Best Amp - Speaker Combination you've ever Heard.

[Backpacker]

+1 on the Vandy 7s with his high pass amps. I heard this combination at Audio Connection and it sounded much better than what I have heard at shows.

 

[roundhead]

Beolab 90s after listening to over 30 speaker-amp combinations.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Gale gs 401c speakers with naim amplifier It was in the 80s but was a match made in heaven.

 

[mullard88]

I have been enjoying both my main and bedroon systems and I think I am enjoying two of the best amp - speaker combinations.

In my main system, I have a pair of Spectral DMA 80M monoblocks driving a pair of double Quads.

In my bedroom system, I have a Spectral DMA 100S amp driving a pair of Von Schweikert Endeavor E-3 Mk II speakers.

 

[infinitely baffled]

Boulder - Focal Utopia.
Such a rich, satisfying sound.
perfect dynamics, incredible extension both ways, wonderful midrange.
I refuse to believe valve power amps would add anything in tonality, even for single instrument or vocal recordings.
I keep coming back to the phrase 'exquisite delicacy'

 

[Bobvin]

Pilium Alexander pre, Hercules mono amps (2 pair) driving Magico M9 at the Magico showroom. Sadly the listening session was shorter than I’d have liked.

Also Mike Lavigne’s rig — Evolution Acoustic MM7 with DartZeel NHB-468 monos, in his amazing listening room.

 

[RSFN]

Rockport/Doshi

 

[morricab]

Boulder - Focal Utopia.
Such a rich, satisfying sound.
perfect dynamics, incredible extension both ways, wonderful midrange.
I refuse to believe valve power amps would add anything in tonality, even for single instrument or vocal recordings.
I keep coming back to the phrase 'exquisite delicacy'

Best I ever heard Focal was with KR Audio VA 350i on Grande Utopia Be EMs. It literally sounded like a new and much better speaker. I also heard Mezzo Utopia Bes sound very good with the same amp as well as quite nice with a Jadis Defy 7 mkiii. Never heard a Focal sound good with SS ever. I have never heard them with Boulder but can’t imagine owning this brand of speaker without a really good tube amp.

 

[LL21]

Boulder - Focal Utopia.
Such a rich, satisfying sound.
perfect dynamics, incredible extension both ways, wonderful midrange.
I refuse to believe valve power amps would add anything in tonality, even for single instrument or vocal recordings.
I keep coming back to the phrase 'exquisite delicacy'

I believe Boulder's own listening room uses their 3050 monos with Focal Grande Utopia EMs.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

a few years back at a hifi show I heard sonus faber speakers with mcintosh gear and it sounded like a excellent match I fort.

 

[LL21]

a few years back at a hifi show I heard sonus faber speakers with mcintosh gear and it sounded like a excellent match I fort.

Yes, a lot of SF owners use McIntosh. I remember doing a lot of reading when we had the SF Guarneris and then the SF Strads (McIntosh 2301 being the most popular from recollection for the Strads).

 

[Cellcbern]

Angstrom amplification with Marco Serri speakers - best of show to my ears at Capitol Audiofest 2019.

 

[Cableman]

Audiopax Model88 Mk1 monoblocks with cryogenically treated NOS GEC KT88s and Siemens ECC81 pres driving Audiopax Model150 Loudspeakers. Nothing has ever come close.

 

[gian60]

Tube
Audio Tekne pre 9501 and mono amp TM 9502
ANJ M10 and kageki
Yamamura 8 stack pre and amp 211 pish pull
Transistor
CH

 

[gian60]

Sorry
Tube with yamamura and Audiotekne speaker
And Ch with Montagna speaker

 

[John C]

The best amp/speaker combination I’ve ever heard is Dartzeal paired with Acoustic Evolution in Mike Lavigne’s listening room. I’ve heard many great combinations but have still yet to hear anything eclipse the system that Mike has put together.

 

[DasguteOhr]

The best inexpensive speaker i have heard Wharfedale evo 4.2 with musical fidelity amp.I was flabbergasted how good the speaker is, the pair for 550 euros.

 

[andromedaaudio]

My own .
Now that i have the new Legend pre amp in the system
Its a real good sound , detail is of the charts ive never heard this with a system before and thats with digital , i havent even played tape yet.
Bass definition is also a big step up , very clean/ fast / detailed.

This pre is a detail champ it makes you hear things with digital recordings that i only associated with tape before.
I m astonished how much actually got lost with the previous pre

 

[sbo6]

So many excellent systems over the years. If I had to pick - Rockport Arrakis with Rel 6 pack on CH Precision preamp /mono block amps.

 

[Ron Resnick]

There are so many wonderful loudspeaker - amplifier combinations! How can one pick a "best ever heard" without considering the room and without considering the source?