2 Channel Amps?

snow

TN_Polk_Lover wrote:

Hey guys, I haven't posted here in a long time. My question is closely related to the one in this thread, so I thought I'd just piggyback this question into this thread.

For Christmas, I bought myself a Denon 3806 AV Receiver which I am still playing around with trying to figure out all the settings on. I decided to use the pre-amp out to drive my RTi70s front main speakers through a Yamaha MX600U amp which I've had for a while. I'll use the Denon 3806 to drive my center channel, CSi30, and rear surrounds Fxi30s? I think (I bought them used off of ebay and don't remember now for sure if they are 30s or 50s.)

Anyway, I had planned to use the Yammie amp to drive a new pair of Polk in ceiling speakers that I plan to put in my bedroom ceiling. So, I'm thinking about buying another power amp to replace the Yammie to drive the front mains. I have no problem buying used. I've bought several things used off of ebay, and so far have not had any problems.

I want to be sure that the new amp will drive LSi115's which is what I'd like to eventually get. So I know that the amp will have to be able to drive a 4 ohm load. I guess that I'm looking for something in the range of 200 wpc into 8 ohms.

Suggestions? There are always used Adcoms out there and I've recently been insterested in Parasound because AudioAdvisor sells them, but I haven't heard anyone here mention Parasound. Thanks.

unless its one of parasounds upper end amps. i would choose the adcom over the parasound. lately some of parasounds stuff isnt even made by them. it only has there name sold to the highest bidder. and i have read negative things about some of there lower lines because of it.adcom amps have always been sought after for the bang for the buck. and quality sound and reliability. its hard to beat there gfa555 and gfa555-11 amps for the money they can be had for usally 300-450 on ebay and deliver a robust 200wpc into 8ohms. REGARDS SNOW

cfrizz

I had a Parasound 1500A it is outstanding & will drive any speaker with ease. My brother now owns it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Parasound amp.

Snow, I would be real interested in getting links to these claims of yours.

snow

cfrizz wrote:

I had a Parasound 1500A it is outstanding & will drive any speaker with ease. My brother now owns it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Parasound amp.

Snow, I would be real interested in getting links to these claims of yours.

i cant speak for the 1500A that you were using. im certainly not saying all parasound amps are bad or faulty. only that some of the lower end line, amps were not the same quality as there better lines are.the amp that i had read about was a monoblock. in the $300.00 retail range i will certainly look to see if i can find the links you asked about. regarding being made by someone else. i know that with any product it is best no matter what the name is to research it fully first. for example adcom had one preamp i believe it was the gfa-740 that really sucked. even though most of there products were highly regarded. REGARDS SNOW

F1nut

adcom amps have always been sought after for the bang for the buck. and quality sound and reliability.

Not to mention their grainy highs.

snow

F1nut wrote:

Not to mention their grainy highs.

perhaps i havent read enough on the adcoms. thats the first time ive heard that. but i guess if it is true something has to give. you cant get it all for the money involved. i have a carver i am using now. it has plenty of power but not exactly the sound i like personally. i also have a proton that i like the sound better with. but not enough power. o well i guess thats one reason we keep buying and searching. is we all want the sound to be perfect. i think the amp that i have personally liked the best of the ones i have used is an very old altec pro amp. the 9440A. i had one and loved the sound and it had plenty of power but 1 channel was weak and i was constantly trying to balance the 2 channels out power wise. it was going to cost me more to fix it then i thought it was worth. so i sold it . REGARDS SNOW

TennesseeOutlaw

Ive never been much of an Adcom fan myself. That was the major brand line that the local "high end" audio store carried.. Ive listened to dozens of their amplifiers over the past 15 years, and have to say that I have yet to be wowed by one of them.. Unless they have made some very hefty changes I wouldnt even put them on my "maybe" list.

TennesseeOutlaw

Congrats to me for attaining the elusive "POLKSTER"

snow

cfrizz wrote:

I had a Parasound 1500A it is outstanding & will drive any speaker with ease. My brother now owns it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Parasound amp.

Snow, I would be real interested in getting links to these claims of yours.

here is a link to a few reviews that i had read about one of the cheaper line mono blocks. i cant find the other links its been too long sorry. http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_125115_1583crx.aspx also from what i have read about the 1500A it seems to be a very nice amp. i think that sometimes companys are basically forced into selling lower end products to be competive and the audiophiles suffer because of it. parasound has built a very nice reputation because of quality products. but i remember the days when jbl products were very good too. now unless you buy some of there upper end products you are taking a risk. i dont think the same holds true for parasound yet, i belive this particular amp was an anamoly. and doesnt represent parasound products as a whole. REGARDS SNOW

cfrizz

Thanks for the link. I see what you are saying Snow. However, it was 6-7 years ago, & Parasound has most certainly learned from that experience.

At best those reviews are very mixed. Some didn't like it because they stupidly over drove them but it's the amps fault? Morons. Anything will crap out if you mistreat it. Others thought they were good for the money spent & better than anything that could be bought at BB.

Check Parasound's Web site Snow, I don't think they market any low end products any more.

Bottom line is Parasound, Rotel, Sunfire, & Outlaw are all good high quality products & will get the job done.

Mike Reeter

I have both Adcom and Parasound...the Parasound is head and shoulders above the "sound" of Adcom.

But,this is IMHO of course:D

Now,I would like to get my ears on an Adcom 5802...that amp might change my way of thinking.

Systems

Here's a review Stereophile did on one of Parasounds amps a few years ago.
They liked it but it had a grounding problem in the test system and I thought it was notable that a certain competitor gave them the fix for it.
http://stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/100parasound/

reeltrouble1

Sorry, but Parasound is a high quality company set solidly in mid-fi and on into true hi-fi, they have been a long respected manufacturer supported by the core membership of our fourm. These amplifier's are particularily noted for solid bass response, you just cannot get that without a well designed circuit, power supplies with quality capacitors and resistors and so on.

We have had many here use the Adcom products some still do, some don't.

Parasound is certainly not the end all of audio companies but then who is?? When looking for a ss design in your set up they are one of the companies to consider.

RT1

Systems

Any of the Parasound amps designed by John Curl are likely to be very good.He is a brilliant designer.

TB Cruzer

Here is a nice little review of the Sunfire 5400. When funds free up I'm getting either a 5400 or 7400.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/preampprocessors/1106sunfiretgptga/