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Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s.

If you have heard the Harbeth Monitor 30, you will know that what the speaker accomplishes is absolute naturalness. There are no artifacts, there is no glare, no grain, no peaky resonances. They are smooth as satin.

There are other speakers that are "warm", but they may have a tizzy, subtly bright top end, or they may be artificial or synthetic sounding, etc.

I want the amplifier that is to amps what Harbeth is to speakers. The problem is that it must be solid state. I'm willing to spend up to $4000-5000 used, but would prefer something for around $1500-2000.

I realize that many people call the Harbeths dark or lacking in detail. That's fine with me. I don't want to match them with a 'fast' amp. I want to go completely to the dark side.

I thought about purchasing a Plinius 9100, but I've read to many comments stating that there is a harshness or glare in the vocal region, tipped up midrange, or that it sounds unnatural.

Can you recommend a solid state amp that is warm, smooth, dark, flesh-like, silky, graceful, romantic, lush, honey colored, robust, full, rolled-off even, with an incredibly natural presence and tonality? I'm not worried about coloration. I want to obscure detail. I want to hide bad recordings. I want the warmest, smoothest solid state amp in the world.

What is it?

Luxman?

Cairn?

Plinius?

Cary?

LFD?

Conrad Johnson?

Arcam?

Musical Fidelity?

Other?

(and please don't say "older Sansui". That would be an example of something that is warm-ish, but with an underlying glassy, synthetic hardness that is the opposite of natural.)

I would very much appreciate any help or guidance in this matter. I'm not very familiar with the solid state realm.




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Topic - Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Mr Blue Sky 14:32:37 10/9/13 (70)

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