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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)
- Wells Audio Innamorata - gme109 12:13:41 10/18/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Ian Mackenzie 12:44:47 10/16/13 (0)
- BAT VK-200. Very dark, rich, robust, not a lot of top end, a bit veiled -nt - AbeCollins 19:08:34 10/12/13 (2)
- Sounds like a coffee review -(nt) - cdb 04:43:34 10/14/13 (1)
- Ha! It does, now that I read it again ;-) - AbeCollins 22:44:22 10/14/13 (0)
- Cary Audio - mjcmt 15:13:23 10/12/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - jumpsturdy 21:50:22 10/11/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - JNS 18:13:03 10/11/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - jimmycj 16:35:48 10/11/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - JNS 14:43:36 10/11/13 (0)
- Lavardin - Larry I 09:16:55 10/11/13 (1)
- RE: Lavardin - JNS 15:14:39 10/11/13 (0)
- Classe? - JimC 23:13:57 10/10/13 (0)
- THUS FAR I am leaning toward the Quad 909 or Sugden.... - Mr Blue Sky 20:40:17 10/10/13 (2)
- RE: THUS FAR I am leaning toward the Quad 909 or Sugden.... - Bill the K 01:18:27 10/11/13 (0)
- RE: THUS FAR I am leaning toward the Quad 909 or Sugden.... - Disbeliever 00:12:56 10/11/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - niws 18:31:48 10/10/13 (0)
- MAC? - Scholl 15:06:45 10/10/13 (0)
- MIchael Yee Audio - Vic D 09:34:16 10/10/13 (4)
- RE: MIchael Yee Audio - manerac 14:15:26 10/11/13 (3)
- I would agree with unclestu - Vic D 04:16:36 10/12/13 (0)
- RE: MIchael Yee Audio - unclestu 15:34:44 10/11/13 (1)
- RE: MIchael Yee Audio - Bill the K 08:02:41 10/15/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - chocolate_lover9999@yahoo.com 08:27:18 10/10/13 (7)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - sudz1234@yahoo.com 08:40:31 10/10/13 (6)
- Duh. Because they like the sound, Sherlock! - Chuck Y 11:37:31 10/10/13 (4)
- nothing wrong with the question: .... - wangmr 09:18:37 10/14/13 (3)
- RE: nothing wrong with the question: .... - Jeffrey Lee 14:53:55 10/15/13 (2)
- RE:Dark + Dark = VERY DARK.... - wangmr 06:07:42 10/17/13 (1)
- Do you think we should kick him out of the club? - Chuck Y 07:30:54 10/17/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - chocolate_lover9999@yahoo.com 09:12:15 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Tadlo 08:09:31 10/10/13 (2)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Mr Blue Sky 12:42:25 10/10/13 (1)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Tadlo 15:20:40 10/12/13 (0)
- Alan S likes the DNM Amps nt - Des 07:23:05 10/10/13 (1)
- Indeed, 40.1 sounded pretty good together (nt) - kuma 21:47:42 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - noway 06:21:20 10/10/13 (0)
- BAT VK200 or 500 - morricab 04:43:56 10/10/13 (1)
- RE: BAT VK200 or 500 - AbeCollins 19:11:11 10/12/13 (0)
- Karan KAI180mkI - Joonnaass 03:37:28 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - sudz1234@yahoo.com 01:52:43 10/10/13 (1)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Mr Blue Sky 12:45:22 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Disbeliever 00:39:27 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Disbeliever 00:37:42 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Cleantimestream 22:01:42 10/9/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - kenzo 21:31:39 10/9/13 (1)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - jperry 14:59:05 11/20/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - hahax@verizon.net 20:26:48 10/9/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - sudz1234@yahoo.com 20:01:21 10/9/13 (4)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - JNS 17:53:30 10/11/13 (1)
- RE: Why? Would that limit sales? [n.t.a.] - wangmr 09:20:21 10/14/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - mbnx01 21:26:57 10/9/13 (0)
- Of course YOU would...(nt) - mkuller 20:39:22 10/9/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - tommytube 16:26:57 10/9/13 (2)
- Blue circle - mbnx01 18:25:25 10/9/13 (1)
- RE: Blue circle - jtycho 09:32:51 11/20/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - iqaudiocorp@gmail.com 15:59:37 10/9/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - iqaudiocorp@gmail.com 15:57:21 10/9/13 (0)
- Portal Panache' (nt) - Jack G 15:37:07 10/9/13 (1)
- I've never heard one - mbnx01 15:41:40 10/9/13 (0)
- What I'm running my Harbeth's with - mbnx01 15:32:47 10/9/13 (2)
- RE: What I'm running my Harbeth's with - Kberube80 17:31:47 10/9/13 (1)
- RE: What I'm running my Harbeth's with - mbnx01 17:41:48 10/9/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - jps1 15:24:16 10/9/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - unclestu 15:02:57 10/9/13 (5)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - JNS 18:16:09 10/11/13 (0)
- Interesting - E-Stat 06:13:01 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - morricab 04:46:50 10/10/13 (0)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - ahendler 19:09:57 10/9/13 (1)
- RE: Want advice: Need a warm, smooth, NATURAL, romantic, lush sounding SS amplifier for Harbeth Monitor 30s. - Douger 05:59:01 10/13/13 (0)