new amp for 2 channel

[Deleted User]

to match up with the 703's. Ideas?
Sold some stuff and a lot of my wife's stuff on ebey.
I should:
'A' buy a new amp with the money thats in paypal
'B' transfer the money to my wife's account
'C' Take out some insurance on myself
'D' A&C

gudnoyez

First off if you don't have any life insurance, I would go that route take care of the family first. If you are joking ask skip how one of those Parasound Integrateds would match up with those 703's.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Gud. I should add I have about $800.00 large so far.
My little Emo XPA-200 does about 150 watts per channel and
is balanced. I'd like to stay balanced but just got Voltz pre that
isn't and I'm thinking of chucking that requirement. I jumped on
a pair of my fav XLRs used so they could go up for sale if someone
needs some nice XLRs. They are the Aural Harmony Sonnet-IIs.
I got one pair from I fellow Polk and loved them so much I picked
up a second pair...

sgtmick63

My 703's are powered by a Parasound 2250. It sounds like the Parasound was made for the 703's. Unfortunately I will be replacing the 703's in the near future. The Parasound did sound great with the 703's and visa versa.

[Deleted User]

Funny you mentioned it as That is exactly the Amp I'm looking
at but as you know, the fundage isn't there yet. Thanks!

sgtmick63 wrote: »

My 703's are powered by a Parasound 2250. It sounds like the Parasound was made for the 703's. Unfortunately I will be replacing the 703's in the near future. The Parasound did sound great with the 703's and visa versa.

gudnoyez

https://www.parasound.com/halo/integrated.php

Here she is and she's a beaut. I would love to own one but a Marantz SA 8005 is going to be my next major purchase, perhaps skip could take that 800 as a down payment and put one on layaway for ya!

[Deleted User]

yes that would do nicely Thanks!

falconcry72

I'm a parasound fan, have a few of their amps. And old HCA-1500 would do awesome with them, for more like 500 bucks. Or an HCA-2200ii if you could find one (other than in my closet). I have a Halo A23 I'd sell you. If it were me, I'd save up just a tad more and find a Bryston 4B-ST. You can still find them with 4-5 years of warranty left, and they are in a different league, IMO. Bryston + LsiM = awesome. Let me know on the A23, it's a great amp and has easily enough power for the 703's.

sgtmick63

There a two 2250's on ebay with very little mileage. Going for less than $1,000.

MrBuhl

^^ this! ^^ Good Luck!

msg

Another recommendation for Parasound with 703's. with some nice interconnects and speaker cables, makes for a smooth, clean combination.

if you can get there, that HCA-3500 in the FM along with some good cables is a fantastic combination. I ran one with 703's and a P5 pre, I found the experience to be tight and controlled with impactful output, and clean, floaty detail when called for. it was one of the best listening experiences I've had, to date.

what kind of space are you using them in, and what kind of listening levels?
with a smaller space and more moderate levels, a refined smaller amp may also serve you well, but obviously a bigger amp of same quality/refinement in good health along with some good cables will net you cleaner more impactful output at higher listening levels, with less congestion, if loud-loud is your thing. I used to think it was my thing, but that seems to be changing now as I've been experiencing improvements in quality.

used to be I'd pass on anything lower than 200wpc, now, after having unexpectedly enjoyable listening experiences in experiments with gear in a smaller spare room, I'd consider something like the A23 that Falcon has. I'm learning that while big amps can be better, smaller amps can work very nicely as well, especially if it's a smaller space and the amp is more refined.

admittedly, I still look for power primarily, but a tie for consideration now is the quality/refinement of that power. I've developed more respect for the lower powered but more refined amps over the past 6 months or so. would love to check out that Musical Fidelity M6si that @WagnerRC picked up a few months back (would enjoy hearing a nice review of this piece, perhaps with some comparison to other equipment). so, perhaps you might consider a sweet, "modest", quality integrated since you're looking for a pre as well?

not that this is necessarily one of those more refined amps, but provided as an example, I'm currently experimenting with a little Hafler Trans Nova 9300 at 150wpc that I picked up last year when I was amp shopping. not the best experience I've had, but working surprisingly well in the second space of 11x11ft. I'm using it with 703's and a Parasound Model 2100 pre and older D/AC-800. wouldn't necessarily recommend this front end at this point, since I'm finding it a little hot up top (I'm thinking it's cable related, though), but it was more just a point for smaller amps in smaller spaces. I'd like to try an A23 like the one Falcon has to see how it sounds.

falconcry72 wrote: »

If it were me, I'd save up just a tad more and find a Bryston 4B-ST. You can still find them with 4-5 years of warranty left, and they are in a different league, IMO. Bryston + LsiM = awesome.

