top 5 amp companies?

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

fair assessment, but in comparing watts to price i dont think it matches up too well

$500 for 160w/ch (w/bi-amping)
$599(Emotiva XPA-3) - 200w/ch (w/o bi-amping)

Remember that watts does not alone make a better amp.

There are 35wpc tube amps that will eat up a 500wpc solid state amp.

Some of the things I've been told to look at besides wattage is:

- THD
- Transformer sizes (Va)
- frequency range
- Signal to noise ratio (S/N)
- 12v trigger capable
- input and output connector types

In the end, it really depends on how it sounds to you.

[rded]

Originally Posted by richteer

Don't fall into that trap! There's a lot more to amplifier quality than the number of watts/channel at a certain price point!

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Remember that watts does not alone make a better amp.

There are 35wpc tube amps that will eat up a 500wpc solid state amp.

Some of the things I've been told to look at besides wattage is:

- THD
- Transformer sizes (Va)
- frequency range
- Signal to noise ratio (S/N)
- 12v trigger capable
- input and output connector types

In the end, it really depends on how it sounds to you.

Haha Looks like you guys got here before I did huh?
To the OP, Rich and Lou are absolutely right. As a matter of Fact, I just auditioned The OCTAVE Integrated tube amp that has 40 watts/ channel theat can rival the sonics of Simaudio's Titan!

I guess the best thing for you to do is to really set your max budget and try and audition as many amps that fall into that price range and know that most high-end dealers can actually offer a considerable discount.

[Big Daddy]

If I were in your position, I would buy a pair of these 800 watt (8 ohms), 220-pound monoblock amplifiers from Edge. They definitely have WAF appeal.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

If I were in your position, I would buy a pair of these 800 watt (8 ohms), 220-pound monoblock amplifiers from Edge. They definitely have WAF appeal.

Due to their phallic resemblance???