Alternative to Sunfire Signature 5 channel amplifier

EndersShadow

Recently it has been discovered that their is starting to be a shortage of parts to repair Sunfire amps. I am still planning on shooting for a Sunfire Signature 450x5, but I need to have some alternatives that are around the same price (1k to 1.5k). I am planning on driving a front 5 of LSi's so I need some decent power @ 4 ohm and the more the better.

I am looking for a 5 channel only, dont need 7 as my AVR can handle the rears (which I dont even have right now). I am looking for used models since buying new isnt worth it for me personally.

I am thinking brands like Parasound, Adcom, ATI, Rotel. I am looking for specific model numbers so I can start my researching now on them. I am hoping for something more than 300 wpc @ 4 ohm minimum if possible.

Let the suggestions begin

nooshinjohn

You could always grab a pair of Emo's...:twisted:

EndersShadow

nooshinjohn wrote: »

You could always grab a pair of Emo's...:twisted:

I am tempted to fly to Cali just to smack you for that...

falconcry72

Parasound HCA-2205

220 x 5 @ 8ohms

300 x 5 @ 4ohms

60 amps peak per channel


http://www.parasound.com/vintage/hca2205at.php

Monster Jam

EndersShadow wrote: »

Recently it has been discovered that their is starting to be a shortage of parts to repair Sunfire amps.

News to me. I picked up a decade old Sunfire about 6 months ago or so and upon delivery noticed that it had significant noise on every channel. I took it in to my local shop and had them service it. There is still a tiny bit of noise in each channel, but you can only hear it if you put your ear right against each speaker. I figured that was close enough for me. They said they changed out a bunch of capacitors.

So I am wondering, what else could go bad that does not have universal parts that would be difficult to replace?

If I had to go for alternative, the Parasound 5250 used to be high on the list, but I think now I would go Adcom. I love my GFA-555. More than the Sunfire even.

EndersShadow

Monster Jam wrote: »

News to me.

It was to me till I saw this recently: http://www.carveraudio.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15678

Like I said I still plan to source one, but want other options just in case.

tonyb

Grab a B&K amp and be done with it. I don't believe there's anything propriotory in there so parts can be whatever you like them to be.
Do you have room for 2 amps ? You can buy a better amp for the fronts, and then spend less coin for the center and surrounds.

EndersShadow

tonyb wrote: »

Grab a B&K amp and be done with it. I don't believe there's anything propriotory in there so parts can be whatever you like them to be.
Do you have room for 2 amps ? You can buy a better amp for the fronts, and then spend less coin for the center and surrounds.

Normally you want the wattage to be the same for the front three though. Any specific B&K models to be on the lookout for

BlueFox

Get a newer Sunfire, such as the TGA-5400. 800W/ch @ 4 ohm. I use mine for 4 LSi15s, and a PSB Synchrony One center.

chumlie

There's a nice looking BK Referance 7250 5 chanel with Parasound processors ( 200 x 5 ) at ebay now in the Parasound section for $800 buy it now that looks good. Ends in 23hrs. No affiliation, just passing it on.

tonyb

They have a few different models for 5 or 7 channel in series one or two. I believe the one your application calls for is a 200.5 or a 220.5, they aren't creative with nameing their amps so the numbers state wattage and channels. Also they fall in your price range.They also have some older 3 channel amps if you want to save some coinage.

My other thought was to get a amp for the front 2 or 3, like a Bat, Classe, something alittle higher up the food chain and then spend a few hundies for a used Adcom for the rears.

Sherardp

I bought the newer Sunfire TGA5200 and love it for my theater. You could always go with the newer models that are within your budget. If not then check out Outlaw Audio or some of the others you already mention.

Face

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/339143

Lietuvis91

falconcry72 wrote: »

Parasound HCA-2205

220 x 5 @ 8ohms

300 x 5 @ 4ohms

60 amps peak per channel


http://www.parasound.com/vintage/hca2205at.php

This would be a great option, it's a nice amp, but the HCA series is also showing their age, and are likely to need maintenance. Mine is in th shop and I hear of my other ones needing all sorts of minor to major work. Great amps, but noting lasts for ever If you buy anything older, make sure you make friends with a good amp guy in town. Otherwise, I would spend the extra $1000 or more to get something newer and hopefully trouble free, because those repair bills might just add up quick and the time you waste will make it worth the extra of a newer amp.

erniejade

Reading the article, that is true for any amp that you would repair by changing the board out instead of tracing the problem and fixing it. Lets say a 30 year old Marantz amp .. any of them I am sure plenty of people can still repair them even though you cant just go buy a new full board for them. If that was the case my 1955 jukebox would have been knocked out of commission years ago lol. Its not that they cant repair them, its it will take more time to trace down an issue by a real tech rather than a tech that would just pop in a different board.


When computers first came out, motherboards were expensive to replace and it was cheaper to have a real tech trace down the bad cap solderder joint or whatever was wrong with it.

I'm surprisedrised when they said the 300X2 or the Cinema Grand before 96. The Cinema Grand if it was a preamp with the processing iunderstandstand more than an amp unless something is blowing up inside and completely frying the board out, i dont understand outside of cost to track down the problem, why they would say they are out of parts or running out of parts for the amp... You think it would cause a panic saying that and take businesssness away from the shop in the long run because people might panic and start a rash of selling and or throwing the unit away because they think it can't be repaired, and also cause resale vaule to go down when people do internet searches for the items they want to buy and see articles saying no more boards and think it wouldnt be repairable? When I have done searches on the web for products I am interested in, this polk board and the carver boards come up quite often.