I'd love to hear more about the Bryston experience, Falcon.
I had a line on one of these a year ago when I was first looking for an amp, but seller was a little sketchy and the deal fell through. he was one of those guys full of stories, delays and BS excuses, and just a load of talk talk talk. hehe, glad now it didn't work out, but I do wonder about Bryston.

[Deleted User]

Thanks falconcry. I kinda want to wait for a bit more scratch as well...

falconcry72 wrote: »

I'm a parasound fan, have a few of their amps. And old HCA-1500 would do awesome with them, for more like 500 bucks. Or an HCA-2200ii if you could find one (other than in my closet). I have a Halo A23 I'd sell you. If it were me, I'd save up just a tad more and find a Bryston 4B-ST. You can still find them with 4-5 years of warranty left, and they are in a different league, IMO. Bryston + LsiM = awesome. Let me know on the A23, it's a great amp and has easily enough power for the 703's.

[Deleted User]

Took the wife and her mother for hair and nail appointments.
Just got back from picking up some flowers. Getting my ducks in
a row.

nbrowser wrote: »

A, C and E: Gather up flowers for wife for acceptance of new audio device.

audiocr381ve

falconcry72 wrote: »

I'm a parasound fan, have a few of their amps. And old HCA-1500 would do awesome with them, for more like 500 bucks. Or an HCA-2200ii if you could find one (other than in my closet). I have a Halo A23 I'd sell you. If it were me, I'd save up just a tad more and find a Bryston 4B-ST. You can still find them with 4-5 years of warranty left, and they are in a different league, IMO. Bryston + LsiM = awesome. Let me know on the A23, it's a great amp and has easily enough power for the 703's.

We're in the same boat redned so I'm following this thread closely.

Falcon, the Bryston just clobbers the Parasound amps huh? Very interesting. Those are in my price range right now.

Joey_V

C - insurance.

B Run

Interested to see what you end up doing and what you think, I'm running the Xpa-200 and Xda-2 as well and enjoy them but have also been thinking about trying something new.

[Deleted User]

It's not a bad little setup at all. I'm thinking let all the minor changes set in
and then make my move later when more funds become available. OTOH,
the wife could spend it. There are worse things...

B Run

I've really enjoyed mine so far, but once I got new speakers it makes me want to try some new electronics too haha. I'm prob going to hold out until I have the budget to do a nice upgrade.

B Run

I considered that too, especially since they're 20% off right now!

afterburnt

20%? Maybe I should cancel the parasound?

afterburnt

I could get an oppo with the savings

tonyb

afterburnt wrote: »

20%? Maybe I should cancel the parasound?

I wouldn't, that's just me though.

voltz

no offense but everytime I look at their site the were having a sale but i didnt see a price drop, was looking right before Christmas and then saw they were on sale for the holidays but I swear I saw the same same price.

The price was tempting but in the end I choose the Vincent Amplifier to match my pre or I would have gotten a Parasound Halo.

B Run

It's 10% off your cart for the summer sale and another 10% if you're an E-club member which you can't sign up for anymore unfortunately.

afterburnt

tonyb wrote: »

afterburnt wrote: »

20%? Maybe I should cancel the parasound?

I wouldn't, that's just me though.

I am not going to but I sure would like to have that Oppo

[Deleted User]

do you have their Gen 2 Pre? I almost went that way at one point...
what do you think?

xcapri79 wrote: »

If you like the XPA-200, I think you will like a pair of XPA-1L's even better. I know I do.

F1nut

Bel Canto in your price range. Sounds fantastic with the 703's.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-bel-canto-ref150s-power-amp-2015-06-05-amplifiers-62249-highland-il

headrott

Bel Canto for the win!!!

[Deleted User]

hmm let me check it out. Thanks!
Sounds great but would need a change of speaker
cable. Makes me want to move up their line just reading about it.

voltz

Here a Vincent SP-331 for sale on Ebay...offer him $850 because you can get a Bel Canto's for $800

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vincent-Audio-SP-331-Hybrid-Stereo-Power-Amplifier-Tube-Solidstate-/111687000209?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1a01106091

[Deleted User]

Thanks voltz!
strange that the Vincent might be the perfect solution

voltz wrote: »

Here a Vincent SP-331 for sale on Ebay...offer him $850 because you can get a Bel Canto's for $800

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vincent-Audio-SP-331-Hybrid-Stereo-Power-Amplifier-Tube-Solidstate-/111687000209?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1a01106091