[scb]

I think it's time to upgrade my Arcam P7, and I'm considering getting a high powered 3 channel amp for the fronts and a lower powerful stereo amp for the rears.  Stereo music is my #1 priority, with surround a much lower priority, so I want a quality amp for the fronts. 

The question is which 3 channel for the fronts?  Bryston 6Bsst2? Levinson 533H? Krell 3250e?  Anyone have any experience with these 3?  Any other recommendations?

Front speakers are Von Schweikert Unifield 3

[BruceSB]

I was/am in the same boat.
Needed to get a three channel amp.
I counted out the Bryston because I am lead to believe it won't drive electrostats.
Thought about the new Parasound.
I am now thinking of three monoblocks.
I am impressed with the Cherries, there is a new review out on them, here is the link:
http://www.dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=1113
However DAC have a brand new amplifier coming out soon which is called the Maraschino.
It looks to be quite impressive so I am waiting to see how it turns out.
If you must have a three channel amp there are not many of them around.
Bruce

[JerryLove]

They are listed as 91db/w in-room with a minimum 4ohm impedence and a maximum RMS of 300W.

Anything over 600w @8ohm is likely useless (that's twice the max rated power, or +3db)
Determine the max SPL that you are interested in, compute the required wattage, add in a fudge factor, and you are good to go.

Guessing at your budget: I'd get http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/amplifiers/products/xpr5 and run all 5 speakers off it.

[scb]

I was/am in the same boat.
Needed to get a three channel amp.
I counted out the Bryston because I am lead to believe it won't drive electrostats.
Thought about the new Parasound.
I am now thinking of three monoblocks.
I am impressed with the Cherries, there is a new review out on them, here is the link:
http://www.dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=1113
However DAC have a brand new amplifier coming out soon which is called the Maraschino.
It looks to be quite impressive so I am waiting to see how it turns out.
If you must have a three channel amp there are not many of them around.
Bruce

I definitely don't have room for 3 monoblocks + another amp for the surrounds. 

For your system, I've always read that the Brystons are great with electrostats.... 

[scb]

They are listed as 91db/w in-room with a minimum 4ohm impedence and a maximum RMS of 300W.

Anything over 600w @8ohm is likely useless (that's twice the max rated power, or +3db)
Determine the max SPL that you are interested in, compute the required wattage, add in a fudge factor, and you are good to go.

Guessing at your budget: I'd get http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/amplifiers/products/xpr5 and run all 5 speakers off it.

Thanks. While there's definitely more power in the Emotiva, I'm not sure the sound would really be an upgrade.  My budget can definitely be higher than the Emotiva, and I was actually thinking of getting an Emotiva 2 channel for my surround channels if I got a 3 channel for the fronts

[BruceSB]

I spoke to Mr Russell at a HIFi show last year and he told me the five channel Brystons were definately unsuitable for electrostats & recommended either the monoblocks or the super high powered stereo amp.
He led me to believe that it was due to the capacitive load presented to the amp rather than the low impedence.
If you cannot cope with monoblocks I really suggest you look at the Parasound Halo three channel amp, its a three channel version of their two and five channel amps and has a great pedigree and I thought that it was great value for money.
Hope that helps.
Bruce

[JerryLove]

Thanks. While there's definitely more power in the Emotiva, I'm not sure the sound would really be an upgrade.  My budget can definitely be higher than the Emotiva, and I was actually thinking of getting an Emotiva 2 channel for my surround channels if I got a 3 channel for the fronts.

If I were buying a 3-channel ~300WPC amp and price was not my concern: I'd grab http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Products/pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=Amplifiers&ProductId=MC303

[roscoeiii]

You could also get Butler's hybrid 3 channel amp. Gives you a bit of tube sound, but with some SS grip.

http://www.butleraudio.com/tdb3150.php

They also have a 5 channel model:

http://www.butleraudio.com/tdb5150.php

[HT cOz]

D-Sonics new amps have been well received. http://www.d-sonic.net/products/3-channel-amplifiers/ 

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/dsonic/1.html

[scb]

I spoke to Mr Russell at a HIFi show last year and he told me the five channel Brystons were definately unsuitable for electrostats & recommended either the monoblocks or the super high powered stereo amp.
He led me to believe that it was due to the capacitive load presented to the amp rather than the low impedence.
If you cannot cope with monoblocks I really suggest you look at the Parasound Halo three channel amp, its a three channel version of their two and five channel amps and has a great pedigree and I thought that it was great value for money.
Hope that helps.
Bruce

Oh, gotcha. I thought you were referring to the 3 channel Bryston, which is basically a 4B with an extra channel, and the 4B is supposed to be fine with electrostats

[scb]

If I were buying a 3-channel ~300WPC amp and price was not my concern: I'd grab http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Products/pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=Amplifiers&ProductId=MC303

A 12" tall, 150lb amp is more like a piece of furniture than an amplifier.  I have no room for it

[ajzepp]

You could also get Butler's hybrid 3 channel amp. Gives you a bit of tube sound, but with some SS grip.

http://www.butleraudio.com/tdb3150.php

They also have a 5 channel model:

http://www.butleraudio.com/tdb5150.php

I've been running Butlers for the last 6 years....first with my DeVore Super 8s and currently with my Maggie 3.6s. Have no desire to change at all.

