BEST HiFi Amplifier Of The Year 2023! My TOP Pick for Home Audio After Over 300 Different Amplifiers

Nice review Jay. May I please ask you to compare the AGN Audio latest compared to the Gato M222 Monoblock amps in terms of the SQ, especial for driving planar magnetic speakers?

For $15-$20K they better sound great.
Like normal working people could ever afford an amp that cost more than their vehicle

The best tube amps for me..
Are the atmasphere otl amps..try the MA-3...will be last amp you will ever need...

Is this the same Audion of thr 1990s?

I always enjoy your presentation. Keep it up young man!

It's only the best, if you keep it using all through 2024 and still in 2025...
And as my comment is from Dec. 24, your enthusiasm seems valid, AGD is still used in your recent videos.

At their prices I wonder how they’re selling?

There is no such thing like the best amp.

Hi jay i am big fan of your chanel, youre riviews are to honest, i saw your opinion on the comparation of the bhk preamp and the mcintosh 70th aniversary, when discribeb your preference, for the bhk preamp i buy the bhk preamp for my legacy focuse se and sound great, now i saw your review of the AGD audions mono i whant to buy them , or the duets , you think the bhk pre and AGD monos is good match for my legacy focuse se, ? If dont bather you i like to now your opinion becuase the legacy have great bass, and class d amp are streong on bass. My concern is not to overkill and lees sound detail on the mids and highs, thanks. Alfredo

Do you think that the AGD Duets are better ?

So the tear jerking Brunoco Terra is no longer your fave?

Best is quite subjective, hard to address. Best for what, it would have to have a few categories. What speakers? What is the person's style and what is their budget. In each category there would be best of class and best value.
Some like low volume music and would not like my system which comes to life between 100 to 115db. Its impossible to build speakers that cover all volume ranges well likewise their power consumption varies a lot.
YES, don't like class D, love tubes and AB amps. One of the best warmest AB amp lines that were similar to tubes were the 1990's Onkyo integra amps, M-502, M-504m M-508 and the Grand Integra. People noticed, 30 years later they sell for more now then they dd new. Curious how the new efficient light weight amps would stack up to a 1990's 100lb Grand Integra? Be cool to hear comparisons.

What Olympic world class Nobel prize winning ears have you got for such statement, explain, show us your mega delicacy human instruments - if not, I don't take any of it.

Good solid state preamp match to keep the slight warmth, detail, air and speed?

An acceptable amplifier has the characteristic V = 1 + Z / R2, with R2 approximately 0.47 ohms.

This creates an amplifier that can smooth out the impedance curve and its fluctuations and drive the speaker with the right current at all times. A tube amplifier does the same thing.

Today's amplifiers all have the characteristic V = 1 + R1 / R2, approximately 40dB and convert a signal voltage into an output voltage.

However, that is not correct. An amplifier must convert an input voltage into an output current, no matter what the impedance curve of the loudspeaker is.

At the resonance frequency, the impedance is high, so the output voltage must also be high in order to drive the necessary current into the loudspeaker. A tube amplifier does this with its transformer. This is also the reason why tube amplifiers should not be operated without load, otherwise high-voltage sparks will occur.

Looking at it the other way around, a conventional transistor stage can no longer drive current into the loudspeaker at the resonance frequency because the impedance required for this is no longer present. It is the same at the end of the frequency band, as the impedance continues to increase towards the upper end. This is why traditional amplifiers have bass and treble controls to compensate. A tube amplifier or a transistor amplifier with V = 1 + Z / R2 doesn't need this at all.

Thirdly, every loudspeaker changes all of its parameters as soon as the membrane moves. Today's transistor amplifiers cannot compensate for this and therefore sound like "transistor".

Only amplifiers with V = 1 + Z / R2 sound realistic and have full resolution.

At the price, they should not only drive any speaker, they should drive me to the supermarket.

