I'm in the market for a power amp, something around 100wpc-200wpc but i dont know where to look for good prices on modern equipment, what would you guys do? :scratch2:

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/products/hf/as2000.html

Check it out.

That is really one beautiful amp...:yes:

Another suggestion might be the Pass Labs amps like this one: XA200 (http://www.passlabs.com/downloads/xa200_om.pdf)200 watts of pure class A. :music:

www.audioadvisor.com is a good place to look around. I've been a fan of Parasound products for the last 12 years but I'm biased.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=200109&CTID=5002400

Amplification
2 Channel Amplifier
500W x 2 Output Power with Ultra-Low Distortion
Dynamic Range 120dB
Yamaha Original Power Engine System Chip: Modulator LSI (YDA133) and Power MOS Drive LSIs (YDA134 x 2)
Twin Monaural Independent Construction
Constant Gain PLL Modulator Circuit.

with the perfect companion

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=200110&CTID=5002600

MAIN FEATURES

1db(-100dB) Gang Error High Quality Continuosly Variable Attenuator with Brass Case
Low -Resistance Rotary Selector Switch
Extra-Thick (12mm; 1/2") Aluminum Extruded Yamaha Traditional Piano Finish Front Panel and Side Panels
Magnetic Shielding Aluminum Top Cover and Rear Panel
Point-Controlled, Anti-Resonance Feet
Heavy-Duty and High Sound Quality Copper-Plated Steel Inner Chassis

Our defacto Yamaha Guru Mark B. has the MX-D1 and he praises it well.

How much can you spend?
Integrated, or seperate?
Tubes, or SS?
There are still many good modern amps out there.
If you don't mind buying online, there is AudioAdvisor,
or SoundCity to name a couple.

Dave

FYI, we have a forum for this.

Modern Day Hi-Fi (http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=154)

I'd be very tempted to look at some kit amplifiers which have been getting raves from people.

This one

http://www.aksaonline.com/

Or this one perhaps.

http://www.ska-audio.com/diy/index.html

There are tons of others out there also. :yes:

Pass labs do look like sweet amps. Never heard one though. I personally have taken the step up to commercial sound these days to satisfy my hunger for power. The home owners market is filled with garbage that dont produce. My suggestion for a power amp. Bose 1800 pro amp. Much more power then your looking for. Also im from canada. Yorkville is common around here. I have a Yorkville AP(Audio Professional)800, 800 watt 2 channel amp. My brother runs the Yorkville SR(Studio Reference)300, 300 watt 2 channel power amp. Decent power and great sound for a reasonable price. 600$ for an SR right off the shelf.

I'm in the market for a power amp, something around 100wpc-200wpc but i dont know where to look for good prices on modern equipment, what would you guys do? :scratch2:

What do you consider a "good" price ? What is your budget ? That information would be needed to give a proper recommendation. On the lower end of the price spectrum there's brands like Outlaw Audio and ATI that are available factory direct. On the upper end, the sky's the limit.

Odyssey Audio would be on my list.

I recommend B&K Components. Top notch build quality and amazingly good customer service. Also made in the USA.

You should look into some of Audio by Van Alstine's amps. The OmegaStar 240EX would fit the bill nicely. Or you could get the OmegaStar 440EX if you need more power. (Frank rates things very conservatively and builds equipment to drive real-world loads, so even the 240EX is more powerful than a lot of other amps that claim to offer equal or greater power.)

I would get an AudioSource 2 CH Class T Digital Stereo Power Amplifier (http://cgi.ebay.com/AudioSource-2-CH-Class-T-Digital-Stereo-Power-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ120191994425QQihZ002QQcategoryZ 39783QQcmdZViewItem). They can be found on ebay for around $260.

I should mention that I have never seen or heard one in person, but I like the Tripath amps that I have now and this one is much more powerful. A couple AK members own them.

http://www.rotel.com/NA/products/ProductDetails.htm?Id=11

Worth considering.