Sorry for the rant and any typo's. On the cell trying to type all of this.

tonyb

Face wrote: »

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/339143

Forgot about these guys, good suggestion.

cfrizz

erniejade wrote: »

...You think it would cause a panic saying that and take businesssness away from the shop in the long run because people might panic and start a rash of selling and or throwing the unit away because they think it can't be repaired, and also cause resale vaule to go down when people do internet searches for the items they want to buy and see articles saying no more boards and think it wouldnt be repairable? When I have done searches on the web for products I am interested in, this polk board and the carver boards come up quite often.

Precisely, when I saw this thread, I immediately came to the conclusion that if my amp breaks down on me, I will simply look for another amp and it won't be a Sunfire.

nooshinjohn

cfrizz wrote: »

Precisely, when I saw this thread, I immediately came to the conclusion that if my amp breaks down on me, I will simply look for another amp and it won't be a Sunfire.

Fear not... these amps will have parts available for a long time to come.

pearsall001

My Rotel RMB-1095 is nothing to sneeze at. It does a great job for both HT & 2 channel. It falls nicely into your budget.

EndersShadow

pearsall001 wrote: »

My Rotel RMB-1095 is nothing to sneeze at. It does a great job for both HT & 2 channel. It falls nicely into your budget.

Yeah, my only concern is looking at it from a pure wattage perspective it only does 330x5 @ 4 ohms. The Signature does 750 :eek:

And before someone jumps on me, I realize watts are not the end all be all as current matters as well.

leroyjr1

330 watts is more than enough for LSI's. You will never use the whole 750 watts from that Sunfire.

EndersShadow

leroyjr1 wrote: »

330 watts is more than enough for LSI's. You will never use the whole 750 watts from that Sunfire.

I will if I use 2 channels of it to power some DIY subs :biggrin:.

leroyjr1

EndersShadow wrote: »

I will if I use 2 channels of it to power some DIY subs :biggrin:.

You should also consider a nice used pro amp for your DIY sub build. On the used market you'll be able to get more power than your Sunfire at a much cheaper price.

EndersShadow

leroyjr1 wrote: »

You should also consider a nice used pro amp for your DIY sub build. On the used market you'll be able to get more power than your Sunfire at a much cheaper price.

Yeah, I have looked around at some of the QSC offerings. Might just end up with a plate amp in a external box for the sonotubes lol. I want to try to keep the sonotube as hole free as possible top to bottom. Plus with very little skills in the DIY department its much easier to build a box out of sight with the amp rather than deal with flush mounting it in the tube.

Drenis

leroyjr1 wrote: »

You should also consider a nice used pro amp for your DIY sub build. On the used market you'll be able to get more power than your Sunfire at a much cheaper price.

This.

Take a look at the popular brands like Behringer and Crown. Better performance then any similarly prices plate amp or a Sunfire Signature.

niente

I was able to scoop up my Parasound last year - 2nd hand,but brand new to boot!
Right in the middle of your $ range

with the v.2 model out you may be able to catch a deal on a 5250

385 per -5ch

Makes my LSI's all that they can be - good luck

dcmartinpc

leroyjr1 wrote: »

You should also consider a nice used pro amp for your DIY sub build. On the used market you'll be able to get more power than your Sunfire at a much cheaper price.

For subs, I still stand by the Crown CE 4000 if you don't need processing, the XTi 4000 if you do... The Crown CE 4000 makes insane power and is Class I like the newer ITech amps at a MUCH lower price. If you can run either one on 220v power, it would be a good thing, they both produce more power on 220v over 110v.

You know my vote on the amp for your front 5, Parasound HCA-2205A! Most need nothing, some might need a little TLC, but, IMHO, they are worth it. Either that or stick with your original Sunfire plan. My 2205A handles my full compliment of LSi with no problem. I run it on my 4 surrounds and center and a Parasound HCA-2200 II on my front 2. Excellent combo but it is a LOT of iron so you need lots of space to do it.

In regards to amp repair and parts... for someone who knows what they are doing with amp repair, they can replace the individual components, not just board swapping... I wouldn't worry about it if it were me.

Don

PS - If you have any questions on your DIY sub build, let me know. I have built 3 large subs, as you saw, and I have some experience planning and building them. All depends on your budget.

newrival

Is there a particular reason you're so dead set on the Sunfire?

EndersShadow

newrival wrote: »

Is there a particular reason you're so dead set on the Sunfire?

Couple reasons:

1. Wattage: This thing has enough wattage to drive just about any speakers I would ever want/need in my HT. As such I would probably not ever upgrade from it. I am working hard to make sure my next amp is one that I will be happy with for a long time and not need to change out.

I do realize wattage alone isn't the end all of good sound quality, but I have heard a Sunfire Sig on a set of SDA's and LSi's and it sounded remarkably good

2. Polk + Sunfire seems to be a good match sonically as many folks have commented to me, and as I have experienced first hand

3. WAF factor. This amp looks quite nice and the wife likes its looks. There are other amps that fit that bill as well, but many others don't

4. Price: I see lots of these hit CL for low low prices in very good condition. A fellow Polkie has snapped a few up at well under 1k which is a steal for these units. Other brands that are a bit more well known (Parasound, Rotel) tend to be priced at closer to their actual market value...