How does it compare to kinki monoblocks? Thanks

I am looking at the AGD Duets. I suspect they would be very similar to the Audions and the Vivace. I have a Hegal H190 now, so a Hegel comparison is appreciated. I have B&W 705-S3 speakers. Is an upgrade to the AGD worth it? Is the sound that much different than the Hegel? I am torn. These things are mega $$$, so I don’t want to purchase till I am sure. Even though B&W speakers are more ubiquitous, it’s still difficult to find say some 800 level speakers to compare in person. The AGDs are even more rare, so in person listening to them is even more difficult. Hegel or AGD… Help! —Thanks.

Hello Jay
I own the Audions mkII they are the : "BEST" amps I have ever had pairing with my Soundlabs period !
I have found that the Audions are so revealing and transparent it's shocking no exaggeration. Now I have found "not directly plugging " into the wall the Audions without a better power cord and a "isolation transformer" has elevated my system to the best it has ever sounded. Try a better power cord and plug the Audions into the isolation transformers separately!

Did I miss it in the video?... which pre-amp to use with the AGD?

yes it was long but helpfull and I enjoyed it as your enthusiasm seems to be quite honest. I believe hifi is about bang (based on personal preferencies) for bug and it seems like very good candidate. Thank you for the review.

Great amp but in general class D and tube amplifiers are a no go with the Dynaudio Heritage Specials are they? Did you had the oppurtunity to try this?

Hi Jay, enjoying your reviews, you are e real pro!
want to ask what do you think of their combination with the Greshman Avantgarde
thanks in advance
Best regards
Ran

Greetings from Europe.
My actuel setting :
The Apps you enthusiastically talk about AGD
Preamp Klyne 7
Loudspeakers : Audiostatic ES 900

you have try totem tribe tower whit it ?

Which speakers would match well with these Audions? How would the Arendal THX Towers or Monitors match with these amps?

Hoping to see you do a review in the future of something truly vintage ! Perhaps McIntosh MC30 mono blocks or Scott 299 , Scott 296 , Scott 240 mono blocks . Or Dynaco mark iii

Yes, but they're 16 grand.

Gli altoparlanti producono il suono. Gli amplificatori amplificano il segnale che proviene da una fonte e da un cavo che lo "trasmette" o "trasporta" al preamplificatore e qiuindi all'ampli... Etc...etc...
Quale sarà il migliore amplificatore? Chissà...

Looks like they put the class D stage inside the KT88 tube!

My own experience of the AGD amps at the Sydney hifi show this year ‘24, was very underwhelming.

Your voice is very low compared to the music in this one

Your voice is very low compared to the music in this one

I saw this video when it first posted but forgot the name AGD and confused the amp with Galion and don't ask me how I could confuse the two but I did. I live in L.A. and know AGD are made there. Today is Saturday, guess where I'm going on Monday. I have to get me a pair. I like Jay and respect his opinion, so we'll see what happens.

Did you give Nuprime Evolution STA a chance?

Also i have the dual mono version of this amp. It is better than the single ps version, sold my PS M1200 monos when i compared them

I was a beta tester for PS Audio Stellar Gold Da and Pre, trading my BHK Pre in on these, also compared Gold to MKII keeping the Gold. The Pre is awesome I might loose a little spaciousness but the detail and soundstage is better

Jay, You’d rather have the AGDs over the Audio Note Tonmeister?

Will it do justice to the Eminent Tech panels, I would love to pair them with a full range flat panel system.

US$ 7.800,00 · ,,,nice ,,,pfffffff

Tiny amp with a huge price tag! $$$$$

"4 months remaining in the month"? Lost me there...

Sorry about the type. My bad

Hey Jay have you heard or reviewed Leo's Orchard Audio amp? It also uses the GaN transistors

Great vid Jay. Thanks for sharing this gem. What pre-amp, dac and source did your use with the AGD for this review? Thanks.

Thanks for the AGD Audion review. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I saw cabinet/stands/panels used but no mention of the preamp or DAC used!
T

Beautiful thank you exactly what I’m looking for ;-)