Be glad to suggest something if ya give us your budget.

well i was thinking of spending like 300-1200$ new or used, i just dont know much about the newer stuff, i have a decent pre-amp, a yamaha cx-600
now i want something to go with it instead of just useing it to run a receiver.


i've seen those audio source amps around, are they any good? they seem to be on the cheaper side.

or would i be better off to buy a used NAD/Rotel amp?

You could get a Bel Canto S300 for 900-1000 used. I have the M300's, which are a little beyond your budget even used, and love them.

I picked up this amp in October. Love it and it comes with a 30 day in home trial and 5 year warranty.

http://www.emotiva.com/rpa1.html

I also started a thread in Modern Day HI-FI. http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=136113

I picked up this amp in October. Love it and it comes with a 30 day in home trial and 5 year warranty.

http://www.emotiva.com/rpa1.html

I also started a thread in Modern Day HI-FI. http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=136113

That looks amazing for only $700! If I were into SS and looking for a new amp I'd consider it, but it says out of stock on the site you linked to.

You should look into some of Audio by Van Alstine's amps. The OmegaStar 240EX would fit the bill nicely. Or you could get the OmegaStar 440EX if you need more power. (Frank rates things very conservatively and builds equipment to drive real-world loads, so even the 240EX is more powerful than a lot of other amps that claim to offer equal or greater power.)

I would like to try one of the Van Alstine amps - either the OmegaStar or FetValve, but you don't see many for sale 2nd hand. And, if you do, it seems you better act fast.

Hmmm... do you suppose that means something??

That looks amazing for only $700! If I were into SS and looking for a new amp I'd consider it, but it says out of stock on the site you linked to.

They will be out of stock until January according to the info in their forum. :tears:
I picked mine up when it was on sale for $599.00.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2227/2094899540_6c775271b4_o.jpg

I don't wish to derail the thread, but what about pro-audio power amps (Alesis, Crown, etc)? A viable option, if cosmetics are not hugely important?

I'd definately look at Parasound.

A parasound Halo A-23 is a true bargain for what it's giving :)

http://www.parasound.com/img/halo/a23_angle_577.jpg

http://www.parasound.com/img/halo/a23_front_577.jpg

http://www.parasound.com/halo/a23.php

you might even find a A21 for $1.2k used...
also check out Primare, not sure if they fit in your budget, but they won't be far off... and they're nice amps :)




Keep them spinning,
Bert.

Odyssey Audio would be on my list.

on mine as well !! good choice,

I would like to try one of the Van Alstine amps - either the OmegaStar or FetValve, but you don't see many for sale 2nd hand. And, if you do, it seems you better act fast.

Hmmm... do you suppose that means something??

They've always been on my short list too. http://www.avahifi.com/

Go for used Pass Labs; may be at the high end of your range, but you'll own it for the rest of your life.

Or get an Adcom GFA 5802; designed by Nelson Pass, but sells for lots less than his Pass Labs gear.

No one mentioned McIntosh.... are they still around? Has there quality gone south ?

No one mentioned McIntosh.... are they still around? Has there quality gone south ?

Yes there are still around, quality is as high as ever. You get what you pay for and their new stuff cost's a lot.

I'd definately look at Parasound.
you might even find a A21 for $1.2k used...
also check out Primare, not sure if they fit in your budget, but they won't be far off... and they're nice amps :)

I second this recommendation. I picked up a dealer demo A 21 with full factory warranty for just over $1.2k. Great sounding amp.

You could also pick up a pair of A 23's and bi-amp. :yes:

Martin

No one mentioned McIntosh.... are they still around? Has there quality gone south ?

As Holst said, they're still around, producing high quality gear as they used to do (if not better), and yes they are pretty expensive :)

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

I'm a big fan of NAD like the NAD C272 (http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/C272-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/specs). NAD's (:D now don't laugh here) always have good overhead and that smooth, warm, British sound. Another plus is they can be bridged to produce prodigious sound as monoblocs.

