Offer some of the best of solid state and tube amps.

Reliability, or lack of it. I think I'd rather lose money at Vegas than in (another) Counterpoint product.

People who had read my (sad) stories on my Counterpoint 5000 would be surprised to see that I made another leap of faith to try another Counterpoint product. And what a sad story this will be. The sound is typical SS/Tube Hybrid. Very dynamic, with pinpoint imaging and yet has a hint of air, smoothness that tube amps provide. But my enjoyment of this amp last about 2 weeks. The seller told me this amp was fully checked and optimized. But some kind of hiss starts to appear on the left channel. Soon after that, it became as buzz. As I tried to swap the interconnects at the back, I smelled something funny, and the left channel was gone. What a disaster. The broken amp will be in eBay auction soon sell as-is. Now, some people claimed they got superior improvements over stock unit once upgraded by AltaVista. It doesn't sound right to me. So I have to buy a piece of junk product and then spent double the money to get the sound and reliability right? That will not affect my ratings toward the sound (which I think is in the league of Class A rated Sonic Frontiers Power 2), but the value rating will be low, and ditto affecting overall. VALUE RATING: 2. You paid $$$ for an stock unit to find out what kind of crap it is, then paid $$$ to AltaVistaAudio to get it right. OVERALL: Sound is definitely a 4 or even 4.5. But due to the value rating.....

Similar Products Used:

Sonic Frontiers Power 2/Power 3; McIntosh MC225

I have a good but mixed review of the SA 220. First, the reason for the mixed review. Some of the reviewers characterized this amp as tank-built tough and it's great to hear that. But it's also had some reliability issues for others. I was given the SA 220 for free from an overseas relative who bought it new for $2400. For some reason, a 1 inch hole melted thru one side of the circuit board; he never relayed how that happened. After the amp came back state side, I drove the 100 miles down to the then counterpoint facilities and got a new board and tubes for $550. With essentially a new amp, it sounds great now. It's paired w/ a SA-3000 preamp and to my ears the bass is a little mellow. The treble is natural. I own a a denon 3802 and I completely prefer the rounder treble of the SA 220 to the Denon. I suppose that's a trait of the tube signal path. Though some audio purists might disagree with adding an eq, I wonder if those who desire more bass would do just that. For me, it has made up any for any differences and though the eq is inexpensive, the bass is low, solid and clear even at high volume (audiophile bass anyone?). The overall low to high freq fidelity is very good, it could probably hold it's own against amps costing much more, especially in the mids like vocals. I haven't had any problems with it now and I do recommend getting one at these prices.

Dynamics, resolution, big soundstage

difficult to get serviced if needed
a little bit dark coloured sound.
audible hum from transformer.

Actually this is the SA20, but only minor changes was made to the Sa220.
First time I turned this thing on, I was amazed by the soundstage, which totally made my speakers disappear.
I bought this amp secondhand based on my experience with the SA12, which I loved.
I've got what I hoped for: Better dynamics, bigger soundstage, more tight and deeper bass, same or better highs.
this amplifier is very competent and live sounding.
Even very complex music is reproduced clean, competent and with great musicality.
It will deliver hard dynamic punches when asked to and never loose its sweet articulate highs or the grip on the music.
This amplifier will never sound cold or grainy.
Especially voices and acoustic instruments are lifelike.

Similar Products Used:

H/K citation, Audiolab, Counterpoint SA12, Daner Audio Systems

Soundstage depth and width, power and dynamics, smooth and detailed, and looks (to me anyway...I mine has the silver faceplate)

Sensitive to dirty and noisy AC lines..that's it. Use a good quality line conditioner.

The SA-220 is an exceptional amp. To get performance equal to it from an amplifier made today, be prepared to spend over $5000. It is built to last 100 years.

The entire audio spectrum is reproduced effortlessly, even at high volumes through inefficient speakers (I own new Magnepans). Bass is extended and solid, although not as tight and controlled as some of the better solid-state amps. This amp is your answer if you have speakers that could use a little more bloom in the lower octaves. Different bass instruments are clearly audible in the soundstage and there is no one-note bass here.

The midrange is pure heaven. Female vocals sound so real that it is unsettling. Percussion sounds like it is in the room with you. Listen to Jennifer Warnes, Diana Krall, or Patricia Barber through this amp and you'll be hooked.

There is no listener fatigue with the SA-220. The upper mids and top end are very natural and unforced. There is a sense of air, space, and delicacy in the upper registers equalled by few amps. Strings are natural and full of life.

Complex and dense music passages are revealed with the full soundstage intact. Every instrument is heard individually within it's own space.

If you find one of these amps on the used market, I heartily recommend giving it a try. At 220 wpc 8 ohms/420 wpc 4 ohms and over 600 watts bridged, it is a powerful and flexible amp that sounds darned amazing.

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This is the only piece of tube gear (yes, I know it's a HYBRID design)I've owned. Otherwise, amps from the various Madrigal Audio Labs divisions and other high end manufacturers

Powerfull but smooth, huge Transformer & capacitor, tube input stage gives flexibility.

