Help finding an amp for Sda Srs 1.2

blownaway

Hello everyone, so it's looking likely that I will be picking up a set of 1.2 tl's in the near future. My sda 1c's just haven't been enough for what I want. I don't have a ton of extra money to spend on an amp, probably about $1000. I am located in Indiana between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. I don't mind a couple hour drive to pick an amp up, but don't want to go much further than that. I often play my system louder than I probably should, so I am pretty sure I should find an amp that is up around that 1000wpc that's recommended. I don't care if the amp is new or used, just haven't seen anything used or new in the places I've looked so far that really seems to fit the bill. Any help or guidance you all can give me is greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

F1nut

A 1000wpc amp in your price range means a pro amp and you don't want one of those.

For every 3dB increase in volume it takes twice the power. So, for a 90dB @ 1 watt efficient speaker such as the Polks in question to obtain a very loud 107dB would take 64 watts, to obtain a hearing damage level of 110dB would take 132 watts and to cause permanent hearing damage at 119dB would take 1056 watts.

Quality over quantity wins the day, every day and twice on Sunday.

What are you using for an amp right now?

blownaway

Thank you for your response f1nut. I definitely hoped to hear from you specifically.

I went cheap with a crown xls 1502 for the 1c's(I know, not a good amp for these, just wanted to see if I liked the sda experience enough to keep them on a heavy budget at the time). I definitely am bad about loud volumes, I know it's unhealthy for me... but to give an idea, I'm also into car audio spl competition sort of stuff and have a truck that can hit upper 130's, low 140's. I'm not looking to have a home speaker that fits that sort of bill, just a bit more fullness(all the time) and volume(on the occasions that I turn it up) than what the 1c's can provide me now.

What would a good, recommended amp run that would get up around that 750-1000wpc run? What would I be able to reasonably obtain with my current budget? The most I could stretch my current amp budget to would be about $2000, but don't want to push my budget that far at this time.

audioluvr

F1nut

You didn't hear a word I said.

Clipdat

Might as well just stick with the Crown.

blownaway

I do apologize for my message coming across in probably the wrong light. I honestly listen to my home system most of the time in the 90 some dB range. It creeps up into the low to mid 100's at times. Unfortunately, there are times that I want to go slightly further. I've always been a big proponent of having extra headroom, and I guess that's where my hopes to get a high power amp stem from.

I know that most measurements for dB in the car audio world are at 1 watt per 1 meter, is it the same for the way the vintage polks were originally rated?

I know I'm pretty limited by my budget, and staying within those constraints is a good thing for my hearing. I'm just hoping to find what I can get in a quality amp for what I can purchase at this time, with the massive amount of insight and knowledge everyone on this forum has to offer. I don't want to short change or hurt what the top of the line, and rare sda's, have to offer, even if it means reeling in my temptations to turn it up.

F1nut

Fair enough

It might work better for all if you picked some home stereo amps that fit your budget and post them here. We can then offer our opinions.

motorstereo

It sounds like a Proton d1200 may be a good fit for you. It comes in at or under your budget; has insane amounts of power and I can attest to it driving 1.2tls very well.

Nightfall

WHAT!?

invalid

If you bought a quality amp you might not need to listen at high spl's. I had an adcom powering my sda2a's and I always needed to play it loud, when I got a better amp it was great at lower volumes as well.

JayCee

I'll put in my .02 cents and give you a specific recommendation that's well within your budget and will be/is more than capable with any SDA. Parasound HCA-1500A. Can be had for ~$400. They're getting up in age but if you have a competent tech that can do a cap refresh at reasonable price it's a no brainer amp. Currently running a set of 3.1tl's with one (another in reserve) but have used 1500A's on 1C's, CRS's, 2B's, 1.2tl's, L-200 and the LSiM series (plus many other monitors).

To F1 and other's point...quality, quality, quality over quantity. Forget the uber watt amps and search for something in the 200-300 watt range and you're set. I'd be very surprised if anyone disagrees with this as a general reference point.

