The advantage of such designs is to reduce distortion, increase power handling and overall output but these tend to be very big, bulky and expensive alternatives. Other center channel designs include 2-1/2 way MTM’s where one driver is bandwidth-limited to reduce lobing errors. Bricasti Design (1) Klark Teknik (1) Solid State Logic (1) WesAudio (1) Price Range. Burl Audio B2 Bomber ADC 2-channel AD Converter. 2-channel Multi-format AD/DA Converter, 44.1kHz-192kHz, with Femtosecond Clock and Headphone Output $949.00.
Continuing with our series of looking at the best audio equipment on the market, today we’ll take a peek at a few of the finest amplifiers on the market. This of course begs the question: what do we consider to be a great amplifier? Having ample reserves of power on tap is one requirement, as is the ability to drive a wide range of real-world loudspeaker loads (as opposed to 8 ohm test resistors) while remaining rock stable. To make our list, the amplifier(s) in question must offer power and finesses and be a model(s) we have direct experience with either on our test bench or demos at various trade shows. Of course, many amplifiers from the likes of Classe, Parasound, Krell, ATI, and more should make the cut and at least deserve an honorable mention. In order to narrow things down a bit, we’ve created a few categories, starting with….
Best No-Compromise Amplifier: Boulder 3050
MSRP: $205,000/pair
In most ways, the Boulder 3050 monoblock amplifier is a totally ridiculous piece of equipment. First, there’s the price: $205,000/pair is enough coin to buy a house in many places. Then there’s the little matter of weight: combined with its granite base, a single channel weighs a whopping 441 pounds. While that’s a testament to the build quality employed by Boulder, heaven help you getting these bad boys up a flight of stairs. Finally, the eco-villains in the crowd will gleefully rub their hands together knowing that a pair of these bad boys can soak up 12kW of power running at full tilt. So what’s the payoff here? The Boulder 3050 is a fully differential design which is claimed to deliver no less than 1.5kW of pure audiophile-approved Class A power into an 8, 4, or 2 ohm load. In layman’s terms, that means the Boulder 3050 delivers uncompromising sound quality and dynamics. Ridiculous? Maybe. Ridiculously awesome.
In most ways, the Boulder 3050 monoblock amplifier is a totally ridiculous piece of equipment. First, there’s the price: $205,000/pair is enough coin to buy a house in many places. Then there’s the little matter of weight: combined with its granite base, a single channel weighs a whopping 441 pounds. While that’s a testament to the build quality employed by Boulder, heaven help you getting these bad boys up a flight of stairs. Finally, the eco-villains in the crowd will gleefully rub their hands together knowing that a pair of these bad boys can soak up 12kW of power running at full tilt. So what’s the payoff here? The Boulder 3050 is a fully differential design which is claimed to deliver no less than 1.5kW of pure audiophile-approved Class A power into an 8, 4, or 2 ohm load. In layman’s terms, that means the Boulder 3050 delivers uncompromising sound quality and dynamics. Ridiculous? Maybe. Ridiculously awesome.
A pair of Boulder 3050 monoblock amplifiers.
Best Tube Amplifier: McIntosh MC2301
MSRP: $22,000/pair
Here at Audioholics, we’re not known for being fans of tubes. Tube amps tend to be lower in power, and higher in distortion, and they typically have trouble dealing with low impedance loads compared to their solid state brethren. Fortunately, the quad-differential McIntosh MC2301 isn’t like most tube amps. Rated to deliver 300W of output into 8, 4 or 2 ohms, the MC2301 can effortlessly drive practically any loudspeaker you’re likely to pair it with. But let’s face reality here; that’s not why you’d buy the MC2301. The raison d'être of the MC2301 lays in the aesthetic appeal of its warm glowing tubes and McIntosh’s iconic blue VU meter. We’ll let the picture do the rest of the talking:
Here at Audioholics, we’re not known for being fans of tubes. Tube amps tend to be lower in power, and higher in distortion, and they typically have trouble dealing with low impedance loads compared to their solid state brethren. Fortunately, the quad-differential McIntosh MC2301 isn’t like most tube amps. Rated to deliver 300W of output into 8, 4 or 2 ohms, the MC2301 can effortlessly drive practically any loudspeaker you’re likely to pair it with. But let’s face reality here; that’s not why you’d buy the MC2301. The raison d'être of the MC2301 lays in the aesthetic appeal of its warm glowing tubes and McIntosh’s iconic blue VU meter. We’ll let the picture do the rest of the talking:
The McIntosh MC2301 monoblock amplifier.
Best Compact Amplifier: IQ Audio M300
MSRP: $1,495/pair | More Info
How much audio performance can you realistically expect out of a package measuring 3.25”H x 7.75”W x 7.75”D? The answer surprised even us during our review of IQ Audio’s M300 monoblock amplifier. Rated to deliver 150W into 8 ohms and 300W into 4 ohms, the M300 is an advanced, cool-running Class D design that weighs a mere 7 pounds. More importantly, unlike many other Class D amplifiers we’ve tested, the M300s actually sound good driving real speakers (including Gene’s reference Status Acoustics Titus T8 towers), never misbehaving or losing its composure. The best part? These amps are actually affordable at just under $1,500/pair.
The IQ Audio M300 monoblock amplifier.
