Wayne Parham Messages: 18791 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
If you like tubes, you might try FET amps. Especially if you're into SET, try a Class A FET.
On the other end of the spectrum, you could try a digital amp. To my way of thinking, that's a 180° turnaround and I'm personally not into them. But the there is some merit in the design approach; It's basically very similar to the most modern 1-bit DACs.
In between those two extremes are the more traditional chip amps, like the LM1875 and LM3875. And of course the garden variety receivers and home theaters. Some are terrible but there are a few that actually sound pretty good. Close your eyes and you almost can't tell they're retail midfi.
I have a Harman Kardon receiver that sounds good, for example. I bought it for utility purpose, things like the demonstrations in the "Crossover Electronics 101" seminar. It actually sounds pretty good. I also like the old late 1970's and early 1980's Yamaha receivers. Those are a couple examples that come to mind.