WTB: high current amp

Gerres26
Gerres26 Posts: 864
in Wanted (WTB) Classifieds
Hey fellas, I'm on the lookout for a nice 2 channel amp for my 1.2tls. I'm looking to spend under $1000 hopefully. I've had a bunch of experience with B&K amps in the past. I really like the warmth and musical tone from those amps but I have an itch to try something else. I do have a Dreadnought so even non-common ground will work.

I've been on the lookout for a Mccormack DNA 1 or something similar but nothing has popped up locally. I just missed out on a Nakamichi PA7 that has had a recent refresh so that was a bummer as I've read a ton of good things about that amp as well. Anyway, if anyone has an amp that i may be interested in let me know. Any advice is appreciated as well.
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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,117
    Good amps are around, be patient.
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    And I think you're on the right track already - McCormack, Pass (that Nak for instance), nice evolutions from your B&K experiences IMO, you'll nab a good one if you're patient.
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    Does anyone know how the Usher R1.5 amps compare to the old thresholds or even Mccormacks for that matter?
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    Thanks Skip, i seen a couple sold recently and i was just curious what they were like in case one pops up in my price range.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    Gerres26 wrote: »
    Thanks Skip, i seen a couple sold recently and i was just curious what they were like in case one pops up in my price range.

    where are you located ?
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    Maryland, do you know of one for sale??
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    I have one but cannot ship.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    Bummer, but i totally understand not wanting to ship a heavy amp.
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    What state are you in?
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  • dkfreebird
    dkfreebird Posts: 1,186
    edited April 2018
    Texas,come to LSAF and pick it up and have a great time to boot. :)
    2 Channel
    Polk 1.2tl's Modded with dreadnought
    Musical Fidelity M6Si
    North Star Intenso Dac
    Auralic Aries Mini Streamer
    Oppo 103
    Pangea PC
    Wireworld Equinox 7 interconnects
    Wireworld Equinox 7 Speaker Cables and Jumpers

    Backups 2.3tl, Crs+ pin/blade with stands.Monitor 5 peerless,Monitor 4 peerless,Polk R200,McCormack Dna 0.5 Deluxe McCormack Dna 1,Dared Sl 2000A,Dayens Ampino Rogue Magnum 66 pre
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    Man, i would love to but its the same week as our family vacation
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    I came across a Musical fidelity A5 integrated amp and a Parasound HCA3500. I wasn't really looking for an integrated but how do these two compare? And would either of these be a jump in performance from say a B&K 200.2?
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  • dkfreebird
    dkfreebird Posts: 1,186
    Always wanted to try the Musical Fidelity. What are the asking for it? They don’t come up for sale very often.
    2 Channel
    Polk 1.2tl's Modded with dreadnought
    Musical Fidelity M6Si
    North Star Intenso Dac
    Auralic Aries Mini Streamer
    Oppo 103
    Pangea PC
    Wireworld Equinox 7 interconnects
    Wireworld Equinox 7 Speaker Cables and Jumpers

    Backups 2.3tl, Crs+ pin/blade with stands.Monitor 5 peerless,Monitor 4 peerless,Polk R200,McCormack Dna 0.5 Deluxe McCormack Dna 1,Dared Sl 2000A,Dayens Ampino Rogue Magnum 66 pre
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  • agfrost
    agfrost Posts: 2,428
    I bought this MF A5cr amp here a few years back. Been happy with it. Really happy.

    It was a definite jump in performance from my previous B&K ST202+.
    Jay
    SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
    Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
    Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
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  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,133
    Don't overlook a Proton D1200. They're in your price range and they're a great match for the big polks with their 7.2db of headroom. Mine surprised the hell out of me when I compared it to a single Mcintosh mc2500 on my 1.2tl's. I thought with that conservative 100 wpc rating it would fall flat on it's face but I was wrong.
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    motorstereo wrote: »
    Don't overlook a Proton D1200. They're in your price range and they're a great match for the big polks with their 7.2db of headroom. Mine surprised the hell out of me when I compared it to a single Mcintosh mc2500 on my 1.2tl's. I thought with that conservative 100 wpc rating it would fall flat on it's face but I was wrong.

