Sunfire amps

Shizelbs
Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
edited January 2005 in Electronics
Any particular reason Sunfire isn't mentioned more when people are asking for amp recommendations? Just curious.
Post edited by Shizelbs on
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited January 2005
    Price.

    Typically, the recommendations are Parasound, Rotel, Adcom, etc. These amps are much less expensive than Sunfire's amps.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2005
    Price, as in over-priced, or just too high a price point, but still a decent value?
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited January 2005
    Just too high a price point, IMO.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited January 2005
    Sunfire makes great amps.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited January 2005
    Great amps but for the $$, I'd rather go elsewhere...
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2005
    They are hard to beat for high current usage. For example, most amps are not truely high current capable. My definition for this is that the wattage doubles from 8 to 4 ohms. It doubles again down at 2 ohms and doubles again at 1 ohm. The Sunfires are actually capable of this. Most other amps will be something like double at 4 ohms and then a little more at 2 ohms and almost the same at 1 ohm.

    Great sub amp! ;)

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2005
    Toxicology- where else would you go?

    Personally, I have only heard them briefly, and that was powering some LSi9s. I think they would make for a good choice for LSi and/or SDA use. I have seen some on Audiogon that have a lot of juice to throw at some of those bigger SDAs.
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited January 2005
    There's definitely a lot of amazing amps on the market and it really depends on what your application is as to what I'd go with. But if you're looking for brands, there's thousands. Personally, I will be getting the Sunfire Ulitmate Receiver but only because I'm getting one at a STUPID price. If I was truly going to spend 4k on electronics, I'd look into many other brands (new and used) and consider all options. 2ch I'd do my best to get tube pre and tube amp. HT, I wouldn't go tube but would look into some serious power.

    Brands to look for (not all better than Sunfire, but worth looking into). Rotel, Outlaw, Krell, B&K, Lexicon, Aragon, Proceed (used only now), Mark Levinson, Bryston, Classe, etc etc...
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • SDA SRS 1.2
    SDA SRS 1.2 Posts: 255
    edited January 2005
    My wonderful Carver TFM-45 bit the dust after a lightning strike last June. In my search to satisfy my power-hungry SDA's, the only amp that offered the most power for the money was the Sunfire. At $4200, not cheap by any means, but much less than the comparable Krell with the same wattage. :)
    Main System: Polk SDA SRS 1.2 Speakers, Sunfire Signature 600~two Amp, Carver C-16 Preamp, Carver TX-11b Tuner, Marantz 6350Q TT, Philips CDR-775 Recorder, Teac V-707RX Cassette Deck, Signal Cable Double Run Speaker Cable

    Upstairs Den: Marantz 2325 Receiver, Marantz 5220 Cassette Deck, Marantz HD-880 Speakers, Marantz 6370Q TT

    Exercise (Kabuki speaker) Room: Kenwood KR-9600 Receiver, Pioneer CS-99a Speakers, Sansui SP-X9000 Speakers (not pretty, but LOUD! :) )
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited January 2005
    They are pricey, but IMHO they are not OVERpriced. Your getting a very high quality piece of gear for what you are paying. True high current amps, very solidly built (they're friggin tanks), great sonic characteristics.

    The Ultimate Receiver is a fine piece, too. One chasis, 7 channels of amplification (200 wpc, all channels driven, at 8 OHMS. 400 at 4 OHMS.)

    Sure there's alot of them out there. I'm not saying Sunfire is the end all, but they are hard to beat in that price range. You'd have to step up a few thou to get anything appreciably better. Like five digits instead of four...;)
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  • keith allen
    keith allen Posts: 734
    edited January 2005
    What they said...$$$$$,but I have heard one of the 2 channel amps,and I cant imagine an amp that would be any better,but you'll be just as happy with something musch less
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2005
    How would $1850 be for a Sunfire Signature Seven amp with 400w per channel in 8ohms?
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2005
    Sunfire is a solid brand, and a solid product.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited January 2005
    Originally posted by Shizelbs
    How would $1850 be for a Sunfire Signature Seven amp with 400w per channel in 8ohms?
    I'd say that's a great price for that kind of power! Jump on it!!!
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • Kevinvb11
    Kevinvb11 Posts: 105
    edited January 2005
    Sunfire is solid. You can't go wrong with many of their products and I have yet to hear anything bad about them. They have great customer service and offer a great product that lasts and is backed by a good warranty.

    KVB
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited January 2005
    Originally posted by Shizelbs
    How would $1850 be for a Sunfire Signature Seven amp with 400w per channel in 8ohms?

    It might sound like alot, but if you invested it, you wouldn't be disappointed. I regularly give my receiver a WORKOUT. It always stays very clean, and stable.

    Had an issue with a video switch, and the CS was excellent.

    I put out a little over 4K for it brand new, and have never regretted it for a second... ;)
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2005
    $1850 for a Sig 7 is a very good price... Unless it's got more scars than the cut up ho' in "Unforgiven" and is spitting fire, grab it with both hands.

    Original 5 ch Sig Cinemas are still fetching around $1600.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • PolkWannabie
    PolkWannabie Posts: 2,763
    edited January 2005
    Originally posted by Shizelbs
    Any particular reason Sunfire isn't mentioned more when people are asking for amp recommendations? Just curious.
    Because we're too busy listening to them ...
    Rick
    HT+ Sunfire TG IV, Dual CG Sig II's, CinePro 1K2, Oppo 981, Audio Technica PL120, Polk SRT's & F/X1000's, Samsung 71" DLP
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  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2005
    Sunfire is definatly on the long list, as i would have to actually save up for a used one.. But looks and reviews are very positive.. and seems the power output is crazy... I would like one one day...
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2005
    Well, thanks for all the replies. I guess I was just a little curious why no one mentioned them. They do seem to have crazy power outputs. And to me, if I am going to drop a ton of dough on an amp, I might as well save up a bit more and get something really powerful and good sounding. Used seems to be the way to go. I hope to go on a Sunfire factory/company tour someday too. If they do such a thing.
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