picking an amp...

brooksbp

So I've been checking out the amp market recently, new to the world of audio components, and am having a difficult time seeing as how subjective all of this is.

What's the difference between say a mint Carver 2-ch amp (Carver m1.5t) and a QSC CX502. They both have relatively close "tech specs" in terms of wpc, thd, frequencies, etc... This leaves me wondering the practicality of buying a QSC, Crown, etc (corporate professional audio?) brand amp vs a Carver, NAD, Emotiva (more audiophile-y).

I've recently owned Polk RTi4 (bookshelf), Yamaha pre/amp (100wpc), and a 12" self powered sub woofer. This combination wasn't really cost effective seeing as how the Yamaha receiver set me back $500 and all I really needed was a good pair of floorstanding speakers (since bookshelf + sub doesn't cut it) and a nice amp... so now I'm hooked on components. The hard part is figuring out what I want; but that also means figuring out what's available...

Can people sort of provide advice on "professional audio equipment" vs "audiophile equipment"; the same relationship I provided between QSC and Carver above? I can't feel it. And don't have the money to 'test' (buy/sell/buy/sell/etc...) things out. Certainly don't have any good audio stores around me...

I mainly use my system for 2-ch music. Don't care about HT. I've mainly been looking for a system that will provide me with music that I can hear clearly and feel intimately. I think the best system I've ever heard was at a nightclub called Beta in Denver. The music was pretty damn loud, but it didn't hurt my ears... and I could FEEL the vibrations precisely. They have a brand new Funktion-One sound system. But I'm not looking that powerful and definitely looking for more room-oriented.

I think I'm headed in the right direction looking for pretty beefy floorstanding speakers like the RTi A7s, but am pretty lost when it comes to amp shopping.

So with all that... any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

snow

To answer your first question about the differences between pro gear and HI FI gear is that usally pro gear tends to be a little less musical, harsh sounding may be a good term it's all about power and stamina under tough conditions where loud spl's are required versus a more refined listening experience in a home audio enviroment with HI FI gear. Also pro gear usally offers 1/4 and Xlr inputs versus RCA and XLR inputs on HI FI gear.

As far as to what amp you should buy it's hard to give you a lot of options without knowing what your budget is. As a general rule of thumb most amps that output 200 wpc or more and offer a 4 ohm rating are sufficent to provide the power thats needed to keep up with transients and a little headroom. Of course thats not always true there has been and always will be exceptions to that rule. I have seen gear thats rated as low as 30 wpc that performed very well and in fact outperformed some 200 wpc amps.



REGARDS SNOW

tcrossma

One other issue with some pro-audio equipment is that they can sometimes have loud fans that are not exactly suitable for home use.

ward91

this would be worth a look;

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61705

in the link i talk about my xs500

i dont think that it is a nice a hi-fi listen as my other hi-fi amps (rotel ra930ax and my nad) but it is a verry energetic sound. i also find the bass better, it is more detailed and precise. than my other amps. i still enjoy listening to it but less so now.

"whilst remaining fairly warm sounding" i would like to take that back, my bad.
im not sure what im trying to describe due to the lack of experience and vocabulary. but could it be the charechteristic sound of a mosfet?