SDA2b amplifier advice.

earlus

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the forum and would appreciate a little direction and advice please. I've just purchased a set of SDA2b's which is my first step in putting together a decent 2 channel hi-fi setup. They're currently being powered by an old JVC A-S7 amplifier which is getting me by until I get something better.

I've got an old Mesa Boogie Simulclass 295 Stereo guitar guitar power amp made in the 80's. It's powered by 2 x EL34's and 2 x KT88's per channel and puts out around 110watts per channel. It has line level inputs. If this was paired with the right hifi preamp could this setup work well or am I better off avoiding this route and going with a more traditional setup?

Thanks,

Earl

gmcman

I don't think a guitar amp would do your speakers any good. I'm sure it will work, but I believe they are not a flat-response thus designed for guitar use.

There are many threads on this topic here. You will thank yourself by using a real amp for the 2B's, perform the TL mod and enjoy.

I was using a good Denon 3300 for my 2B's and while great for HT, when I went up to a used B&K amp the difference was night and day. These speakers like alot of clean power and mainly high current.

Welcome to the club.

onebadchad

What kinda price range are you looking in???

nhhiep

I used the Denon AVR 3808 with my 1Cs before, which have more drivers than yours. My setup worked fine, except the bass is kinda lacking. But if I didn't have an external amp, I'd not know. If you don't want an amp, try to get a used Denon AVR on CL or Harman Kardon 2 channel AVR like 3380 or 3490. Used AVRs (pre HDMI) (Denon, Sony ES, HK) are cheap and they give you a lot of honest power.

earlus

Thanks for all of the advice guys.. Will do some research into the amp.

soundfreak1

Ok where to start???? First forget the guitar amp period! Next deside on what your expectations are ie how good you want it to sound. Than come up with a budget for the power (amp ) sources will come next but not until you can answer the first two ? first. Once you have a budget for the power post it here and we can give you advise! You found a potentionlly very good pair of vintage speakers (congrats) they like and imho need a lot of clean highcurrent power to reveail thier full potiential.having said that you could spend from a 100.00 to 100,000.00 to achive that. You can buy vintage or new but you need a starting point. And we need a starting point to help you! There are just too many directions you could go to start.i wouldnt start researching amps till you have a price in mind first or you can lose you mind with all the choices. Thats the best advise i can give you at this point! Trust me you will understand why i say this later.

earlus

I've listened to a couple of Rotel amps and checked out a few Denon, Marantz and Yamaha's so far. I haven't decided on budget yet, but will be no more than $1500.


BTW the reason I looked at the Mesa Boogie power amp option wasn't necessarily a cost cutting option. These were a pretty high end unit in their day and if it was going to do the job well when matched with the right preamp I'd consider it. I contacted Mesa Boogie and they confirmed that the amp is 100% safe for hifi. Mesa Boogie used to modify these amps for hifi guys back in the day by removing the 1/4"jack inputs and replacing with RCA's. They even released a hifi version of my amps bigger brother The Strategy 400 which was called the Baron. This was basically a Strategy 400 with RCA jacks and VU meters on the front.
http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Out_of%20_Production/The_Baron/the_baron.htm


I gave the Mesa Boogie a try through the SDA2b's at safe common sense volume levels and it sounded great. Even from the headphone output of the old JVC amp I have it sounded big, warm, dynamic and had tons of clean headroom. I'm sure it would sound much better with a decent preamp, but with the experimenting out of the way I'm still going go the conventional hifi amplifier route.

onebadchad

I have a rotel amplifier for in the for sale section, I have used it to run my sda 2bs and it has plenty of power. $200 something to keep in mind, Thnks CHad

littlewoodboats

earlus wrote: »

removing the 1/4"jack inputs and replacing with RCA's. [/URL]

Going from good switchcraft side wiping phone plugs to RCA is not necessarily an upgrade.

Schurkey

earlus wrote: »

I haven't decided on budget yet, but will be no more than $1500.

