Amp Opinions

Huh What?
Huh What? Posts: 55
edited January 2010 in Vintage Speakers
Just wanted to get some expert opinion on some amp/speaker setups. Currently I have my 1.2TL's running off a Nakamichi PA5 amp and VTL 5.5 preamp. Very nice, smooth, warm sound with good bass response. Yesterday I picked up a Yamaha M65 amp and C65 preamp that I was going to use on a second system with my SDA CRS speakers. I'm going to break down and buy a MM today to test the M65 for common ground. Assuming that it is, does it make sense to power the 1.2's with the Yamaha or the Nakamichi? All serious and not so serious comments are welcome.
Home Theater - Talon Firebird (Fronts), Talon Raven 2002 (Surrounds), Talon Cinema Hawk (Ctr), Talon Falcon (Back Surrounds), JL Audio Fathom F112 Sub
Pre/Pro - Classe SSP-800
Amps - Sim Audio Moon Titan 5 channel, Modwright KWH 225i
Blu-Ray - Oppo UDP-203
Projector - Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5040UB
Screen - Silver Tickets MPT 110"

Primary 2 Channel - Talon Firebirds
Modwright KWH 225i Integrated Amp
Oppo BDP-103, Audio Research DAC 8

Secondary 2 Channel - Polk SDA 2B
NAD T775, Denon 2900 DVD-A/SACD
Post edited by Huh What? on
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Comments

  • Phil Dawson
    Phil Dawson Posts: 288
    edited January 2010
    Since you have both of them why don't you hook them both up (not at the same time) to both sets of speakers and see which combination you like best. This should be fun in its own strange way.
    Good Luck, Phil
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2010
    Yeah...keep that yamaha and sell the Nak.

    To me. ;)
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited January 2010
    The Nak is an awesome amp...............I'd use the Yammy for a boat anchor, that's really all they've ever been good for.

    VC69 is smoking some powerful crack if he thinks you should sell the Nak.

    The Nak with the VTL pre would be a very hard combo to beat unless you spent quite a bit of money.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited January 2010
    I'd rock that Yammie amp if you want to send it my way. ;)
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • Phil Dawson
    Phil Dawson Posts: 288
    edited January 2010
    Boys, Boys. Now settle down. Sometimes great things come in ugly packages. My advice stands. Do an A-B comparison and may the best amp for the application win.
    Good luck, Phil
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited January 2010
    Phil Dawson wrote: »
    Boys, Boys. Now settle down. Sometimes great things come in ugly packages. My advice stands. Do an A-B comparison and may the best amp for the application win.
    Good luck, Phil


    If the OP can do that, that is best. But I've heard/compared enough Yammies in my day to know for me, they are best used as boat anchors. The Nak PA5 and PA7 are Nelson Pass Stasis designs and were superb in the day and excellent bargains today.

    But yes, do a side by side and see where you end up.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2010
    heiney9 wrote: »
    The Nak is an awesome amp...............I'd use the Yammy for a boat anchor, that's really all they've ever been good for.

    Agreed.
    heiney9 wrote: »
    VC69 is smoking some powerful crack if he thinks you should sell the Nak.

    Yeah... to me.
    heiney9 wrote: »
    The Nak with the VTL pre would be a very hard combo to beat unless you spent quite a bit of money.

    H9

    That was exactly what I was thinking.;)
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited January 2010
    I have the Yamaha M65 amp and C65 pre amp and I am pleased with the sound. The Nak also makes quality gear. I would have to agree and try them both to see what works for you. To really open up the 1.2tl's I use a Yamaha MX1000 amp or a Luxman M-117. It depends on how much volume you need. The M65 is a good mid amp but not a heavy hitter like the M80 or M85. I like the C65 pre amp a lot. Enjoy.
    Polk HT system 1: LSIC, LSI25 mains, LSI F/X rears, Lsi F/X rear centers,
    Yamaha RX-V2500 System, Carver A753 3 channel amp.

    Polk HT system 2: , SRT system with f/x 1,000's rear speakers on 7.1 system currently using Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver, powered by Sunfire Grand Theater amp

    Polk Speaker collection: SDA SRS 1.2tl x 2, SRT system, SDA SRS 2 P/B, SDA 2A, SDA 1C Studio, SDA CRS+, Monitor 7B & 4, SRS 3.1tl, RTA 15tl, LS90, LSI 9
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  • Huh What?
    Huh What? Posts: 55
    edited January 2010
    Thanks for all the input. I confirmed the M65 is common ground so will do the comparison this weekend.
    Home Theater - Talon Firebird (Fronts), Talon Raven 2002 (Surrounds), Talon Cinema Hawk (Ctr), Talon Falcon (Back Surrounds), JL Audio Fathom F112 Sub
    Pre/Pro - Classe SSP-800
    Amps - Sim Audio Moon Titan 5 channel, Modwright KWH 225i
    Blu-Ray - Oppo UDP-203
    Projector - Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5040UB
    Screen - Silver Tickets MPT 110"

    Primary 2 Channel - Talon Firebirds
    Modwright KWH 225i Integrated Amp
    Oppo BDP-103, Audio Research DAC 8

    Secondary 2 Channel - Polk SDA 2B
    NAD T775, Denon 2900 DVD-A/SACD
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