Good used 2 channel amps

CCNJ
CCNJ Posts: 384
edited February 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
Been looking on Audiogon lately for a good two channel amp to complete my setup (totem hawks, benchmark HDR pre). Anybody have any experience with these amps?

Musical Fidelity A308 - $1500
Classe Twenty Five - $1500
Ayre 5xe - $2695

Thanks,
Chris
Rig1 - Totem Hawks, Benchmark HDR, Parasound A21, Sonus, Samsung 52 LCD, Audioquest Type4
Rig2 - LFD LE IV Integrated, Harbeth P3ESR, Rega Dac, MF V-Link, IMAC, Audioquest Type4
Post edited by CCNJ on
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2012
    That's funny I was just looking at that Classe 25 today too! I'm also interested in opinions....
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • CCNJ
    CCNJ Posts: 384
    edited February 2012
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    That's funny I was just looking at that Classe 25 today too! I'm also interested in opinions....

    I'm keeping my finger hovering over the buy it now button:cheesygrin:
    Rig1 - Totem Hawks, Benchmark HDR, Parasound A21, Sonus, Samsung 52 LCD, Audioquest Type4
    Rig2 - LFD LE IV Integrated, Harbeth P3ESR, Rega Dac, MF V-Link, IMAC, Audioquest Type4
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2012
    Or buy something new: http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/332077
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited February 2012
    Face wrote: »
    Or buy something new: http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/332077


    My whole rig would be W4S if it wasn't for my MIT cables, I just don't want to put out the funds for another set of cables just yet. Not sure if I would have a problem or not but I want to have something here to run the W4S gear if there was an issue.. I love their gear and the price is right IMO..
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    My whole rig would be W4S if it wasn't for my MIT cables, I just don't want to put out the funds for another set of cables just yet. Not sure if I would have a problem or not but I want to have something here to run the W4S gear if there was an issue.. I love their gear and the price is right IMO..

    Your not changing out your electronics because of your cables?

    Seems odd to me :rolleyes:
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited February 2012
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    Your not changing out your electronics because of your cables?

    Seems odd to me :rolleyes:

    There can be an issue with the impedance switches/boxs that the MIT cables have and the W4S gear because of the impedance that the W4S gear has, they can clash, I don't remember all the ins and outs but there is a chance, and considering I have $4K in cables it makes it hard to risk it.

    Get your read on boy toy before you just jump in, maybe someday you will learn what synergy means, not every piece of gear and cables mesh with one another, and yes I would have a rack full of W4S gear if I was willing to chance it. I have talked to them many times and visited their web site many times..

    I have the DAC2 but I'm not using MIT cables to my pre..
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2012
    If you're not using MIT's between your DAC and pre, you can use the STP-SE. ;)
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited February 2012
    Face wrote: »
    If you're not using MIT's between your DAC and pre, you can use the STP-SE. ;)

    What about from the pre to the amp?
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited February 2012
    I've had my eye on w4s gear lately. There is a gorgeous stp-se pre for sale locally that I wish I could pick up. That gear is not cheap. But I want it.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2012
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    What about from the pre to the amp?
    You should still be ok.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    edited February 2012
    Look for a used McCormick dna 225....powerfull and musical. Also any Pass labs you come across should tickle you.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2012
    The MF has that classic british sound which would likely synergize well with the unforgiving Benchmark DAC.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited February 2012
    Face wrote: »
    Or buy something new: http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/332077

    That amp only weights 26 LBS...what kind of technology is that?
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2012
    Newer than most of the other suggestions.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • thejck
    thejck Posts: 849
    edited February 2012
    can you suggest any good reading material on these w4s amps?
    what is ICE POwer?
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    thejck wrote: »
    what is ICE POwer?
    It's a proprietary Class D technology developed by these guys.http://www.icepower.bang-olufsen.com/
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2012
    Here are some reviews: http://www.wyred4sound.com/118550/html/page.html
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited February 2012
    FTGV wrote: »
    It's a proprietary Class D technology developed by these guys.http://www.icepower.bang-olufsen.com/

    I said this here in 2011....One of the best systems I have heard consisted of Magico Reference four way speakers powered by eight Acoustic Reality monoblock amps; six eAR Thaumaturge and two eAR 1001's with a special 2.5 upgrade for the bass. Acoustic Reality improved on the implementation and it taught me that ICEPower is nothing to be looked down upon.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    SCompRacer wrote: »
    I said this here in 2011....One of the best systems I have heard consisted of Magico Reference four way speakers powered by eight Acoustic Reality monoblock amps; six eAR Thaumaturge and two eAR 1001's with a special 2.5 upgrade for the bass. Acoustic Reality improved on the implementation and it taught me that ICEPower is nothing to be looked down upon.
    Thats a nice little "budget" system.:cheesygrin:

    Agreed the likes of ICE power and Hypex have proven Class D done right can sound very good.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited February 2012
    FTGV wrote: »
    Thats a nice little "budget" system.:cheesygrin:

    It is nice to see how the upper class lives.:cheesygrin: IIRC the speakers were $135K a pair. Massive aluminum towers, like 700 pounds each. To personalize them, he had some rare Australian hardwood fitted between the multiple ribs machined on each side. Audioezra from Audiogon....nice guy, he actually delivered the Carver Amazings I bought from him with his sons SUV (dear wife had our SUV that day). I just had to pay to fill his sons gas tank. Great memory.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    edited February 2012
    I would love to hear some Magico's, consider yourself lucky Rich. Those badboys are far and few between. I know some of Montana's big boy's weigh in at over 500 lbs. a piece too, only for solid flooring, concrete solid that is. Kinda lends itself to our motto of "go big or go home."
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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