New AMP for 1.2'stl

VCoak

Good day and hope everyone had a good Christmas;
I am in looking into mono amps to replace my adcom 5500. I'm currently running my 1.2tl (mod. from VR3) thru a gfp-750 pre>gfa 5500. No turntable, all digital at this time. Using the W4S DAC 2 DSDse with a mac mini and NAS. I also have an older monster avs 2000 signature in use. My budget is 3000.00. +/- .

I have clipped the 5500 a few times to see the wow that is loud factor...Genre is mostly Jazz, classical, classic rock, country; in that order.

Will be installing a dedicated 20amp very soon. Also ran the system w/o the pre and yes there is a quality of sound change. The pre adds a bit of warmth.

Clarity is critical with a touch of volume. Thanks Gents in advance

oak

maandjojo

I have had the great opportunity to own a pair of them for about 5 years or so. It wasn't until I paired them with the equally great Carver signature Sunfire Grand Home Theartre Amp. Combining the front channels and the surround channels in a biamp config. did the big boys show their full prowess. I was and still is the best sound I ever heard.

VCoak

As of now they will be for 2-channel music but very interesting thought for HT, hmmm

F1nut

Do you have the AI-1 or Dreadnought?

VCoak

I have the dreadnought. Built an 800 last winter. Works very well.

voltz

With that budget you really opened the door to a nice choice of amps.
even the Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated Amplifier is $2999 new, to bad you can't find one used but I don't think anyone ever gets rid of one.

vcwatkins

I had similar gear until changing just the pre recently: SBTouch, W4S Dac1 (upped to 2 spec), gfp-750, 1.2's (fully modded but not tl'd), Dreadnought.

I LOVE my Sunfire Sig II (625w x 2) that I bought here and would encourage you to try one if possible (and if you'd consider a used SS 2-channel).

Haven't tried mono blocks. My budget was $1-2k, which is likely to be as much as I ever put into a SS 2ch for this den rig. Looking to try a tube integrated on this rig soon.

Best of luck in your search,

Craig

vcwatkins

BTW, if interested, I wrote a few brief remarks about that amp at the end of the FS thread here: http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/155674/sunfire-sig-ii-625x2

VCoak

Thank you voltz & vcwatkins.

xsmi

The two I'de love to own I have a feeling are going to be too expensive because I didn't ask the cost. Dan D'Agostino or Doshi Audio. The Doshi's are tubes and I heard them yesterday paired with Wilson Audio XLF's.

Never mind. I just saw a used Doshi pre on the 'gon for $6K with a new price of $15K.

VCoak

Tube amps are definitely to be considered. Though I personally have not owned one before but many folks swear by them. My first concern would be the speakers and their need for power. A ball park idea on watts needed??? and mono or stereo make that much of a difference in tubes?

nooshinjohn

I run a pair of push-pull mono's in the 350 watt range and find the amps more than capable of allowing the 1.2TL to really come to life in a very BIG way.

VCoak

Thank you on the Carver info. Tomorrow sound testing a pair of wyred 4 sound sx-1000's. Seller is allowing. Never heard of the amps but own their dac (DAC2 DSDse)

nspindel

+1 on Krell. I've got a KAV-2250 that easily handles my 4.1TL's, and it used to drive 1C's with ease. My advice is stick with a solid state amp and get a tube preamp.

vcwatkins

Yeah, I agree with npindel on both the tube pre/solid state amp rec and the Krell suggestion as well.

My Dared sl2000/Krell 250/4.1tl combo was fantastic. Big regrets letting that amp go. Stupid. It just didn't play as well in the Dared/SRS2 main rig at the time. Didn't know it at the time, but it was due to associated gear, not the Krell.

dpowell

maandjojo wrote: »

It wasn't until I paired them with the equally great Carver signature Sunfire Grand Home Theartre Amp. Combining the front channels and the surround channels in a biamp config. did the big boys show their full prowess. I was and still is the best sound I ever heard.

+1! I run my 2.3TL's with a Sunfire Signature Grande 400x5. Fantastic sound and plenty of headroom. I've also run them with a Parasound Halo A51. Both amps have similar sound signatures with the nod to the Sunfire in the bass department. It also runs much cooler than the Parasound. I think you would fine either of their sound qualities more pleasing to the ear than the Adcom. The GFA7500 I owned a few years back seemed harsh to me ears.

VCoak

I pulled the trigger on a set of W4S SX-1000's. Finished the setup. Talk about amps that can push! Very neutral but clean in all volumes. Plus I found a bad speaker connection in my cabling.

Overall I am pleased and so is my electrical bill...

Tube pre-amp might be in the future... Thank you all for your input and advice.

tonyb

Cool man, glad you like them. Go on the hunt for a decent tubed pre, they mate well with SDA's.

VCoak

thx T. Working on a set of either doug's cables or acoustic zen.

VCoak

BTW the new amps have a slight buzz sound. Moved around some ic's but didn't help. Will try to by pass the preamp and also try plugging them directly to an outlet. currently they are powered via the monster cable avs-2000.

tonyb

Ugg....take those monos off the Monster PC pronto pal. What Ic's are you using to hook those bad boys up ?

VCoak

I am using doug's alpha ic rca. Will let you know when I D/C the Monster. Thx for the info.

tonyb

VCoak wrote: »

I am using doug's alpha ic rca. Will let you know when I D/C the Monster. Thx for the info.

Cool, if your going to use a PC'er, use one that's not current limiting.

VCoak

I have used the P/C for over ten years. I will to bet sound improves. Also looking at either dougs speaker cables or acoustic zen. A-gon has some decent prices now

F1nut

If you really want to up your game, I recommend MIT Shotgun S1's for your set up.

I agree with Tony, get those amps off the Monster AVS-2000

VCoak

I'm limited with outlets only two currently. I am thinking of pulling a 20 am circuit just for the audio only. How do you guys run your hardware if I may ask.

VCoak

MIT now that would be nice.

F1nut

Joe Abrams on Audiogon has some excellent deals on MIT Shotgun cables. If you don't see any S1's listed, just give him a call.

How do you guys run your hardware if I may ask.

All my rigs except one are on dedicated 20 amp circuits. The other one is on a dedicated 30 amp line. Whatever you do, pull 10 gauge. Well worth the extra cost.

VCoak

Thank you I truly enjoy learning about this never ending quest. Time to hire an electrician.

VCoak

BTW, Any polkie's that you know in San Diego area. Have yet to see one..

F1nut

Time to hire an electrician.

They usually don't like to work with 10 gauge and may even tell you don't need it, which you don't for a 20 amp line, but insist on it anyway.

BTW, Any polkie's that you know in San Diego area.

There's a few on here, dpowell is and I think BlueFox is around there.