    I had a pair of Proton amps in my car back in the late 80s. Absolutely rocked!
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    Any experience with the HCA3500? The thing seems like a beast with 350 watts @8ohm and almost 100 pounds but I wonder how good the sound is. I believe its a John Curl design and their top amp at the time.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    Those are great amps. I'm not sure they are common ground due to their architecture.
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Those are great amps. I'm not sure they are common ground due to their architecture.

    I do have a dreadnought so no issues there. It seems to be a hard to come by amp as there isn't a ton of info out there about them. My other worry is shipping an amp that heavy from a couple of states away. The seller says he would take it to UPS and have them package for shipment since he doesn't have the original box. Has anyone been down that road as far as them packing an amp?
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  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,133
    edited April 2018
    It depends on the packing job. I've had a 129lb amp arrive from half a continent away unscathed and I've also had a tuner arrive from half a state away all smashed to hell. Local pick up is always a good idea so you're not at the mercy of the packer or the shipping outfit.
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    That is my fear, you never know with shipping. Even if its insured I'd rather not deal with that. Only problem is Im in Maryland and he is in South Carolina.
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  • Legender
    Legender Posts: 478
    I would never trust UPS to pack that securely. A few peanuts in the box = absolute disaster. Don’t ask me how I know. If double boxed won’t protect it.
    Music: Oppo103 - Parasound JC2 - Parasound A21- SDA 3.1
    Theater: Denon 3808 - B&K 7500/Emotiva XPA-3- RTi12, CSi5, RTiA7x4, PSW505
    Sleeping: Marantz 70005 - Harman Kardon 2400 - SDA 2
    2 Channel: Cary 306 SACD - Canary Audio 906 - Pass Labs x250 - PS Audio Perfectwave DAC, Polk LSiM705, SVS SB13 Ultra
    Office: Dell Optiplex, Emotiva XDA-2, Adcom 5500, LSiM 703
    Spares: Yamaha CA-810; LSi 15; Kenwood Basic M2a, Yamaha M60/M80, Polk Monitor 7, SVS SB13 Ultra
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    the thing is, if ups or fedex packs it they cannot deny the claim on bad packing. so it's on them if there is any damage.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    marvda1 wrote: »
    the thing is, if ups or fedex packs it they cannot deny the claim on bad packing. so it's on them if there is any damage.

    That's a good point. I wonder how long that process takes if it was to show up in bad shape from shipping damages.
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  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,133
    In my case it was just a couple weeks and ebay had to step as I had a dirt bomb seller I had bought it from. He claimed I smashed the unit. Thankfully I took pics to document it arrived busted up so ebay didn't buy his nonsense.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,450
    It's a short drive go see merica on the way down....
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    It's a short drive go see merica on the way down....

    Lol only a 8 and 1/2 hour drive...i only drove 4 for my 1.2tls
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,378
    I am using a Parasound HCA-1000A, with some upgrades, to drive my LSi15's, which are notoriously hard to drive. The Parasound does a great job driving these speakers. Still I wonder how an HCA -1200A or HCA-1500 would drive them.

    I also have an HCA-800ii, with upgraded caps, that did a respectable job driving the LSi15's.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 864
    skrol wrote: »
    I am using a Parasound HCA-1000A, with some upgrades, to drive my LSi15's, which are notoriously hard to drive. The Parasound does a great job driving these speakers. Still I wonder how an HCA -1200A or HCA-1500 would drive them.

    I also have an HCA-800ii, with upgraded caps, that did a respectable job driving the LSi15's.

    Nice, we're trying to work out a way to get the HCA3500 here in one undamaged piece. So we'll see, if not I'll just keep looking. I like what I've read about the musical fidelity amp also, i would just rather have a power amp for if nothing else the ease of trying different preamps.
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  • monepolk
    monepolk Posts: 1,142
    If I recall that requires 20A outlets.
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