Top 5... £500+ AMPLIFIERS
There's nothing technical about this top 5 listing for great amplifiers you can buy for £500+. I fully realise that there are some glaring potential ommissions here and I've not chosen any properly expensive units... but these are amplifiers that I've bought, sometimes owned and sold over the years. They are all, in my humble opinion, great units within their price range...
1. Musical Fidelity A1000A monster sized integrated amplifier with a separate power supply (not power amp). You'll need lots of shelf space to accommodate this, but its construction is a joy and I've never come across more tactile switches - they are a delight to use!
The A1000 does not come up for sale very often and quite a few have been upgraded over time. By and large, I don't think this adds to their financial value. Expect to pay... From £800 2. NAIM NAC 42/NAP 110You are unlikely to be disappointed with any Naim amplifier combination. Your entry point is possibly a Naim NAC 42 pre-amplifier and NAC 110 power amplifier. These chrome bumper units are getting old these days, but they still perform beautifully and are easily serviced (at a price). From here it's easy to get swept into an endless round of upgrades (the same with any good make!) and the NAC 72/NAP 140 shown here is well worth considering too. Stand alone power supplies are another Naim feature, but I'd suggest you start your Naim adventure without buying the optional power supply (Hi-Cap etc). Expect to pay... From £600 for a NAC 42/NAP 110 combo and £800 for the NAC 72/NAP 140 package.
3. Sugden A21AAt the more affordable end of our price point, the Sugden A21A integrated is a simple looking amplifier that impresses from the moment you hear it. Build quality is good, controls are tactile and the sound is just terrific. A beautiful sounding, easy on the ear, articulate amplifier that isn't fatiguing and just works brilliantly. Also consider in this price area the Rega Elex-R and Primare i30. Expect to pay... £650
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4. Radford STA25 MkIIII'm a massive fan of valve amplifiers, and the Radford STA25 MkIII power amplifier is what started it all, and what remains in my system. I have tried different Leak and Quad valve amps, along with quite a few more modern valve amplifiers, but I always come back to the Radford. However it does it, the STA25 MkIII is remarkable. Radford Revival builds brand new versions of this amplifier which are also spectacular and the team there are valve geniuses. It's the only place I'd go to get any valve amplifier serviced. Of course, you need a pre-amp too, and I've been consistently impressed by the minimalist Icon Audio Passive pre. Expect to pay... £1500 (plus the pre amplifier)
5. Bryston BP26/MPS-2Bryston is a manufacturer I'm increasingly aware of and increasingly impressed by. Not only do the units invariably sound terrific, but the company must be one of a just a handful to offer a 20 year warranty! If you ever needed persuading that a company is confident with its products, offering to back them up for two decades after they were originally sold, and with subsequent owners (so long an original purchase receipt is still present), takes some beating. Expect to pay... from £2500
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