Marsh A400s?

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,643
edited July 2006 in 2 Channel Audio
opinions wanted on Marsh in general and on this amp.

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Speakers it would be driving are 350 watts, 4 ohms, 92db effec.

And.. if you have any recomendation on an amp - tube or solid state, let me know. I am open to alot of suggestions as I have alot of time to see this through. So the world is your playground as long as its around 1,000 - shipped.

However, I dont want anything by these brands...

B&K, Rotel, NAD, AMC, Adcom, Yamaha, Marantz, etc...

I just want something that isnt common - that is beastly and Ill never have to upgrade.

Must be able to rock my socks and sound good while doing it. My amp brands are limited knowledge to me - so I'm just trying to see what is out there. I am pretty set on what speakers I want... but thats my secret for the time being. :)

A few that I have looked into so far is Mcintosh, BAT, Marsh...
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,552
    edited July 2006
    Ask Sean, he had some Marsh gear for a VERY short time.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,643
    edited July 2006
    He is actually the one who recomended it to me.

    With my limited knowledge on amp brands (who is out there?? lol)

    Marsh and Mcintosh are by far my favorite...

    I know of Odyssey - but a bit pricey, as is Krell and the like.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,643
    edited July 2006
    Haha, Im not looking for any exact recs - just amp brands with solid performing amps.

    Im looking into methods to speed up the process... knowwhatImean? lol

    Im more so trying to get a list of brands...

    Find some amps... then find the means to demo said amps and figure out what I wanna do.

    I like that Marsh though.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,643
    edited July 2006
    Where its made dosnt really bother me. Solid build is solid build...

    Although made in the good ol USA or Canada would rule - but it wont break it eh...

    Ive never even heard a tube amp - so I dont know how to gauge that power. I want brute force more so than finese. Ill say that much.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited July 2006
    Why brute force? Bigger power doesn't mean better sound. The speakers you're looking to purchase are pretty efficient.

    Sid -- it's time to graduate to tubes. A greatly improved sound over what you have now is guaranteed. I used to own a brute force 150-watt Odyssey amp and my 60 watt tube amp is equally powerful and, of course, sounds a helluva lot better.
    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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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited July 2006
    You shoulda bought doro's Adcom 565's.

    Anyhow, if you want something that'll last oddessy and bryston both have 20 year warranties. You'd have to go a little over 1000 to get your hands on those, but it can be done on the used market. And for bryston, 125 watts=165; 250=300+. And both brands are reputed to be stable down to 1 ohm, even if they don't advertise it.

    If you want to go integrated, I can also reccommend musical fidelity and the krell kav300i- again options around $1000 and they have HT pass, so they can act just as a power amp. MF has the x-150, which has tons of balls for what's supposed to be an 80watt integrated... under $700, used. IIRC, It's got the same power supply as the A3.5 which comes in at 150watts and the x-150 has a built in MM phono stage. The A3.5 can be had under $1100 used. No phono stange on it. There's also the 300iL, which is going to be closer to $1500- there was a discussion on it recently.

    So, that's the gear I've been playing with/ demoing recently and liked their sound.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2006
    I sent you an assload of auctions and names of brands to look at. All around 1000, most alittle over haahaa! Dont forget about shipping though, most of those amps weight in around 60 lbs or more.

    UNC, I don't think he want an integrated. Why'd you leave out the 3.2 though? It's amazing :D haahaa
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited July 2006
    Whoa!!! New speakers, Sid? Which model?

    Since you just want brute force, go SS. Remember, that type of sound can get very tiring or fatiquiing very quickly. I've done that. 98db eff Klipsch on a NAD power amp. Brute force it was, but not enjoyable after a few days.

    Also, with your choice of speakers, forget high wattage. Look for a good clean 50-100w/ch amp that can drive 4 Ohms. SS amps have the most distortion when putting out very little power. If your speakers are very efficient, you're not gonna get into the amp's sweet spot.

    If this system is going into your bedroom, skip the tubes for now. You're gonna turn the room into a sauna. No joke!
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited July 2006
    Zero wrote:
    If I am mistaken than please correct me, but I recall your taste swings more towards jazz and acoustics. Bear to mind that not only does Sid rarely listen to the same music as you, but he is after a totally different sound.

    Be careful about perpetuating a myth about tubes. One doesn't buy tube gear for specific genres of music. Tube gear can give hard rockers a hard on and head bangers a...errr... ugh... you get the idea.
    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: 28,643
    edited July 2006
    Any recs on some Tube amps?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited July 2006
    Check out Frank Van Alstine's amps. He's been building amps, preamps, & dac's for nearly 40yrs. Everything is built to order so there is a waiting period. Let me tell you the wait is well worth it. I have his OmegaStar 440EX ss amp (220x2) and it is absolutely incredible. He also builds hybrid amps as well. You won't hardly ever find any of his gear for sale, that's because nobody ever parts with them. He has an almost cult following that is amazing. The best part is that his gear is priced for us working stiffs so we don't have to mortgage the house to buy new gear. His site is AVAHIFI.COM
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2006
    Did you look at all those auctions I sent you? I'm pretty sure I didn't send you garbage lol.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited July 2006
    Zero wrote:
    Sid's taste to be music :p - Disturbed, Korn, Audioslave, you know how it is.

    I have to agree on this one, hardly worth wasting a tube amp on... :D
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited July 2006
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    Any recs on some Tube amps?

    I'd say the best way to get into tubes is getting a completely rebuilt vintage unit. You'll learn about tube biasing and stuff. Great prices too. Don't let the age fool you. Some vintage units smoke modern ones.

    Check out Craig at NOSValves. http://nosvalves.com/index4.htm He's a cool and friendly guy. He rebuilds/restores vintage tube equipments. See if you can snatch a used Fisher, Scott, or Dynaco. Go for an int. amp. The great thing about Craig's stuff is they hold their value. If you don't like it, get your money back by selling for the same price. He's very well known by tube people, so knowing he serviced/restored the unit is a big plus.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,643
    edited July 2006
    Thanks for the recs.

    and BTW, I am not 13 anymore...

    Eva Cassidy, Sister Hazel, Angie Aparo - but I still rock out...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2006
    God those tube amps are ugly. That would make me feel like my room was an antique center.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited July 2006
    Airplay355 wrote:
    God those tube amps are ugly.

    Yep.
    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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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited July 2006
    McAlister Audio Trey. My PP150 75 x 2 tube amp has just as much punch (more actually) than my Halo A23 sand amp. It doesn't get much more "unique" looking than that (horizontal output TV tubes). Hand made in Canada. I listen to a wide variety of music and it excels at everything. The pictures and prices on the site are not current.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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