Suggestions for a Good but Fairly Cheap Power or Integrated Amp

Mass. Wine Guy · « **on:** 8 Nov 2010, 10:19 pm »

I don't know if this can fall under this circle's category, but I want to upgrade from my Adcom 535 power amp to something with more power. I recently bought a pair of Silverline Minuet speakers and want to have a lot more headroom. Ideally, I think I would like something between 150 and 300 watts per channel, though I understand that it gets very expensive for higher wattage.

I'm now trying out the Maverick Hybrid that's travelling around. I like it quite a bit, but it's 20 watts/channel.

I am open to an integrated amp, but also welcome suggestions for separate power amps. I'm just looking for good, natural sound without any or much undue harshness, brightness or other sonic qualities added by the amp and not the recording. I know this is a simple request. I would most likely be looking for used gear.

Thank you very much.

srb · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Nov 2010, 10:22 pm »

Can you tell us what is "fairly cheap" in your budget?

Steve

Mariusz · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Nov 2010, 10:52 pm »

Class D amp kit and Dodd Buffer kit should be on your short list. Even if you would have to commission someone to build it (or hunt them used)

http://classdaudio.com/index.php/products/sds-258-kit.html
http://doddaudio.com/diy.aspx

Mass. Wine Guy · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Nov 2010, 11:58 pm »

Oops. Yes, a budget would help. I can't really imagine spending more than about $500. Less is good, too.

The Class D amp looks good. The completed amp is less than the kit. Is there a case to put the electronics in?

Mariusz · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 12:04 am »

There is one Class D up for grabs for 180.
Seller build my B1 Nelson Pass buffer and I'm confident that it will sound great without issues.

srb · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 12:20 am »

With the Class D Audio SDS-258 kit @ $360 plus enclosure, binding posts, RCAs, IEC/fuseholder, power switch, wiring and labor, you would be in for $600 - $700+ (depending on enclosure choice and labor), unless you found a completed one used or wanted to DIY a chassis and assembly.

There is a pair of Tim Rawson-built "Bel Canto M300 Clone" monoblocks (B&O ICEPower modules) on Audiogon for $500 obo (25th day of ad). Should be 150W/ch @ 8 ohm and 300W/ch @ 4 ohm.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1292132045&/Rawson-bel-canto-m300clone-onl

There is a Rotel RB-1080 on Audiogon for $575 obo (1st day of ad). 200W/ch @ 8 ohm and 300W/ch @ 4 ohm.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1294349810&/Rotel-RB-1080-200W-Power-Amp

The budget is a bit lean for that amount of power, but it can be done.

Steve

timind · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 12:40 am »

How about this NAD on Audiogon? http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1294374344&/NAD-C-372-C372-integrated-ampl
You can find some super deals if you keep looking and can pull the trigger immediately as they can go quick.

Steidl Guitars · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 12:46 am »

The wee Minuets are 88 db, so I'd think that they would have plenty of headroom even with 100 watts.

For what it's worth, I'd suggest you consider amps that put out 90-100 high quality watts over amps that put out 3-500 watts at the same price-point; there is a trade off there.

I think the Minuets are a terrific little speaker for the price.

srb · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 12:52 am »

Quote from: timind on 9 Nov 2010, 12:40 am

How about this NAD on Audiogon? http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1294374344&/NAD-C-372-C372-integrated-ampl
You can find some super deals if you keep looking and can pull the trigger immediately as they can go quick.

I saw that one, but was hesitant to list it because it was from Canada. I only have one experience of buying a piece of equipment from Canada, and that was from a business. I think the majority of problems encountered are more from U.S. purchases shipped to Canada.

Steve

eclein · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 12:55 am »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=87739.0
This Virtue unit just popped up over the weekend, its got the upgrades etc...

srb · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 01:00 am »

One more ... this is a nice little stereo amp -

ATI 1202 (120W/ch @ 8ohm and 180W/ch @ 4 ohm)
$445 used (10/10)
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1292629839&/ATI-AT1202-Channel-Power-Ampli

Steve

Freo-1 · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 01:05 am »

Check Cambridge Audio on A'gon. There are decent demo/slightly used deals.

WGH · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 01:44 am »

There are a couple of used Van Alstine amps on the AVA site, choose between 130 or 200 watts per channel:
http://www.avahifi.com/
The amps are over your budget at $595 each but they have been checked out and have a 1 year warranty.

Wayne

Mass. Wine Guy · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 01:48 am »

I don't understand this concept very well. How do I tell what the high quality watts are?

Mass. Wine Guy · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 01:52 am »

Quote from: timind on 9 Nov 2010, 12:40 am

How about this NAD on Audiogon? http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1294374344&/NAD-C-372-C372-integrated-ampl
You can find some super deals if you keep looking and can pull the trigger immediately as they can go quick.

This seems like a very good unit, indeed. Does anyone know this model or own it? NAD has a reputation for making high quality, solidly build gear.

srb · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 02:38 am »

A year ago, polar316 (Zach in Boston, MA) was looking for an integrated to replace his 45W/ch Cambridge Audio Azur 340A, and he ended up getting the NAD C372. He really liked it, so you might try and PM him for some additional info.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=73232.0

The model that replaced it is the C375BEE, but they sell for nearly twice the price used ($1300 MSRP).

Steve

Steidl Guitars · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 03:04 am »

Quote from: Mass. Wine Guy on 9 Nov 2010, 01:48 am

I don't understand this concept very well. How do I tell what the high quality watts are?

Sorry about that. The point I was trying to make is that as you increase power output, sound quality often degrades (for a given price). Therefore, I was suggesting that the Minuets didn't need tons of power, so for your budget, you might be better off spending your money on an amp that made fewer watts, at least so far as sound quality goes. Just a generalization, of course.

Another way to put it is that many inexpensive, high-power amps sound like crap. The Class D amp mentioned earlier sounds very good for the price, but you'd have to build it and get a pre-amp--not what you're looking for.

I've not heard the Virtue mentioned above, but people seem to love them, and you might too.

Good luck.

timind · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 03:14 am »

I owned the NAD C-352, the model below the 372, for a while and really liked it's warm, full sound. Seemed very well built for the money. My only quibble was the volume control was a bit jumpy with the remote. One touch of the button and the volume moved past the desired setting. I don't know if the C-372 suffers from this. That's the kind of thing reviewers should point out.

timind · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 03:16 am »

One more thing about my time with the NAD. It replaced a Classe CAP-151, an amp that should have killed the NAD. I actually preferred the NAD's presentation over the Classe. The NAD was not as clinical but more fun to listen to.

Mass. Wine Guy · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Nov 2010, 03:23 am »

I was under the very possibly wrong impression that the Minuets are not that efficient. Is a higher db rating more or less efficient?

Also, I have a Morrision ELAD preamp that I believe is pretty good. ut I have not had too many others aside from an old Yamaha that I know wasn't very good.