Power Amp Possibilities?

Early B.

Since I've made my last HT front speaker purchase;) , I'd like to power them with something other than the receiver. The speakers are pretty efficient -- I'm guessing at least 92 dB. Got a few questions, though:

1. One thing I noticed is that I have to turn the receiver volume up to a fairly decent level to pull the bass out of the speakers. Is this a function of the speakers, the room, or the amp not being powerful enough?

2. I'd like to get a killer, used 2-channel amp. My budget is $750 or less. By killer amp, I mean one that hits hard like a Krell or Odyssey or Parasound 1500A. What other SS amps do you recommend for this purpose?

3. Since my speakers have high sensitivity, does amp size matter? For instance, all other things being equal, will a 125 watt amp perform just as well as a 200 wpc amp? BTW -- I never play movies very loudly, so I'm wondering if I'll have more than enough headroom even with a "smaller" amp.

Thanks.

pearsall001

Check out Audio by Van Alstine gear. I'm tickled pink with my OmegaStar 440EX. The only downside is that you hardly ever see them on the used market. Guys keep them forever in their systems. They really are that good!!

http://www.avahifi.com/

haimoc

I would try Rotel 1080 amp. It is around $600-$700 on the 'Gon.

W WALDECKER

Early B. wrote:

Since I've made my last HT front speaker purchase;) , I'd like to power them with something other than the receiver. The speakers are pretty efficient -- I'm guessing at least 92 dB. Got a few questions, though:

1. One thing I noticed is that I have to turn the receiver volume up to a fairly decent level to pull the bass out of the speakers. Is this a function of the speakers, the room, or the amp not being powerful enough?

2. I'd like to get a killer, used 2-channel amp. My budget is $750 or less. By killer amp, I mean one that hits hard like a Krell or Odyssey or Parasound 1500A. What other SS amps do you recommend for this purpose?

3. Since my speakers have high sensitivity, does amp size matter? For instance, all other things being equal, will a 125 watt amp perform just as well as a 200 wpc amp? BTW -- I never play movies very loudly, so I'm wondering if I'll have more than enough headroom even with a "smaller" amp.

Thanks.

Hey Early,Happy Thanksgiving! Upscale Audio has a very nice used 200 wpc Anthem Amp 2 SS/Tube Hybrid power amplifier sporting some sweet Amperex bugle boys for the paltry sum of $795.00. it's slightly over your budget but not by much. if i were in the market for a power amplifier i would probably buy it for myself! i am of the opinion that it is always good to have plenty of power in reserve just in case you need it . good luck....WCW III

ohskigod

keep an eye out for used Carver too, lots of good power for the money. there are some Carver haters here that would disagree.

dont know much about those speakers, but though they are efficient, that alot of radiating surface, hence I cant see extra power going to too much waste.

GATOR3000

Hi guys,

Don't know if this is the right place to post this, if not I apologize.

I’m in the market to buy a CD player. Looking for “Original CD-A8T" tube CD player or “Jolida JD100" tube CD player.

Do you know of any good US web sites where I can order these CD players from? I’m looking for lowest/resonable price as have to pay duty for these units.

Also, I would consider used Jolida JD100 CD player in mint condition.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers

Gator

cfrizz

Here ya go Early!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1169054361

GATOR3000

cfrizz wrote:

Here ya go Early!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1169054361

Now that is a nice amplifier. You had one Cathy right? Early you would like this amp for sure.

Gator

GATOR3000

GATOR3000 wrote:

Hi guys,

Don't know if this is the right place to post this, if not I apologize.

I’m in the market to buy a CD player. Looking for “Original CD-A8T" tube CD player or “Jolida JD100" tube CD player.

Do you know of any good US web sites where I can order these CD players from? I’m looking for lowest/resonable price as have to pay duty for these units.

Also, I would consider used Jolida JD100 CD player in mint condition.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers

Gator

So sorry I have posted this message in your on going thread. Don't know what happened. My mistake guys.

Thanks

cfrizz

Yup! My brother is taking it home with him in a couple of days!:)

GATOR3000 wrote:

Now that is a nice amplifier. You had one Cathy right? Early you would like this amp for sure.

Gator

Early B.

cfrizz wrote:

Here ya go Early!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1169054361

Yeah, I'm watching it. This guy also has the same amp listed on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=110057384110&rd=1&rd=1

PolkWannabie

cfrizz wrote:

Yup! My brother is taking it home with him in a couple of days!:)

How would you compare or characterize the differences between the Parasound & the Sunfire CGSig you have now ?

cfrizz

I can't PW! Both drive my speakers with ease, and both give them great clarity. Both make sure I get every ounce of bass out of the drivers that is there to give, & give me a wonderful room filling sound when I want them to. And when I decide to play them softly at 6:30AM I can still hear every note & every instrument playing!

This is precisely what both amps are supposed to do & both do it extremely well!

PolkWannabie

I would agree regarding what amps should do and am very familiar with the Sunfire's ...

cfrizz

So I see Rick! Nice system!!!

Early B.

Zero wrote:

This one is incredibly easy. Marsh A200S

120 wpc with tons of dynamic headroom using some of the fastest capacitors in the industry (Richard Marsh was the pioneer of using hi-fi caps in the amp circuit). The sound is on the warm side of neutral and has exceptional bass that is not only deep and quick, but pretty darned tuneful also.

Averages between $500-800 used. Many people have chosen this amp over many exotic amplifiers out there (Plinius SA-150, NuForce 9.02's, Parasound Halo JC-1's). You get the idea.

Looks good, runs luke-warm, very solid build. As always, I encourage anyone to try as much as possible. Its more fun that way - and you just may learn somethin! But given the criteria, this amp gets my vote.

Took your advice, Zero, and bagged a Marsh A200. It should arrive in a few days.

I hope you're right about this one. If not, I have a gift wrapped can of wupass to give you...:eek:

Blownrx7

Zero,
I'm pretty sure you are safe;)
From some of the comments I've read about the MArsh, it is a very nice amp!
Early B.
Please post a review and comparison once you get settled in with it.
Thanks

Early B.

After living with the Marsh A200S for a while, I don't recall giving you guys my impression of it. I think the reason is because I don't quite know what to say about it.

Let me say, though, that I am extremely happy with it. The Marsh sounds similar to the Jolida tube amp I used to own, which is surprising for a SS amp. It has fantastic detail and control. The thing that attracted me to tube gear was the emotionally involving and lush sound, lack of harshness (even at high volumes), incredible mid-range, and notes that appear to float in the air. Well, I'm hearing all of that stuff with the Marsh.

Here's what I don't know -- how it sounds compared to other amps. Sure, I've had several other SS amps such as Odyssey, Parasound, Rotal, Outlaw, etc., but that was two years ago with an entirely different setup. Without conducting A/B tests, I cannot make any definitive statements about how the Marsh sounds compared to those amps. At some point I'd like to make some comparisions just for the fun of it.

Hope this helps.