[Mr645]

Since stereo is the main goal, why not a killer stereo amp, and then add a reasonable 3 channel for center and rears?

Just a thought

[JerryLove]

Ok.

Yamaha P-series: only two-channel (and requires manual on/off).
McIntosh: Too big
Emotiva: not a big enough name.

3-channel + 300w is a tall enough order. Size + brand issues?

http://www.parasound.com/nc/5250v2.php

[scb]

Since stereo is the main goal, why not a killer stereo amp, and then add a reasonable 3 channel for center and rears?

Just a thought

I figured I could get a killer 3 channel for the fronts and a cheap stereo for the rears cheaper than a killer stereo for the fronts and not so cheap 3 channel for the center and rears. 

Of the 3 3 channels I listed, they're supposed to sound the same as their 2 channel siblings.  If you can recommend a killer 2 channel and then reasonable 3 channel for center and rears, I'm all ears.

And while I appreciate the Butler recommendations, I'd like to stay away from tubes.

[scb]

Ok.

Yamaha P-series: only two-channel (and requires manual on/off).
McIntosh: Too big
Emotiva: not a big enough name.

3-channel + 300w is a tall enough order. Size + brand issues?

http://www.parasound.com/nc/5250v2.php

I didn't say Emotiva wasn't a big enough name.  I said I wasn't sure it would sound better.  My comment was not because of the name at all, but because I've been told by a former Arcam P7 owner that switching to the Emotiva was more of a sideways move for him and not a real noticeable upgrade. 

I don't necessarily need 300w, either.  I also have no issue with the Parasound brand, and the Parasound A31 is certainly an option.

The reason I was thinking 3 channel + rear stereo amp is because most 3 channel amps I've seen are no different from their 2 channel siblings.  They have mostly the same internals with the added 3rd channel.  Many 5 + channel amps are very different from their 2 channel siblings, so I figured most bang for the buck was 3 channel + stereo for rears.  If you think it might be stereo + 3 channel for center and rears, again, I'm open to all suggestions.

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

[geowak]

I think your first choice was a good one indeed. The Parasound HALO A31 is a tremendous amp built by a legendary engineer/designer, John Curl. I have the A21, which is the two channel version. It has been the best sounding beast of an amp I have had in many years. It seems limitless with regard to the power it has to deliver. Also it is a great value. you might even find one used.

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Parasound-Re-Introduces-the-Three-Channel-Amp-and-Sleek-Stackable-Separates.shtml

[srb]

Just some musings on the Parasound Halo A21/A31/A51
 
They all are 250W/400W per channel, 8 - 15A transistors per channel, 60A peak current per channel, 1.5dB headroom as well as the same distortion, slew rate and damping factor.
 
The only real differences are in the power supply transformer VA, power supply capacitance and cost per channel:
 
A21:  1.2KVA / 100,000 uF  (600VA / 50,000 uF / $1150 per channel)
A31:  1.5KVA / 98,400 uF    (500VA / 32,800 uF / $1000 per channel)
A51:  2.2KVA / 164,000 uF  (440VA / 32,800 uF /  $900 per channel)
 
More similar than not.  The nod in power supply goes to the A21, even though the power output, headroom and maximum current per channel do not reflect this.
 
I guess it depends on (a) whether you are buying new or used and/or (b) how you listen to stereo and multi-channel.  For myself, I sometimes listen to 3 channel stereo in which case my center is driven to the same level as the L/R, but the volume doesn't have to be turned up quite as high because there is 50% more output with three speakers versus two.
 
For 5-channel stereo and movie soundtracks both, I listen with the surrounds more at the ambiance level than not.  If I were buying new, I might go for the A31, but I would expect that model to be rare on the used market, for now anyway.  With my own budget and listening habits considered, I would probably end up with a used A21 and something like a small Emotiva 3-channel.
 
Steve

[roscoeiii]

And while I appreciate the Butler recommendations, I'd like to stay away from tubes.

Butlers are not a typical tube design. The wear on the tubes is very minimal. From the Butler FAQ:

Q: Do the tubes wear out? How often will I need to change the tubes?  Top of Page
A: The tubes are driven at less than 5% of their maximum rating and thus are not stressed like in a typical tube amplifier. Under normal use, they should not need replacement.

More details here:

www.butleraudio.com/homefaq.php#roll

Also, you can get 5 channels for only $600 more than a 3-channel version. Food for thought. If not for OP, perhaps for others reading this thread.

[WGH]

This would work:

Synergy 240/3 Amplifier
http://www.avahifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159&Itemid=212



Three-channel version of the Synergy 240+. 125 watts per channel 20 to 20 kHz into 8 ohms at less than 0.01% THD. 17" wide, 13" deep, 7" high. All new AVA designed black chassis with black anodized faceplate. 6 TO-3 case power MOSFET output devices. For 4 ohm loads and up.

Give Frank a call, when you call AVA he usually picks up the phone first and you are guaranteed to have an fun and interesting conversation.