Please rank these 3 amps, for a 5.1 Lsi setup.

jrlouie

Parasound 5250
http://www.parasound.com/nc/5250.php

Sunfire Cinema 200~5
http://www.sunfire.com/200FiveFrontPR.htm

B&K 200.5
http://www.bkcomp.com/ref200_57.asp

What do you guys think? Please do not make money a factor when deciding.
Please stick with these 3 amps.

george daniel

I prefer the B&K,have not heard the sufire,though.

cfrizz

I'd go with the Parasound. If I could lift it I would have one myself!

McLoki

I would say B&K, Sunfire and then Parasound in that order. (based on current and power ratings.)

Notice the sunfire is rated at 200watts w/ 5 channels driven and then 400 and 800 watt peaks into 4 and 2 ohms. (the 4 and 2 ohm watt ratings are peaks not continuous - there is no continuous rating given for 4 or 2 ohms)

Sunfire is by far the most efficent of the bunch, but B&K seems to be the beefiest amp for LSi speakers.

Michael

jrlouie

McLoki wrote:

Notice the sunfire is rated at 200watts w/ 5 channels driven and then 400 and 800 watt peaks into 4 and 2 ohms. (the 4 and 2 ohm watt ratings are peaks not continuous - there is no continuous rating given for 4 or 2 ohms)
Michael

I can't seem to find it. Can you point me in the direction to where it specifies the B&K is continuous with 375 @ 4ohms?

Also, the Sunfire seems to specify the 800watts @ 8ohms on a time limited basis, but it doesn't say that on the 4ohms rating. So is it incorrect to assume the 400 watt rating isn't continuous? Now the Parasound does specify continous, even at 4ohms.

Thanks for the input.

gregure

From my biased experience, I would rate it at B&K, Parasound, then Sunfire. I've heard too many poor things about Sunfire, from implementing funny ways to measure their outrageous wattage, to being rather dry for music. I think B&K and Parasound are much better for music, and really any of those would be bang-up for movies.

unc2701

Tossup B&K vs parasound... I lean towords the parasound (haven't heard that exact one, but this is based on other experience). I don't like sunfire at all. Sounds bad and bullsh*ts their specs (ala sony).

jrlouie

The Parasound rates 45 amps peak current whereas the B&K rates 75 amps peak to peak.
Hmm.

I've heard that the Lsi's love current.

amulford

The Sunfire outputs 80 peak to peak.

All three are very good choices. You need to get a listen on...

McLoki

jrlouie wrote:

I can't seem to find it. Can you point me in the direction to where it specifies the B&K is continuous with 375 @ 4ohms?

Also, the Sunfire seems to specify the 800watts @ 8ohms on a time limited basis, but it doesn't say that on the 4ohms rating. So is it incorrect to assume the 400 watt rating isn't continuous?

You are correct on the B&K amp. while the power ratings are always listed together (8 ohms and 4 ohms) as a "power rating" it is only in other areas that it states the 200wpc is continuous for 8 ohms. I looked through a number of reviews and none of them actually measured the amp to see what power it puts out.

In the manual for the Sunfire (page 18) the 8 ohm rating is listed under "power output" with the standard disclaimers. The 4 and 2 ohm rating is listed under the next title of "power at clipping, min:"

I could be misunderstanding the meaning of that, but I took power at clipping as peak not continuous.

I have always heard that sunfires are nice amps, but the B&K just seems to be more of a classic amp design with great reviews for both music and movies.

Michael

goingganzo

i am also thinking of upgradeing my amp stage to eather
http://www.sunfire.com/400SevenFrontPR.htm or http://www.lexicon.com/products/overview.asp?ID=4
or
http://www.simaudio.com/moonaurora.htm

unc2701

jrlouie wrote:

The Parasound rates 45 amps peak current whereas the B&K rates 75 amps peak to peak.
Hmm.

I've heard that the Lsi's love current.

Very good point, but I'm not certain that the B&K number is per channel, whereas the Parasound is... especailly given it's lower max current draw and the fact that the spec is the exact same for both the 200.5 and the 200.7

Anyhow, listen to them all and decide for yourself, but I really don't trust the Sunfire numbers.