[mca]

I just took the plunge on a pair of CS2's. I found a great deal on a new and still boxed pair on Audiogon. Due to space restrictions, I'm looking to power them with a single box amp. A couple that I am considering are a Wyred 4 Sound  125 x 2 + 250 x 2 amp or a Butler TDB 5150. Preamp is Modwright 9.0 Signature and source is Bolder SB3. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[zybar]

On the "cheap" side ATI 1504 amp ($800 or less)

Much more expensive, Theta Dreadnaught II $3200-4800 used).

George

[TRADERXFAN]

I vote for the wyred4sound multichannel. As you prob already know they did a demo with Cs2's, wyred amps, and modright gear and Dan Wright also had very nice things to say about that combination.

[whubbard]

I should add that Linkwitz recommends the ATI for the Orions. I personally went with the Aspen amps, but SL says the ATI is hard to beat!

-West

[Bill Baker]

HI MCA,

 Two options would be the multi-channel Usher Audio or Janton amps (I am not a dealer for either). I have heard both and can tell you that the Usher will have a warmer sound in comparison. Both very good amplifiers and work well with the ModWright pre.

[jeffreybehr]

...or you could look for an old NAD 906, a 6-times-30 amp that's bridgeable in pairs to something like 90 Watts.  A friend has 2 and says they sound quite nice.

[mca]

Speakers should be here early next week. For now, I will be using a Behringer EP2500 on the bottom and my Music Reference RM200 on top. I know the Behringer will not be ideal, but it's all I have for now.

Leaning towards a Wyred4Sound amp since I can get a 30 day trial through Underwood HiFi. Also of interest is one of the Theta amps. George, have you heard one of them?

[zybar]

Speakers should be here early next week. For now, I will be using a Behringer EP2500 on the bottom and my Music Reference RM200 on top. I know the Behringer will not be ideal, but it's all I have for now.

Leaning towards a Wyred4Sound amp since I can get a 30 day trial through Underwood HiFi. Also of interest is one of the Theta amps. George, have you heard one of them?

I have, but not in a critical situation.

I am going off the recommendation of a friend whose ear I trustcompletely

FWIW, I will be hearing the top of the line Citadel amps tomorrow.  Supposedly, the Dreadnaught II will have the same family sound.

George

[Robert57]

Paul Hilgeman at our Nomad Audio can make a custom one-box 4 -channel Niagra amp, using the latest Hypex UcD Class D modules and linear power supplies (transformers). Check out this recent thread describing a 7- channel version of the Niagra. I know the amp's owner "sabes" had a tight cabinet space and heat concern and  is very happy with it so far, but it is still breaking in. A lot of folks prefer the Hypex sound (think CIA D200s) to the ICE modules. Paul's custom amp prices are very reasonable, and he is great to work with.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=51657.0

[opnly bafld]

HI MCA,

 Two options would be the multi-channel Usher Audio or Janton amps (I am not a dealer for either). I have heard both and can tell you that the Usher will have a warmer sound in comparison. Both very good amplifiers and work well with the ModWright pre.

Bill,
Did you mean Jaton?
http://www.jatonhp.com/ap2140.htm

IMHO pretty good multi/ch sound especially for the price.

Lin

[jgb0194]

I've not heard the other amps on your list but I own  Wyred 4 sound 1000W/ch monoblocks and am very impressed with the sound through their balanced inputs. They are dead quiet and run cool.

[GregC]

I am not sure, but I think that Clayton may have voiced the CS2 speakers with ICE power amps.  Clayton used stock Bel Canto S-300 amps at the RMAF show and the speakers sounded so good that I owned a pair shortly after. 

The Wyred 4 Sound amps are supposedly very nice and you can get all 4 channels in the same box.  You can also set the high pass filter so that the bass only receives 80 Hz and down.  The CS2 speakers are very dynamic and respond well to fast and articulate amps.  The ICE amps also all have the same gain at 27 DB. 

I run Bel Canto Ref 1000 amps for the bass and EVS 100M amps for the top end and I am very happy with the results.  If I was looking for a one box solution I would seriously consider a Wyred 4 Sound amp.

[TRADERXFAN]

Leaning towards a Wyred4Sound amp since I can get a 30 day trial through Underwood HiFi. Also of interest is one of the Theta amps. George, have you heard one of them?

Keep an open mind when you first listen, this topology definitely needs a long break in time. Longer than probably most others. More than one person warned me and I am very glad they did.