Will also add...I started out with an Emotiva XPA-2 about 10 years ago (new) and found it quite capable. I tend to disagree with some of the Emotiva dislike...I never found it a bad amp and quite enjoyed it. I did move on to "other league" gear but never regretted owning it.

blownaway

Is there any place online that does audio equipment specific listings(like a Craigslist, or a bring a trailer, etc.), that I would be able to take a look through besides us audio mart? Besides audio mart, craigslist, and checking with shops, maybe FB marketplace,, I have no idea how would be a good way to find used equipment.

F1nut

Audiogon, Hifishark, The Music Room

george daniel

Used Belles 350a or possibly 350 reference should provide a good match

JayCee

Latest generation Parasound in the lineage of the 1500A is on sale through Musicdirect @ a really good price. Regularly $1395, on sale for $999:
https://www.musicdirect.com/power-amp/Parasound-NewClassic-2250-v2-Two-Channel-Power-Amplifier?sc_src=email_2333533&sc_lid=130833566&sc_uid=QIIxpsp4LG&sc_llid=53631&utm_source=Emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=musicdirect+soundbytes+issue+#998_6_07-10-21sc_eh=0860fe8ee87102da1

Biggest significant differences at a glance are the current capacity...2250 vs 1500A is 45 and 60 amps, respectively...with the 2250 rated at 315 vs 205 watts @ 8 ohms. Regardless, just under your $ cap and should still be a nice match. Both amps will be stable to 4 and dips of 2 ohms. No firsthand experience with the 2250 but based on my 1500 and the shared love for Parasound w/SDA from many members on this forum, I'd wager it's a contender.

CP, anyone w/firsthand experience w/both amps????

There are better amps on the used market for under a grand but this would get you new along w/Musicdirect's return policy if it didn't live up to your expectations. Also, as suggested earlier, The Music Room is a safe bet for used and, don't remember seeing before, they're offering "Certified Pre Owned"....so assume they've done more than kick the tires when they bring in used gear. https://tmraudio.com/components/power-amplifiers/

***Edit to add: Musicdirect is known to negotiate prices. It's free to ask and all they can say is no.

engie490

Take a look at this:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649757875-liberty-audio-b2b-amplifier/

Seems like a smoking deal to me. Liberty makes quality gear.

Inscrutabl0915

Sold my Parasound 1500 … worked well, but preferred my Plinius 8200 integrated. OP, you might find one not too much over your $1000 budget (or a 1500 quite a bit less). Think both are better than the unnecessary gigawatt notions. There is a tipping point with quality vs quantity, even for power loving speakers.

Moose68Bash

I have used vintage Perreaux amps with both my 1Cs and 1.2tls. In my opinion Perreaux amps produce a great sound that fits somewhere between the solid state sound and tube sound.

My Perreaux PMF 2350 delivers 200 wpm into 8 ohms, and I used it for years with my 1Cs till I got the itch to upgrade. I purchased this amp from a Perreaux and Polk dealer in Mountain View, California, in 1989 and still own the speakers and amp.

I've been using my PMF 3150 with my 1Cs for a few years now, and it produces an even better sound. (My wife even likes it.) I used this amp with the 1.2tls till I upgraded to current-model Perreaux Prisma 750 monoblocks, followed by a CAT MBX 600.2 that I purchased from a member of this forum and am still using.

While I do not listen to music in the spl range you're looking for, I can get to 70 dbs with either of these amps on either set of speakers without cranking the volume to anything more than 30% of maximum volume on the various preamps I've used.

On eBay now, there is one PMF 2350 for sale and a (for parts only) PMF 3150. Perreaux is much more popular and well known outside the US, and Perreaux equipment often shows up on other used audio sites. The Canadian sites are sometimes good sources.

Given your listening preferences, the PMF 3150 would seem to be a great fit, if you can find one in good condition at your price.