Not refined as new amps (over $2500), too heavy (60 lbs), look ugly (but very interesting inside)

Must be best buy amp under $1000 used. When I compare with the Aleph 5, not much different since both use MOSFETs output. The Aleph is more refine, cleaner, crispier high and quicker lows. However, the SA220 is more powerfull, more bass extension and more emotion in the midrange than the Aleph. I preferred listen jazz, classical music through the Aleph. However rock and vocal, I like the Counterpoint.
I will upgrade to the NPS220 if I have the fund.

Similar Products Used:

Pass Lab Aleph 5

Soundstage, instrument timbre, everything...

None that I have found

I have always loved this amp since I first heard it over 12yrs ago. I listened to it extensively on Apogee's, Acoutstat's, Duntech's, ProAc's and other speaker systems. And I loved it each time. It reproduced all the 'little' things in music right. It had the dynamic range to handle the large classicals (what I listen to mostly), yet was delicate enough to handle the solo's. The soundstage is behind the speakers and deep (on my Acoustat 1+1's medallion mod). The image height and width is there. Horns had the bite but not the harsh sound as produced by a lot of other solid state amps. Violins make me cry (an ex-violin and clarinet player). Listening to large choir music, you can hear the individuals singing in the group and where they are singing. I can go on and on about this amp and it's wonderful sonic qualities. It was a 'steal' at $850 that I got it for. Made in 1989.
Associated equipment: Counterpoint SA3 pre-amp, SA2 head amp, VPI/Koetsu analog, Cal Icon CD, Acoustat 1+1's medallion mod speakers, and assorted MIT, Monster, Distech cables.
Note: This amp was a SA20 updated to SA220. According to Mike Elliot (designer, modifier of Counterpoint equipment), the only difference was in adding more protection to the MOSFET's. Otherwise, identical sound.

Similar Products Used:

Carver 1.5t, Onkyo M501

musical soft sound, powerful yet not analytical

soft, resolution

This amp is the cross between solid and tube, so does the sound. The sound is more of solid state because only the input stage is tubes. It use 5 6DJ8 type and a retifier tube. I give it a 4.5 star because the sound resolution is not clear as Krell or Levinson. But it has good value and has some tube flavor. the components is 1st rate, the case is undestructable. The amp should last for 100 years, quality like that (70lbs) will cost over $10000 nowaday. I don't think it has punch (ok bass) as other reviewer stated, but it's definitely a classic.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer SX-737, Levinson 27, Krell SA100S

Hybrid amp combine the muscle strength of SS and the intimate of tubes.

Medium soundstage

I like this amp because it let me change different combination of tubes (6DJ8/6922/7308/8223). It able to drive any speakers. Mr. Elliot (designer) suggest Sovtec 6922 tubes, however after trying different tubes I prefered the 7308 better. They're much smoother. 5 stars for used price, 4.5 for performance

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha A-720, Nad 317

The SA-220 is a hell of an amplifier. I purchased one, used, for under $1000. I believe that it originally sold for around $3000. Bass is tight and surprisingly DEEP for my speakers. Vocals are more natural than from a vast majority of SS amps. I like the SS/tube combo. Soundstage is, very appropriately, slightly distant with astonishing depth. Trumpets and other horns, which tend to "blare and glare" on other amps, especially all-SS amps, sound natural and nicely distanced. Very detailed AND very rich and silky sound- these two qualities are damn near impossible to combine in the same component. Counterpoint did it. This amp will NOT congest on dense choral and symphonic passages- you can hear the individual voices/instruments well.
This amp stands on its own right. It may be unfair to compare it to the better of the Mark Levinson amps (who is to say that Levinsons are not measured by Counterpoint's standard?). However I must do so for a point of reference based on my own experience. I consider Levinson amps to be true reference amps, having heard the 333 through- yes- $400 B&W DM 601's (very close to my DM 602's). Although I have done no side-by-side listening of Levinson and Counerpoint amps, I felt the same sense of awe with the SA-220 as I did through Levinson 333. The SA-220 is a truly impressive amp.

The SA-220 is a Counterpoint SA-20 which has been factory updated. 220wpc into 8 ohms. Over 700wpc into 1 ohms. Although the power supply and circuitry are in the same chassis, they are very well separated inside. Amp uses affordable 6DJ8 tubes. The SA-220 is further upgradable to an NP-220.

Amp is heavy at about 50 lbs. with some sharp corners on the faceplate. The SA-220 seems sensitive to AC line noise. I had a 60hz hum on both channels when the amp was plugged into a house circuit that contained a light dimmer. No problem in other circuits.

Related components- Adcom GFP-565 preamp, Transparent MusicLink Plus and MusicWave Plus IC's and cables, B&W 602 speakers.

5 stars regardless of price category.

This is a very strong amp with high sensitivity. The MOS-FET design gives strong punches and tight bass. It's very delighful to listen to in all dynamic ranges. Fine amp to be remembered as classic.