For that kind of cash--and with a little luck--you could buy EXCEPTIONAL amplification on the used market. I've bought MARVELOUS stereo amplifiers for ~$950 or less, shipped to my door. I got a pair of 400-watt monoblocs for $1700 shipped. I'm partial to Aragon; but there's a dozen or more brand names of amps that would kick **** provided they're in good condition; and for $1500 you could buy a lightly-wounded eBay- or Audiogon-advertised unit and perhaps ship it back to a service facility for an overhaul to better-than-new specs (and maybe have money left-over).

You'd do yourself (and the rest of us) a favor by avoiding the cheap Chinese "new" amps. Why add to their economy when our own is in trouble?

lanchile

earlus wrote: »

I've listened to a couple of Rotel amps and checked out a few Denon, Marantz and Yamaha's so far. I haven't decided on budget yet, but will be no more than $1500.


That budget is very good to get a very good amplifier! just to name some brands that you should consider to get your hands on.

Bryston
Mcintosh
krell
Adcom
B&K
Hafler
I had all of those brands,these amps are very good and you can get a nice deal on Audiogon.
or if you are crafty with your hands, you can always go to the DIY way...like I did!

drumminman

lanchile wrote: »

earlus wrote: »

I've listened to a couple of Rotel amps and checked out a few Denon, Marantz and Yamaha's so far. I haven't decided on budget yet, but will be no more than $1500.


That budget is very good to get a very good amplifier! just to name some brands that you should consider to get your hands on.

Bryston
Mcintosh
krell
Adcom
B&K
Hafler
I had all of those brands,these amps are very good and you can get a nice deal on Audiogon.
or if you are crafty with your hands, you can always go to the DIY way...like I did!

I would add Odyssey to your list.

earlus

Thanks again for the advice guys. Also, I'm located in Australia. The more exotic brands aren't as readily available as in the states and are more expensive too.

soundfreak1

I agree, with that budget going vintage would give you a large selection to choose from ( even for down under) patience ans vigilence will pay dividends and you could find a very nice amp and pre. The list above would be a good one to shop for. Dont know the secondary market ia like down under but if you have contacts in the us and you do ( club polk) locate and than ship.

kidglove13

I have always like Adcoms and have good luck with all the ones that I have owned which is a couple of 535's a 545 and now a 545II

Currently running a 545II that has been completely recapped with my new to me 1B's which I picked up a few months ago and I could not be happier.

I think that Adcom is a really good bang for your buck if you can source one where you are.

onebadchad

Theres a adcom 545 for sale 200 in the for sale section

mesquitehead

I've owned Jolida, Outlaw, Yamaha, Parasound and several others but none of them made my SDA1C's sing like a Carver TFM-35. You can still get them repaired and there are mega mods you can have done as well.

lanchile

kidglove13 wrote: »

I have always like Adcoms and have good luck with all the ones that I have owned which is a couple of 535's a 545 and now a 545II

Currently running a 545II that has been completely recapped with my new to me 1B's which I picked up a few months ago and I could not be happier.

I think that Adcom is a really good bang for your buck if you can source one where you are.

I agree, Adcom are very good amps and they are very reliable, if they are recapped, checked bias and dc offset, they will last for many, many years without a problem!!!. The big Adcom 555 is a killer, it was desined by Nelson Pass. these kind of amps will outperform most of today (toys) amps. I used to work fixing amps,tv's, vcr, stereos etc and I know what is under the hood of these amps.

earlus

Have any of you guys tried Yamaha's A-S2000 intergrated amplifier? I'd be interested to know any opinions.

cheers,

Earl

kidglove13

I do not know anything about that model.

Seems to be a high end Yamaha unit $1500+ range from what I have seen

But I have had a very good experience with my older Yamaha HT system.

Yamaha makes a good quality product

earlus

Guys,

What are your thoughts on 2 x Denon POA-4400 Monoblock Power Amps with Denon PRA-1200 Preamp to power the SDA 2b's?

Cheers,

Earl

onebadchad

Mono blocks wont work. you need a coomon ground amp or you risk burning up your amp and speakers both