[HAITIMAN]

I'm sorry HAITIMAN, perhaps I'm out of line assuming the OP would like to experiment with another amp manufacturer.  I'll let the OP answer for himself.

Unless you're looking for a fight.

?

[K Shep]

?

exactly

[HAITIMAN]

exactly

exactly what?

[Nuance]

Vincent - SP-331MK Hybrid Stereo Power Amp - http://www.vincent-tac.de/en/product-lines/powerline/sp-331mk.html

Specs:
Tube compliment: 2 x 6N16; 1 x 12AU7 Class A
Class A operation: 12 AU7 valve 
12 Toshiba outputs per case, 1,000 watt transformer, 80,000 mF capacitance/channel

Frequency response: 10 Hz - 50 kHz +/- 0.5 dB
Nominal Output Power RMS/8 Ohm: 2x 150W
Nominal Output Power RMS/4 Ohm: 2x 300W, Class A/8 Ohm: 2x 10W
Total harmonic distortion: < 0.1 % (1 kHz, 1 Watt)
Input sensitivity: 1,5V, Signal-Noise ratio: > 95 dB, Input impedance: 47 kOhm,
Inputs: 2 x RCA, Outputs: 4 x 2 Speaker Terminal (A & B), Mains supply: 230 V/50 Hz
Colour: black/silver, Weight: 22 kg, Tubes: 2 x 6N16, 1 x 12AU7

I think your friend may be able to get a great deal on this unit 

Thanks bro - forgot about that bad boy.  Thanks.

Nuance owns an Emotiva LPA amp. 

Yup.  It was suppose to be a filler amp for a couple months, but crap happened and I had to use it for a year.  I don't care for it at all.  No offense to anyone.

Nuance

I'm partial to the Odyssey's on your list but I'd take a look at the Butler TDB 2250.

If I was looking for a new amp, this would be on my list.  Lonewolf has them and can provide some more info if needed.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1278542949&/Butler-TDB-2250-

Mark

Wow - that is nice!  Thanks, Mark!

Great recommendations guys!

[mdabb]

My suggestion, anything Pass Labs.......

I've owned this very same amp for a couple years now and it still satisfies me. Clean solid power, no fluff. I get the upgrade bug just as much as the next person, and this amp makes it hard to give in. I can't find any good reason to replace it.  

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1279029868&/Pass-Labs-X150.5-amplifier

Good luck & enjoy !!!

[catastrofe]

I'm going to be using Wyred4Sound to drive my Salk SoundScape 10s.  My initial plan is to biamp, with an ST-250 for the HF, and an ST-1000 for the bottom. 

I'm currently using my ST-1000 to drive a pair of Theil CS1.6s.  I think the W4S sounds wonderful. . .for reference, I sold my Pass X-250 for the W4S and have never looked back.

HTH. . .

[doorman]

Coda,Bryston,Innersound,Legacy,Van Alstine,because all these companies have stood the test of time,,also made in America's,and all would be exceptional sound.Legacy doesnt make amps anymore i dont think but used ones pop up and can be checked out and brought to spec if needed at the Coda fac.

FWIW, Bryston is made in Canada.
Don

[groovybassist]

I'm with catastrofe - for $2000 I bought a Wyred4Sound STI-500 integrated amp and am delighted with it .  You get amp and preamp functions in a single box, with 250W/channel into 8 ohms and 570W into 4 - plenty of power.  Contrary to some folks comments about ICE power, I find it anything but dry and analytical.  To my ears, in my setup, it sounds great.

[srb]

FWIW, Bryston is made in Canada.
Don

FWIW, bummrush said made in Americas, not the United States.  Canada is part of the Americas.
 
Steve

[Nuance]

My suggestion, anything Pass Labs.......

I've owned this very same amp for a couple years now and it still satisfies me. Clean solid power, no fluff. I get the upgrade bug just as much as the next person, and this amp makes it hard to give in. I can't find any good reason to replace it.  

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1279029868&/Pass-Labs-X150.5-amplifier

Good luck & enjoy !!!

Wow - that thing is a beast.  Great recommendation; thanks.

I'm going to be using Wyred4Sound to drive my Salk SoundScape 10s.  My initial plan is to biamp, with an ST-250 for the HF, and an ST-1000 for the bottom. 

I'm currently using my ST-1000 to drive a pair of Theil CS1.6s.  I think the W4S sounds wonderful. . .for reference, I sold my Pass X-250 for the W4S and have never looked back.

HTH. . .

That's going to be a heckuva system!  Good for you!

[HT cOz]

I love these threads since my budget is much smaller 

Those Pass Labs look killer and lets face it they are basically collector items.

Here is another idea.  Virtue ICE M5001 http://store.virtueaudio.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VRTU%2DMA%2DIBM5001%2DPBF%2D1 Yeah yeah I know an ICE amp but I believe these are very well thought out.

[nonoise]

Although this is new and below your budget, as well as your power requirements,
you might find this as wonderful as I found their integrated
to be http://www.partsconnexion.com/bur_pp160.html
It should have more than enough punch for what you need.

