What is the best PG amp ever made?

[cyberpunky]

Although it could be argued about the various limited editions, of the regular amp series it has to be ZPA IMO. I just don't see how expense comes into it, either some thing is the best or it isn't. Best value is subjective but the ZPAs sound better and are one of Larry's finest designs. He told me he never thought PG would build them due to the components he used in the design. Yes not cheap, but I have always thought the 10+ years of awesome SQ I have had from these amps makes them worth every cent, and the fact that I don't waste a cent on upgrades, as I don't think I can get a finer sounding amp.

I always have a problem with ppl who say a set of speakers sound great for the price, as I have always thought something sounds great or it doesn't. Its like saying an amp has good secs for the price. You cant hear specs and you can't hear dollars, you can however hear what sounds great

That I could win at the highest level of SQ competition, in my country (in 07), many years after these amps were sold, also speaks volumes about how good they sound and IMO other amps only come close or equal to, but nothing is better since.

Being quite large is hardly an issue compared to say MS1000TA lol but seriously they are only slightly larger than many amps of the era and we all got a little spoilt from the ZX series, which was uniquely small for the era, but compared to most amps of the time they are not big at all. If I can fit 2 side by side in my little car then size isnt a biggie IMO.

Fan noise was a fact of life but in reality wasn't an issue if you were driving the car listening to music, as even if mounted inside cabin, they couldn't be heard over road noise and music, well in my car anyway. Most ppl mount in the trunk anyway and so not a serious issue IMO either.

The ZX are a great amp but they don't have the same SQ in a high end system as the ZPA does IMO.

For me, great sound, great looks, reliability, performance etc makes the ZPA a clear winner, but hey its just my opinion
peace
Cyberpunky

[marko]

best doesn't always mean best sq either..

i like the zpa's too but chose ms over zpa because the main niggle with zpa's are it's complexity, if they go down (and they do more than ms IME) they are one PITA to trouble shoot and fix. these amps arn't getting any younger and inevitably will need some kinda work one day..

funny enough i got a zpa sat in my garage in pieces and it'd been like that for several years now, i'll be damned if i can suss out what's wrong with it!!

[cyberpunky]

They are valid points but as we are talking which amps are PGs best and not best to repair.All I know is my amps have given me well over 10 years of awesome SQ. We use amps to listen to music, so for me SQ is what it has always been about, and in that area the ZPAs rule the PG roost(IMO)
peace
Cyberpunky

[marko]

sorry, i didn't realise this thread was about "best SQ"

as soon as i get this zpa running i will be doing a direct comparison with an ms2250 to hear for myself (in a moving car of course)

[cyberpunky]

Many old italian cars are considered the best of their kind and yet a PITA to work on. Am pretty sure this an Audio phorum, even though repairs are discussed here more than most Audio phorums, but that's because we all love these classic amps, that IMO are the finest ever made, and want to see them live on forever. If we are asking what is the best amp and an amps sole purpose in life is to produce accurate sound, then yes the best SQ wins it for me. If we were talking cars it would be best to drive, not best to service for me as I am not a mechanic.

Sorry dude but I agree they are valid points I just don't think they are a valid criteria for what is best amp, but again I reiterate this is just my opinion. If I was a technician who repaired amps all day then I would look at it differently when I was on amp repairers forum discussing which is best to repair, but we are here.
peace
Cyberpunky