Amp for SDA 2.3's

Gill3896
Gill3896 Posts: 21
edited November 2012 in Electronics
I am powering my 2.3's with a Yamaha RX-V3000 line outs to a QSC RMX-850. I have a Carver TFM-22 also. Thoughts? I've heard pro's and con's about Pro Amps. I like the extra power and headroom but I would like advise from experience.
Yamaha RX-V3000, 12 Band EQ per channel (x6)
SDA SRS 2.3 Non upgraded, 400w/ch
SDA II 3 Driver 2 Soft Dome 1 Passive 400w/ch
JBL 4311's 360w/ch
Post edited by Gill3896 on
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,338
    edited November 2012
    Myself and several others have used a Parasound A21. Get yourself a nice tube preamp to go with the Parasound and you'll thanks me later.

    Where about in Pittsburgh do you live?

    Regards,

    Carl
    Carl

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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited November 2012
    You are definitely not doing your speakers any favors running the pro amp. Sure it has plenty of power and headroom, but they can be harsh and unrefined. Have you tried running the TFM-22 with the SDAs and if so what did you think? If not I would try that on your SDAs and see how that sounds. There are plenty of good amp choices out there all depending on what your budget and listening preferences are.

    Also I just noticed you are running the Yamaha AVR as your pre. This is not the ideal for music listening. If I were in your shoes I would try adding a good two channel preamp to your system using your TFM-22 as the amp before getting another amp. I think the addition of a good two channel pre with the Carver amp will give you very good sound quality. You'll be in for a shock.

    If you are using your SDAs as part of a home theater system and that is why you are using the Yamaha AVR as your pre, you can still add a two channel pre with home theater by-pass and keep the SDAs in your home theater system. You will get the best of both worlds with this setup. I good AVR as a pre for HT, and a good two channel pre for music only.
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited November 2012
    Your 2.3's need power and current - lots of both! Even the TFM 22 is going to be lacking, though you'll get sound out of the speakers.
    As stated above a good preamp would be important as well IMO.

    What's your budget, and would you consider used?
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited November 2012
    Dawgfish wrote: »
    You are definitely not doing your speakers any favors running the pro amp. Sure it has plenty of power and headroom, but they can be harsh and unrefined. Have you tried running the TFM-22 with the SDAs and if so what did you think? If not I would try that on your SDAs and see how that sounds. There are plenty of good amp choices out there all depending on what your budget and listening preferences are.

    Also I just noticed you are running the Yamaha AVR as your pre. This is not the ideal for music listening. If I were in your shoes I would try adding a good two channel preamp to your system using your TFM-22 as the amp before getting another amp. I think the addition of a good two channel pre with the Carver amp will give you very good sound quality. You'll be in for a shock.

    If you are using your SDAs as part of a home theater system and that is why you are using the Yamaha AVR as your pre, you can still add a two channel pre with home theater by-pass and keep the SDAs in your home theater system. You will get the best of both worlds with this setup. I good AVR as a pre for HT, and a good two channel pre for music only.



    In similar situation. Could you recommend some decent 2ch pre with a HT bypass. I'm not satisfied using my Onkyo 706 as pre right now. Thanks, and sorry wasn't trying to thread jack.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited November 2012
    No problem, there are a lot of good ones out there. I'm kind of partial to Anthem/Sonic Frontiers products so the first one I would be looking for would be an Anthem Pre-2L. It's a tube pre with HT by-bass and remote control. The only problem is they don't come up for sale very often, so if you do see one for sale, jump on it. Lot's of folks here really like the Adcom GFP-750 also. There are lot's of good ones out there. I also prefer tube Pres, but that's my personal preference. My advice would be to frequent the FS section here, your local (and adjoining area) Craigslists, and Audiogon. When you see a good pre with HT bypass come up, Google and do as much research on it as you have time for. Like everything it all depends on your budget and listening preferences.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited November 2012
    TNHNDYMAN wrote: »
    In similar situation. Could you recommend some decent 2ch pre with a HT bypass. I'm not satisfied using my Onkyo 706 as pre right now. Thanks, and sorry wasn't trying to thread jack.

    Not sure what your budget is, but I definately recommebd a Belles 21A tube pre-amp. It has HT bypass and is a fantasic tube pre-amp. The outptut caps can be upgraded very easily to improve the sound further. Larry, (Toolfan66) owned (owns?) one I believe. Also George (george daniel) also own(ed)s one (correction! George owns the 20A, not the 21A).
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited November 2012
    thanks for the recommendations, I'll do some research.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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