What's the cleanest amp between 75-125 watts per channel past or present

[nuttcase21 10+ year member]

Looking for opinions on the cleanest amplifier for an audiophile front stage that I could use in an upcoming build. Must be around 75-125 watts and have a high damping factor. I'm thinking an older Orion NT200 (I have 2 and swear by them). It has solid power, dampening over 1000, THD around .004%, and a perfectly flat response curve. Tell me your thoughts and opinions. Thanx guys.

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[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

That is a pretty wide open question, the list would be pretty long, and as far as I am concerned would have names like Sinfoni, DLS, Critical Mass (I know the haters are coming), BRAX, McIntosh, Zapco, Tru. you get the point.

I am personally a Critical Mass Junky, but the Sinfoni are screaming at me.

The NT's you have are the bomb though, I personally wouldn't give them up for the "benefits" of these others, not for the difference in $ to actual SQ.

Just my $0.02

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

There are thousands of amps past and present that do 75w+ per channel, 1% or less THD @ rated power, adequate damping and flat response 20-20k.

You're going to have to define your goals a little more precisely.

You haven't even stated how many channels you need........much less your budget, what features you'll need in the amplifier, etc........

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

Oh ****, squeak is in the house, and the OP is going to get schooled.

Don't worry, OP, my *** healed fairly quickly after squeak got done handing it to me!

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

my old school ADS amps were pretty clean...so are many of my amps...Pick something you like...the old school orions are really nice...I have several of those

 

[ampjunkielikeme 10+ year member]

i got a ppi promos450 for sale........clean as it gets...

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

i got a ppi promos450 for sale........clean as it gets...

not that there is an big difference in the real world but the promos 450 is not as clean as it gets! it is a nice amp, but your stretching a bit!

 

[Adnan 10+ year member]

anything from us amps orion and zapco

also the older jbls were great

 

[gunz4me 10+ year member]

The original Soundstream Reference 500 before all this S, SX, and rubicon BS started was pretty clean!

Of course, now I am a Linear Power freak all over again.

ETA: OP, use your NTs and call it a day!

 

[ampjunkielikeme 10+ year member]

im just partial to the old ppi amps //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/nerd.gif.c6fa51ddf7ff75f1c0371fbc648f70ae.gif

 

[whatsinaname 10+ year member]

The original Soundstream Reference 500 before all this S, SX, and rubicon BS started was pretty clean!

Used to have a Reference 500 and two Reference 300's running my system. LOUD and clean!!!

 

[gunz4me 10+ year member]

Used to have a Reference 500 and two Reference 300's running my system. LOUD and clean!!!

I have a reference 700s and while it isn't a bad amp, it isn't as overbuilt as the original Reference 500! In fact, it is a re-badged Reference 500 that the design engineers modified to squeeze additional power out of while reducing cost. Gotta love it when company bean counters dictate maximum profit at the cost of a quality product

This board:

Is in this amp:

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

In a new amp I would say Sinfoni, Helix, Arc SE, or Zapco DC Reference.

In older amps anything Zed, Linear Power, Zapco Z series, or Orion.

 

[nuttcase21 10+ year member]

Well damening needs to be atleast 1000, THD less than 0.01%, and between 75-125 watts per channel. Cost isn't an issue and I'll be needing 4 channels (doesn't have to be a 4 channel amp, it can be a pair of 2 channel amps). Looking to run 2 sets of Morel Elate 6.5" comps and an extra set of supremo tweets in an '07 expedition. Sub will be a 12" Fi Q in a sealed fiberglass box running off an Orion 275R bridged to 1 ohm.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Well damening needs to be atleast 1000, THD less than 0.01%,

Those are pretty arbitrary and unnecessary (and unreasonable) requirements.......