WHO MAKES THE BEST AMP?

[Silver Supra]

I can't get past the appearance of the Halcro amps - they look like end tables!

I love Pass labs however, as well as MBL... only they can pull off black and gold without
it looking tacky.

If I had my wish however I think I'd have boulder in my living room.

[kennyt]

Better reinforce the floors for those Boulders Jim!

[deacongreg]

You know, I gotta give Bel canto a nod also. While not as modern looking as a halcro, or cool looking like mcintosh, the size, power, and sound they put out is excellent. And they are soft on the eyes as well.

[HT Junky]

I listen to a PBN Audio amp in a friend's system. I have heard nothing like it since.

[JerryDelColliano]

I have never heard of such an amp.

What is the price? Do they have dealers? What makes it special?

[HT Junky]

Check out www.pbnaudio.com. I'm friends with Kevin, the owner of The Sound Station in Bartlesville, OK (www.thesoundstation.com). They are dealers. The system I listened to is the one on the home page.

The system, at the time, was using a pair of the Olympia-mini amplifiers $8,500/each. They now make a $20,000 amplifier, but I haven't heard that.

It had a top-of-the line DCS digital front end, Passlabs preamp and Montana KAS speakers. Nordost cables all around.

This amp (system, for that matter) is the most grain-free, invisible system I have experienced. You know how a less ambitious amp seems to be pushing the music out, instead of "breathing" it? This one breathed it better than any other amp I have listened to. TOTALLY grain free. Amazing.