Most beautiful amp and or preamp

[infinitely baffled]

No. Just no

 

[Klonk]

 

[kach22i]

I recently stumbled across the tower type tube amp that first delighted my eyeballs so many years ago, and still looking good.

Nagra VPA
https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/nagra-vpa/

Since its introduction in 1998, the VPA has won prestigious awards and, more importantly, become a reference for a tremendous number of audiophiles all over the world.

 

[Narayan]

No. Just no

It´s a thread about what one considers to be beautiful, not about what you don´t...but if you feel so strongly as to post about it you could maybe open a thread yourself about the most ugly amps

 

[infinitely baffled]

It´s a thread about what one considers to be beautiful, not about what you don´t...but if you feel so strongly as to post about it you could maybe open a thread yourself about the most ugly amps

Maybe you should grow a thicker skin

 

[howiebrou]

Maybe you should grow a thicker skin

Wow.

 

[Narayan]

Maybe you should grow a thicker skin

Your reply leaves me baffled sir, not infinitely but almost , are you a dermatologist by any chance? I appreciate your concern but my skin is fine. You could speak all day about your distaste for McIntosh aesthetics as far as I´m concerned, just maybe not here since this is a place to speak and post about beauty, not complain about it.

 

[kach22i]

https://www.archusaudio.com/

Clean and simple preamp, almost DIY.

 

[jeff1225]

Most on this thread would fall into my ugly list.

Shocker.

 

[infinitely baffled]

Your reply leaves me baffled sir, not infinitely but almost , are you a dermatologist by any chance? I appreciate your concern but my skin is fine. You could speak all day about your distaste for McIntosh aesthetics as far as I´m concerned, just maybe not here since this is a place to speak and post about beauty, not complain about it.

Says who?
Mine isn't the first negative observation. There is no obligation to only say positive things, this forum would be a tedious place if there were, and quite useless as a resource

 

[Loheswaran]

I'm surprised nobody has posted this one - it's where lifestyle audio started Bang and Olufsen

 

[infinitely baffled]

My apologies to Narayan for my earlier brusqueness

 

[Loheswaran]

Says who?
Mine isn't the first negative observation. There is no obligation to only say positive things, this forum would be a tedious place if there were, and quite useless as a resource

While ur at it - there's an awful lot of Liberace-esque bling on this thread

 

[Dimfer]

no mention of Metaxas stuff yet?

 

[Narayan]

My apologies to Narayan for my earlier brusqueness

Thank you IB, I do have to agree with you though in that a bit of salt and pepper every now and then adds flavour to the forum, can in some cases add knowledge and certainly does away with the tedium. Whilst I´m at it, may I ask about the origin of your displeasure with the McIntosh looks? I´d like to know your point of view. Also, which amps make your heart beat faster and put a smile on your face?

 

[infinitely baffled]

My apologies to Narayan for my earlier brusque

Thank you IB, I do have to agree with you though in that a bit of salt and pepper every now and then adds flavour to the forum, can in some cases add knowledge and certainly does away with the tedium. Whilst I´m at it, may I ask about the origin of your displeasure with the McIntosh looks? I´d like to know your point of view. Also, which amps make your heart beat faster and put a smile on your face?

The sharp edges and right angles.
Blue illumination is widely found to be visually fatiguing.
Also the McIntosh typeface would only be used in the UK to advertise Ye Olde Tourist Trappe Tea Shoppe, sort of the opposite of cutting edge
Overall i find the ambience to be tired, dated, unimaginative

My idea of beauty?
Someone has previously posted pictures of Tenor's amplifiers, very pretty and desiresble, but for me the ultimates would be Wavac 833's
https://images.app.goo.gl/yj22eQ3uYEgJ3wGT8

https://images.app.goo.gl/RxgfnkPZaiq2kC2p9

https://images.app.goo.gl/m4uB41jJVKVB9g22A

I love my Wavac pr-t1 pre amp

https://images.app.goo.gl/hopaeDML2Bxnhh3o9

Or anything by Dalby Audio Design

https://images.app.goo.gl/dMwEsrPEhFaPJNgK6

https://images.app.goo.gl/fYEw1KPKuzX5ziw48

And his cables are pure sex

https://images.app.goo.gl/NweiJjtYS9UwY8Yb7

 

[WeatherB]

View attachment 59717

Who remembers this beauty??!!

I owned that amp in the early 90s. Great sounding Class A amp!

 

[infinitely baffled]

I owned that amp in the early 90s. Great sounding Class A amp!

Me too. I loved it
Always had a soft spot for Musical Fidelity. Best British amps in their price range
Later on i got fantastic results controlling a Krell Ksa 100 with an MF F25 preamp.
Astoundingly good.
The A100 had an unapologetically warm sound, with plenty of bass, if a bit woolly by the later standard set by the F25


The MF Titan was a worthy adversary for a Boulder 2060, by one account having the edge in bass, if not reaching Boulder standards of build, texture or richness

https://images.app.goo.gl/X7JhnZhQzDDgcYqU9

 

[IanG-UK]

From the early 1970s - a Metrosound ST60

 

[IanG-UK]

These were designed by Boothroyd Stuart and preceded Meridian - the Lecson: