relatively inexpensive 2ch amp for Lsi-7's

jflail2 · July 2013

Hey guys:

I'm looking for a somewhat inexpensive 2 channel amp that would push my Lsi-7's well. Maybe 200 watts per, and a slim presentation, as this is going to be sitting in my bedroom in all likelihood.

Used Rotels or Adcoms are of interest, but I am wide open to suggestions/offers.

Thanks.

starkiller · July 2013

your location?

cnh · July 2013

You don't need 200 watts x 2 to push Lsi-7s. A 50 watt x 2 NAD would do it fine. Or an Adcom 100 x 2. Especially in a small room. Though rated for 4 ohms the 7s are not the most demanding load.

I was fine when I was driving them with a NAD C325 integrated. And now they're on a NAD 214 which is only 80 x 2. I also run them in a smaller/mid room.

cnh

nguyendot · July 2013

That NAD is like 140w x 2 @ 4ohms, and with a Dynamic Headroom of stratospheric - it's real world output is well into the sweet spot of the LSi7s.

jflail2 · July 2013

Starkiller, I'm located in Charlottesville, VA. Close to Richmond, and about 3 hours from DC and Baltimore.

So for clarity, while I wouldn't need too much beef on the amp front, the 7's would need more than just a cheap receiver to push them properly, correct?

cnh · July 2013

nguyendot wrote: »

That NAD is like 140w x 2 @ 4ohms, and with a Dynamic Headroom of stratospheric - it's real world output is well into the sweet spot of the LSi7s.

You're right. I forgot to mention that 80 watts x 2 is the 8 ohm rating and not even the dynamic 8 ohm for two channel. NADs do have a lot of reserve power!

It's also true that an Adcom 545 at 100 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms would be almost double that for a 4 ohm load.

cnh

nguyendot · July 2013

jflail2 wrote: »

Starkiller, I'm located in Charlottesville, VA. Close to Richmond, and about 3 hours from DC and Baltimore.

So for clarity, while I wouldn't need too much beef on the amp front, the 7's would need more than just a cheap receiver to push them properly, correct?

Correct. While they don't require a lot of power, they do need good clean power. The NAD 214 that cnh is talking about is actually a perfect match. It is the amp that got me into the audio game along with the matching preamp.
I now wish I never sold it, but oh well. It has a sweet sound, ridiculous amounts of reserve power (hence it's weight - power supply alone weighs more than a cheap receiver), and ability to drive a wide load make it a great amp. You can also look for an Adcom 555.
These aren't gigantic amps but they're not slim either. Both can be had for around $200.

TNHNDYMAN · July 2013

What kind of budget are you wanting to stay within?

cnh · July 2013

jflail2 wrote: »

Starkiller, I'm located in Charlottesville, VA. Close to Richmond, and about 3 hours from DC and Baltimore.

So for clarity, while I wouldn't need too much beef on the amp front, the 7's would need more than just a cheap receiver to push them properly, correct?

I'd agree with that. I ran 7s on an HK 3490 for a while and that was OK. Then for a while I use the Pre-outs on the HK with an ADCOM GFA-545 and that was noticeably "better"!

cnh

jflail2 · July 2013

Well that NAD 214 sounds like a winner. For a pre-amp, I can use anything with pre-amp outs correct? So if I have some HDMI goodies upstairs, I'd be good with a cheapo receiver with HDMI inputs (and preamp outs)+ NAD 214?

TN, I'd like to keep it "within reason" (which I know is a useless benchmark.) Maybe 200 for the amp, and 100-200 for the receiver?

Definitely not more than 400 total to start with, if at all possible.

starkiller · July 2013

North Carolina would be a bit expensive to ship the Crest at 60lbs

TNHNDYMAN · July 2013

Jflail2-

I might have something that would work for you, and maybe meet halfway instead of shipping.

I've got a good Adcom 5400 2ch amp that would work great avail for $200 and just picked up an older receiver with pre outs yesterday. I need to check the receiver, I was told that the tuner section is bad, but other than that it is supposed to work fine. I'll check it out after rest the family is asleep tonight and get back to you. The receiver is a Harman/Kardon AVR65. If all works except for the tuner then price $100.

Let me know if you might be interested.

TNHNDYMAN · July 2013

^ no remote on the avr, but if it all checks out ok, I might grab one avail on epay for under $30.

jflail2 · July 2013

Hey man, that Adcom sounds perfect actually. And it's not too bulky from what I could see online. I'd be happy to meet half way somewhere. I could also make it an excuse to see family in western NC and make it an even shorter trip for you.

I'm pondering adding a Denon receiver with wifi and hdmi, so ill need to think for a bit on that. I have one downstairs and a Denon remote app on my ipad, so it'd be nice to keep the receiver the same brand if possible.

