i need to choose a power amp

Kinetic

guys I recently change my beloved Polk LSIM for a pair of PSB Synchrony ONE

Im moving them with a Marantz PM8005 (70watts) Integrated AMP fairly nice

but since my PSB are power hungry, and my Integrated AMP can become a Pre-Amp...
I can add some Juice for a fair Price.. (800 dls for 140watts)

My first and obvious pick would be the Marantz MM7025, since I already have the Marantz Pre-Amp, the Marantz Network Player, and the Marantz Disc Player (and a Marantz/Clear Audio Turntable will be coming soon)

The Marantz MM7025 is $800 DLS wich I consider cheap and gives me 140 watts at 8ohms wich is double of the power I have (and this is awesome for me, really) but at that Price range.. Am I lowering the quality of my system???

The other choice was to change my existing Integrated Amp for the Marantz PM11S3 wich is even more powerful, (I ignore if its better in SQ. however "Marantz US" claims that is the same SQ as the one I have) but that is an staggering $5,000 Dls

five thousand dolars??? no way...

I dont really understand how a pre amp Works in terms of quality, when you hook up a power amp, does it matter? or it just become a volume knob??

tonyb

Yes pre amps matter as well to the SQ.....everything does. Cost wise, I'd look at used amps. McCormack, Parasound, B&k, Belles, just to name a few and most can be had under 800 bucks and provide enough juice and then some for those PSB's.

Kinetic

DSkip wrote: »

I'd look elsewhere. What is the rest of your rig - model numbers please. Cables?

Marantz PM8005 Integrated Amp
Marantz UD7007 Disc Player
Marantz NA6005 Network Player
PSB Synchrony One Towers
Richard Grey "The Power Co" Power Plant

Cables:
Knu Konceptz EKS RCA Cables
Knu Konceptz Karma SS Speaker Cables ( the "krux" cables are coming..)
Knu Konceptz Gold Plated bananas
Furukawa PCOCC power cable

Kinetic

tonyb wrote: »

Yes pre amps matter as well to the SQ.....everything does. Cost wise, I'd look at used amps. McCormack, Parasound, B&k, Belles, just to name a few and most can be had under 800 bucks and provide enough juice and then some for those PSB's.

Parasound is officially selled in mexico, the are going to give me the 150 watts to check it out, however I dont like it too much. The sound is a bit harsh, and the PSB Synchrony One needs a warmer sound, similar to a tube amp, or like a Marantz...

im going to check out the McCormack and the belles..

Mikey081057

The Parasound A23 plays around that price point and is very solid.

Mikey081057

or maybe a tube amp is the answer

Kinetic

Mikey081057 wrote: »

The Parasound A23 plays around that price point and is very solid.

thats the one Im going to play with..

Kinetic

DSkip wrote: »

What is the exact issue you are having with the sound?

Polks LSiM703 where having a nice prescence at almost any volumen, and does could play loudly

PSBs are big towers, I dont feel the prescence or the scenario that they could do, they almost do it at high volume levels...

most people say that this is becouse the PSB towers are power hungry, and a bigger amp would help a lot, Im not looking in improving the detail or tonality, i just want to have a nice scenario and prescence at regular volumes..

im not sure if i explain my self good, however i think you guys got the overall idea..

tonyb

Kinetic wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

What is the exact issue you are having with the sound?

Polks LSiM703 where having a nice prescence at almost any volumen, and does could play loudly

PSBs are big towers, I dont feel the prescence or the scenario that they could do, they almost do it at high volume levels...

most people say that this is becouse the PSB towers are power hungry, and a bigger amp would help a lot, Im not looking in improving the detail or tonality, i just want to have a nice scenario and prescence at regular volumes..

im not sure if i explain my self good, however i think you guys got the overall idea..

What your describing is the lack of power and how it relates to the sound your hearing. This is where an amp helps, better dynamics at lower volumes, more clarity. Find a good used one, a good set of interconnect cables to hook it up and you should be pleased.

erniejade

A bigger tower like the sync one does need some power to open them up but, they also need to be played a little bit louder vs the polks to get them to open up. The polks can sound more alive at lower volume. This is almost true of a lot of well built bookshelf speakers vs floor standing towers. I have heard the psb imagine t2 and t3. They sounded wonderful on NAD gear at the store and my mcintosh mc402 when I had them on trial at home.
I have not heard the sync one but I have read a lot lf the technology used in the t2 &t3 was used from the sync one.

My question is if you liked how vibrant or how the polks surrounded you, why didnt you just add a decent subwoofer to them to get more kick out of them?

So besides being slightly underpowered, how do you like the psb?

Kinetic

1.-the polks have a big impact in mid bass, bigger than the PSBs
the PSB are better in all the other things.. by far.. and I get them with 60% off of my local store, since they are not selling PSB anymore..

2.- The PSBs are one of the most natural sounding speakers that I ever heard, how ever it takes you some time in your house to really love them, those speakers are like a really good song, it gets better with the time..

the only ones better where the KEF Reference, but those where more expensive and without a discount, there was no way I could pay them (and also better not by much)

erniejade

I understand what you are saying. A bigger amp will help but, it won't give you the mid bass slam the polks have. Again, I have not heard the sync one but the t2 and the new t3 are natural sounding speaker with sweet highs so I get what your saying. The psb t3 is the new top pf the line for them so a discount will be a long time before you see one.

Btw congrats on the sync one. If yours are brand new, give them a good 300 hours of playing. They will open up even more.

BlueFox

For my PSB Synchrony One towers I started with a single stereo Cambridge-Audio 840W in stereo mode. Later I bought another, put both into bridged mono mode for 800W/ch, and was in heaven. The PSBs loved these amps, and they are one of the best buys in high-end audio. I also had the 840E pre-amp.

Here is the latest version of this wonderful amp.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CA851W

I still use both of them in my multi-channel system where they power Aerial Acoustic 7T speakers in the front.

These amps easily held their own with the Pass amps, but when the volume gets up there then the Pass takes over.

Kinetic

BlueFox wrote: »

For my PSB Synchrony One towers I started with a single stereo Cambridge-Audio 840W in stereo mode. Later I bought another, put both into bridged mono mode for 800W/ch, and was in heaven. The PSBs loved these amps, and they are one of the best buys in high-end audio. I also had the 840E pre-amp.

Here is the latest version of this wonderful amp.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CA851W

I still use both of them in my multi-channel system where they power Aerial Acoustic 7T speakers in the front.

These amps easily held their own with the Pass amps, but when the volume gets up there then the Pass takes over.

nice ones, now I know that power is the answer for the PSB Synchrony One

Kinetic

erniejade wrote: »

I understand what you are saying. A bigger amp will help but, it won't give you the mid bass slam the polks have. Again, I have not heard the sync one but the t2 and the new t3 are natural sounding speaker with sweet highs so I get what your saying. The psb t3 is the new top pf the line for them so a discount will be a long time before you see one.

Btw congrats on the sync one. If yours are brand new, give them a good 300 hours of playing. They will open up even more.

well I dont need the Polks mid bass, more is not always better..
the new T3 are almost the same performance as the Synchoony Ones..

and thanks a lot, my house is always open for audio enthusiasts, I will try to post a video soon

MrRoboT

What was the name of those older Cambridge stereo amps that could switch from stereo to mono? They went on sale at audioadvisor about 5 years ago and always wanted a listen.

[Deleted User]

lots of good advice here. If you like the A23 I'd hold out for the A21. I am.

Kinetic

are you selling the Parasound Halo A23?