[Ericus Rex]

srb,

The tubes are soldered in place?  If you said it, it must be so.  Thanks for the heads up.  So the best bet to replace a tube is learn to solder or send the unit to the manufacturer?

It's not a tube you could roll anyway.  Since that is the case you get a better connection soldered.  No need to overlook the amp.

[pardales]

Since you have Salk speakers, a Van Alstine amp would be a natural compliment. Heard this pairing at AK fest a few years in a row now and the synergy never ceases to impress.

Since Van Alstine are what Salk chooses to show his speakers with, you probably cant go wrong. Great value too. You can buy new given your budget.

[S Clark]

I'd keep my eyes open looking for a used Moscode.  You could also give Gary Dodd a call and see if he could build one of his hybrids.

[boycephoto]

Audio by VanAlstine Insight+440h 220 watts/ch (solid state) 
Audio by Van Alstine UltraValve 35 watts/ch (tube) 

Both amps with make you Salk speakers sing. 
Both amps have a 30 day money back option.
You like it you keep it, you don't send it back for a refund.  Simple
Chances are you'd keep it.   

Good luck. 

[satfrat]

This is a bit out of the $2K range but for $2995, I'd recommend the tube hybrid (at least 1) Butler Audio TDB 2250.
 

General features:
 

•	ZERO negative feedback. No global degenerative negative feedback loop
•	Open Ended Audiophile Circuitry
•	Musical, warm and dynamic
•	Load Independent; Will drive any speaker
•	Hand selected/matched 6SL7GT Twin Triode tubes (One per channel)
•	Fully regulated Tube Heaters with Delayed Soft Start (10-15 second turn-on delay)
•	Load Adaptive Vacuum Tube Driven output circuitry
•	Modular power channels with a seperate massive, oversized heatsink for each channel  • Independent AC Secondaries and Rectifiers with 60,000µF per channel filtering • DC fault / Short Circuit Protection Circuitry • Diagnostic LEDs: Red=Fault • Custom-made Hard Gold Plated Eutetic Brass RCA connectors • Custom-made Hard Gold Plated Eutetic Brass 5-way Binding Posts • Frosted Platinum finish • Tube Illumination: Internal BLUE LEDs • Patented Design • Concept & Design: BK Butler / USA [/t][/t]   • Rated Power (all channels driven): 2 x 250 Watts RMS per channel @ 8 ohms 2 x 400 Watts RMS per channel @ 4 ohms 1 x 800 Watts RMS Bridged (Mono) @ 8 ohms • Freq response: 20Hz to 20kHz (+/- 0.5dB) Power Bandwidth: -3dB, 50kHz • THD: <0.10% @ 8 Ohms, <0.15% @ 4 Ohms • S/N Ratio: Better than 120dB (A-Wtd) • Slew Rate: 15v/µsec • Input Sensitivity: 2V for 250 Watts into 8 Ohms • Input Impedance: 47k Ohms • Idling Consumption: Approx. 40 Watts (Approx. 0.3A @ 120VAC or 0.15A @ 230VAC) • AC Consumption (Nominal power): 720 Watts @ 8 Ohms - 6A (120VAC), 3A (230VAC) 1200 Watts @ 4 Ohms - 10A (120VAC), 5A (230VAC) • Dimensions: 17"W x 16"D x 8.5"H w/feet (7"H w/o feet) • Weight: 43 Lbs. (19.2Kgs.) [/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t][/t]

Salks like power, Salks need power, and you have 250 watts per channel of tube hybrid power here. Ask Lonewolfny42, he owns 2 of them as they're a bridgeable amp for 500 watts! 
 



 
Cheers,
Robin
 

 
Edit: $1750 on A'gon now!
 
 
[/td][/tr][/table]

[Nuance]

Thanks to golfugh and satfrat for posting that audiogon link.  That is one killer amplifier!

[lonewolfny42]

Ask Lonewolfny42, he owns 2 of them as they're a bridgeable amp for 500 watts!

Correction....not 500 watts....but 800 watts (two as mono blocks)...1 x 800 Watts RMS Bridged (Mono) @ 8 ohms

But.....the Butler is not the "last word" in the bass area...comes up a bit short there.

DAC amps have been mentioned...they are very good....if you can...give them a spin.

It really comes do to....what sound is important to you.

[satfrat]

Thanks to golfugh and satfrat for posting that audiogon link.  That is one killer amplifier!

Didn't read the whole thread, hadn't noticed that golfugh had already mentioned both the 2250 and the A'gon ad.    Oh well, I provided pictures. 
 
I have the 3150's, 2 of them for my 6.1 system and 4 Odyssey Lorelei's. It could be just the Lorelei's plentiful ported bass cabinets but bass isn't an issue with them whatsoever with my Butlers. But I'll bow to Chris's knowledge as he's heard his 2250's on many many loudspeakers. 
 
Cheers,
Robin