TNHNDYMAN · July 2013

Sounds good. I'll pm you some contact info tomorrow and we can talk about it. My wife's bday is coming up soon, so some make her happy $ would be great. If you pick it up here on your way to NC I'll drop price to $180.

Drenis · July 2013

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

I've got a good Adcom 5400 2ch amp that would work great

Surprised you still have that thing! Good price. Solid amp. I own one and it powers SDA's just fine. LSi7's will be cake.

cnh · July 2013

That's an update of the 545 I had, I believe. Nice piece. I ran it for a while with the 7s and an HK 3490 as mentioned above. A nice combo.

It was also nice with my Denon AVR 2807 below.

You'll be fine!

cnh

TNHNDYMAN · July 2013

Drenis wrote: »

Surprised you still have that thing! Good price. Solid amp. I own one and it powers SDA's just fine. LSi7's will be cake.

I know. I used it to power the 2.3TL's for awhile before switching out to a Rotel 981. Then went with a NAD 216 which has the most in reserve but I still like the sound of that Rotel a little better, maybe. The 7's won't be a problem for the 5400.

jflail2 · July 2013

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

Sounds good. I'll pm you some contact info tomorrow and we can talk about it. My wife's bday is coming up soon, so some make her happy $ would be great. If you pick it up here on your way to NC I'll drop price to $180.

Cool. Maybe we could meet in Boone, depending on where you are in JC? PM'd you my #. I'm up till midnight usually, so after 10PM is totally fine.

Thanks for the help gents! No one helps me spend my hard earned $$ quite like the good chaps at Club Polk

jflail2 · August 2013

Good talking to you TN. I'll have the paypal for the 5400 across next Friday at the latest. Please send me your paypal email addy, and I'll have you queued up.

I haven't figured out when I can ride down yet, but I'll keep you in the loop.

TNHNDYMAN · August 2013

Sounds good Jason. I'll PM you in a minute with paypal info. Adcom 5400 sold pending funds. Thanks.

jflail2 · August 2013

Payment sent. Look at that, you didn't even have to list it in the flea market

Looking like 3rd or 4th weekend of August. Keep me posted if anything comes up, and otherwise, I'll try to make it down one of those 2 weekends.

Thanks Travis!

TNHNDYMAN · August 2013

Thanks for quick pymnt. Look forward to bringing it to you in Boone. Another successful transaction that will never make it to my member sales rating. I need to make to the time to track some of these sales down and forward the info to the correct moderator I guess.

jflail2 · August 2013

I was wondering about that myself. I've had probably 4-6 more transactions than show for my rating, and all of them were smooth as butter.

I guess the nice thing is, people can still search our sales threads, and confirm pretty quickly that we're on the up and up.

jflail2 · August 2013

Sent you a PM, but let me know if you're game to ship. Work has decided to crank things up 3 notches, so it's looking less and less likely that I'll be able to get home in August.

TNHNDYMAN · August 2013

Got the PM, we will work it out. I've got to ship another amp anyways, so I'll need to go by Home Depot and get some 2" foam to help protect during shipping. I'll bubble wrap everything and make sure it gets there safe. Send me a mailing address and I'll look suitable boxes tomorrow and try to get it out early next week. $20 is fine for the extra. Thanks.

jflail2 · August 2013

Awesome, thanks man. Picked up an open box marantz 5007 at crutchfield for the Lsi setup so I can have hdmi, wifi etc and still have preamp outs.

PayPal and shipping address incoming.

jflail2 · August 2013

Curious if anyone has stand recommendations for the LSi 7's. I bought a pair of 30" Sanus stands at Crutchfield. They seem to be the correct height, but the speakers feel a bit wobbly on those stands.

I did some research on here, as I'd rather not drill holes in those pristine 7's, and zip ties seemed to be the most economical answer to getting these speakers more firmly attached to those stand. Just curious if anyone else has opinions here. I'd like to keep the Sanus stands if at all possible.

Thanks.

TNHNDYMAN · August 2013

Looks like it should be there later today Jason. That was quick since I only dropped it off at ups 2pm yesterday. Hope you are very happy with it.

jflail2 · August 2013

Hey man. Yup, I came home Friday and it was already here.

It was packed so well, I felt like the low at Christmas who couldn't get his present open.

Great transaction here. TN was very responsive in his communications, and seriously packed this amp to survive an atomic bomb.

I'll have it set up as soon as I get my new bedroom furniture. Thanks man!!

scottyboy76 · August 2013

Glad to see a satisfactory transaction, TN is about as good as it gets, now lets stay on him to put that money towards debs bday bash, classifieds can get pretty tempting, lol.

If im not mistaken, thats one of my old amps TN bought, wish i had kept one, could use it now.

congrats both

relatively inexpensive 2ch amp for Lsi-7's

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