon, so I have decided to buy an amp from a company that I have admired since I was a teenager, McIntosh! I am going to buy the new Ma252 and because of my finances and listening habits I expect it to be my last amplifier. In fact, I told my local Mac dealer that this will be my "forever" amp and I feel pretty good about it. AVRs may come and go but for music I want my last amp to be McIntosh. Who knows? I may have money later down the line and I upgrade, but I may not so at least I checked off a bucket list item!
Already did -- Wells Audio Majestic integrated. . . one of those brands the big-name reviewers never mention. Funny how reviewers seem to get into habits of exclusively fixating upon certain brands, (often very expensive) which is fine if you've got an unlimited budget for fancy casework/audio jewelry but some of us have to be a lot more careful about how we invest our audio dollars and smaller, less well publicized brands can offer more bang for the buck.
Could you give a suggested list of what you think is really good but affordable equipment...... receiver type...... amp E Q and speakers...... that's my problem is I'm on a budget...... I'm looking something powerful
I'm definitely a fan of well made class D amps. They are efficient and are capable of driving really difficult speakers without breaking a sweat.
I kept expecting a recommendation from Steve Guttenberg :(
I should you photos of a McIntosh, he mentioned a McIntosh he talked about tubes in a positive way. Go with that. My advice is tubes for preamp and SS for power amp. Unless you have lots of money that get the new McIntosh 901's.
Last year I rolled the dice and purchased a Bel Canto Black EX power amp to drive a pair of Focal Sopra 2's. Within my suboptimal (highly reflective) listening space, it sounds great to my middle-aged ears.
Steve, amazing all you can expose and transmit. Thanks¡¡¡ By the way...your shirts are almost impressive like what all you know. I want one¡¡ or two¡ jajaj Saludos desde Chile
My last amplifier is Hegel H90 and speakers Sonus Faber Sonetto I and listening now to Keb' Mo' Just Like You.
HEGEL TRANSISTOR SHIT MADE IN CHINA YOU MUST BE JOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bought my last speakers (Sonus Faber Electa) and amp (Vacuum Tube Logic MB300s) 30 years ago, after a long search. So it was new then, but is now vintage. One tweeter blew last week but I have found a NOS replacement rather than to through the hassle of trying to find new speakers that matches the rest of my system so well.
Yes, two Simaudio Moon 400m monoblocks 400w/ch 8ohm 650w/ch 4 ohm, class A up to 10w/ch, powering my last EgglestonWorks Rosa speakers, DAC/preamp Audio Alchemy DDP1 with PS-5 power supply, SOtM sms-100 NAA, all have to be last, wife would divorce me! Keep of the great videos!
people should consider are you ready to buy your last power conditioner
I have Musical Fidelity A308CRs and they are really good. Supposedly a good compromise between valve and solid state. Powerful yet also very delicate.
My belief is that active is the way to go, but not using speakers with amps already attached. By using an active crossover and separate power amps. Then building your own speakers with no passive crossover networks.
Current can be more important then Watts I think. I have a rebuilt SUMO The Nine class A amp powering Magnepan 1.7i. It’s only about 120 watts into 4ohm. Plenty of headroom for me. Sounds good.
Steve since stumbling on your Channel a few months ago, I've come to understand the amounts of money, thousands of dollars for audio amplifies and speakers that I hand no idea existed. This is because I'm used to shopping for vintage used or reconditioned equipment of superb quality and specs. Sansui, Marantz, Pioneer, Sony, Yamaha. There run from a few hundred to at best low thousands for the really top spec equipment. Personally, I'm a Sansui Person and I love playing them through full-range speakers 15" and up with a decent midrange, horns and dome tweeters. I own 3 Sansui, two of which are Integrated AU GX99 mosfet with 160WRMS/C into 8 OHMs and THD as low as 0.001%, and wide-open frequency response. The other a low power Receiver of equal spec. I have the tuners, the 10 band per channel Equalizers and double Cassette Decks and CD multi-disc players. There is nothing that sounds better than a Sansui as far as I have heard, and I'm sure that better speakers would enhance its sound
Just bought my last amp! Parasound JC5. It's incredible!
Very nice enjoy 😍
I believe I already but that's a kinda. I have a Levinson 334 . It seems to drive many different speakers very well and I like the way it looks. So here is why I say kinda, I will admit I am not one of those audiophiles that will tell you " the only thing I care about is the music, I am a purist looking for perfection". I have been into this game since an early teenager am 43 now and have been in the "biz" most of my adult life. I from time to time like to tinker and try different things for fun. The Levinson is my main squeeze but I may want to play around with some medium sized tube mono blocks for awhile or maybe a diy kit like the ones offered by Nelson Pass to just have some fun, maybe stumble on something I may have missed. I am the audiophile that not only loves music but also loves the gear for multiple reasons including the way the stuff looks, interesting designs and cool brand backgrounds are some of the things that come into play. I may from even time to time pick up a piece from the past for nostalgia but my 334 is my power amp. Thanks Steve good topics.
Twenty years ago, I built what would be my last amplifier if I couldn't own more than one. A single ended triode using the 45 tube. It took me until just recently to make a speaker that was full range to match it, although I power it with three of these amps. The speaker uses Altec horns and drivers circa 1960.
klipsch active, not another box, no more cable, for modest, realistic taste......
not getting drogged by reviewers anymore,
but love to watch some, lots of fun. 💕👍
I don’t think I’m ready for my LAST amp but I found a good last for now amp that a suspect will serve me well for the next decade - the Rogue Audio Medusa which is an interesting blend of tube and class D. This gives the flexibility of tubes and power to spare for less efficient speakers like my Kef LS50s.
Steve, I’m ready to buy my last amplifier but my wallet says I’m not allowed.
Same
@@joshuajhoyt My Wallet said "Fuck you", too, so I read a few Sites on the Internet an now I'm building that stuff by myself. For example, the PTP Blok20 Amp sells for 2250€. Its stereo, so inside are two mono circuits with nice sounding LM1875 ChipAmps. One Mono Circuit costs about 8€/$. Ok, A big toroid is about 30€ the Case, some Jacks a good pot, all in all about 120€/$ max. > Sells for 2250€/$. I've built 2.5-way Standing Speakers with three LM1875 Circuit for each Box. Sounds great! And I'm a bloody noob.
@@Ostfriese777 you know more than me tho
@@loomnatinoscopers yep I would catch shit on fire and wouldn't work
I thought my last amp was a Carver MXR 130 " The Receiver " to go with my vintage Walsh 2 speakers until I got a Sunfire Ultimate receiver II for a good price on Ebay. This gave me a Bob Carver design with more headroom ( 200 vs 130 watts ) more features , better reliability, and even better sound.
44 and have been at this since 16. Passlabs 350.5 powering Magnepan 3.7. “Possibly” the last combo. Still considering ohm 2000 for diversity in the high power rig. Small rig is a no name 6W SET powering vintage 3a series master 2 speakers. Just as enjoyable with a very different presentation.
I have been into hifi since early 70's. I've built amplifiers, speakers and turntables. I've not bought high end or esoteric. New stuff I've had includes Pioneer SX950, Dynaco ST70, Marantz PM80. I've had KEF transmission lines and recently sold my KEF 104/2 which I bought new. My other half paid for a pair of second hand KEF R900 which I love. I added a Marantz PM8005 amplifier. Since then I bought a new pair of KEF R900 at a very good price when they were superseded. Considering I had my KEF104/2 for over 30 years and I'm 69 I think we're done.......unless I build an Elekit tu-8200r.
I’ve started getting into tube amps as I’m getting older