UltimateAVmag.com: Buyer's Guide: Amplifiers: Ultimate Choice

	UAV's Current Top Picks. These components offer the Ultimate in pure performance in each product category.


	Balanced Audio Technology VK-6200 $10K as reviewed w/five channels; $5,995 base price for stereo unit, plus $1,250 per channel Channels/Power: 2-6 channels; 200-Watts per channel into 8 ohms/400-Watts into 4 ohms Inputs: Single-ended and balanced The Skinny: Although BAT made its bonafides with audiophile-grade tube gear, its solid-state designs are no less compelling. Although the VK-6200 is a big, muscular solid-state multichannel amp with astounding dynamics, it has incredible resolution of detail, nuance, delicacy and spatial precision thanks to its zero-feedback, fully balanced topology. While a lot of companies make the claim, this is truly an audiophile amplifier that just happens to configurable for six channels! Each channel is essentially a monoblock with its own dedicated power supply and 700VA toroidal transformer. The VK-6200 is one of those rare amps capable of being all things to all audiophiles and videophiles.
	Theta Citadel $15,800/pr. Channels/Power: Monoblock; 400-Watts per channel into 8 ohms/650-Watts into 4 ohms Inputs: Single-ended and balanced The Skinny: Although multichannel amps are a more popular configuration in this space, an audiophile-first home theater can be built on an array of monoblocks, or a combination of monoblocks and multichannel amps (SB's reference system is built on a pair of Citadels for left and right, and a three channel Theta Dreadnaught for center and surrounds). Theta's Citadel is an immensely powerful, fully-balanced, zero feedback solid-state amplifier with the heart and soul of a liquid, delicate tube amp. In addition to providing all the sheer brawn required for home theater thrill rides, the Citadel has layers and layers of depth and resolution, with absolutely holographic imaging and dimension. And while most multichannel amps are square boxes you'd like to hide somewhere, the Citadel's sculpted aluminum tower design is as stately, imposing and gorgeous as the name implies. Theta's Citadel is a staggering achievement in solid-state amplification.
	Theta Dreadnaught II $6,750 as reviewed (5x225W, aluminum top cover); $2,250 base price, plus $850 per channel for 225W mono modules, or $1,000 each for 100W per channel stereo modules; $250 aluminum top cover Channels/Power: 2-10 channels; configurable with mono or stereo channel modules; mono modules: 225-Watts per channel into 8 ohms; stereo modules: 100-Watts per channel into 8 ohms Inputs: Single-ended and balanced The Skinny: One of the tough things about creating a universal success like Theta's Dreadnaught is following it up. Not for Theta. Like the original Dreadnaught, the Dreadnaught II is a fully balanced, zero-feedback solid-state design. And while the sequel might sacrifice just a touch of the original's inner detail and musicality, it's noticeably more muscular, powerful and dynamic. And yet in spite of the Dreadnaught II's extra oomph, it's also forgiving and naturally warm. And if you don't need 225-watts over five channels, you can also configure any or all of the Dreadnaught II's five amplifier bays with 100-watt stereo modules. However you stack it up this great-sounding amp will satisfy even the fussiest audiophiles with sources ranging from two-channel stereo to multichannel.