Not sure what the going price is these days, but it ought to be somewhere in that range. Go NAD! Go NAD!:banana:

Just my $.02.

well i was thinking of spending like 300-1200$ new or used, i just dont know much about the newer stuff, i have a decent pre-amp, a yamaha cx-600. now i want something to go with it instead of just useing it to run a receiver.If you like your CX-600 (as you state, a nice preamp), why not stick with Yamaha. Any of their B, M or MX amps would be an excellent choice. The MX-2 falls to mind, being something of a cosmetic design match for your CX-600. Most any of these Yamaha amps will sell for under $500 and provide you with ~160-260wpc, depending on which one you purchase.

Absolutely right, no need to look elsewhere, Yamaha B-2's suggestions would be perfect match for your CX-600.

If you buy a transistor amp, make sure that it operates in class a. Little else matters.

Galen

If you buy a transistor amp, make sure that it operates in class a. Little else matters.

Galen
Why, so they can double as space heaters? Very few solid-state amps operate in pure class A. They're expensive to build because they need huge heatsinks and they throw off a ton of heat which means an expensive power bill every month. There's nothing wrong with class AB, much cheaper to build, don't eat up power like mad.

If you buy a transistor amp, make sure that it operates in class a. Little else matters. GalenNot only what Brent71 states, but there are so few Class A amps around to choose from these days. When given the choice, Class A is fine, even preferred, everywhere but the output stages, which are invariably Class AB. Nothing at all wrong with Class A, but don't buy based on the amp being Class A. Buy based on what your ears tell you.

Go by the sound and your ears, not by tech jargons or gimmicks. I had a very expensive class A esoterica which I paid a huge sum and not even one day did it satisfy my ears, it did hurt my pocket for long.

uofmtiger mentioned the audiosource amp at $260-- so far the only poster to mention the tripath amps. over the last few years, i've used phase linear 400, an adcom gfa-555, marantz 250, marantz 2325, and others i can't think of right now, but the audiosource provides completely neutral, clear, and unbiased amplification to whatever speakers and source you hang on it. i think its biggest problem is it doesn't cost enough to be taken seriously in threads like this. how could you go wrong for $260? i guess finding an audition would be a challenge.

and then there's the trends audio ta-110. a little over $100, an integrated amp which, when put on high eff speakers is absolutely phenomenal in soundstage, dynamics, detail, audiophile stuff....look for the lengthy article on 6 moons

I would get an AudioSource 2 CH Class T Digital Stereo Power Amplifier (http://cgi.ebay.com/AudioSource-2-CH-Class-T-Digital-Stereo-Power-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ120191994425QQihZ002QQcategoryZ 39783QQcmdZViewItem). They can be found on ebay for around $260.

I should mention that I have never seen or heard one in person, but I like the Tripath amps that I have now and this one is much more powerful. A couple AK members own them.

Wow that is cheap for 200 per channel.

Yes there are still around, quality is as high as ever. You get what you pay for and their new stuff cost's a lot.

Great little amp from Mc, they go for about $600 and sound great.

does very well with the ads l-810...

I'd be very tempted to look at some kit amplifiers which have been getting raves from people.

This one

http://www.aksaonline.com/

Or this one perhaps.

http://www.ska-audio.com/diy/index.html

There are tons of others out there also. :yes:

I've heard the SKA and it seemed to be quite good.

Why, so they can double as space heaters? Very few solid-state amps operate in pure class A. They're expensive to build because they need huge heatsinks and they throw off a ton of heat which means an expensive power bill every month. There's nothing wrong with class AB, much cheaper to build, don't eat up power like mad.

I can't see that your power amp is going to raise your electricity bill by very much in most cases.

Class A is arguably superior for a home stereo system, although I tend to suspect that there isn't an audible difference between a good class A amp and a good class AB one.

You're right that even most amps that claim to be "class A" aren't at all power levels. However, crossover distortion may be more objectionable at the lowest power levels anyway, so it may be a good idea to run in class A at those levels.

I might not buy an amp specifically because it's class A, but I don't think I'd rule it out because it's class A either, providing it met my power (output) and cost requirements.

They will be out of stock until January according to the info in their forum. :tears:
I picked mine up when it was on sale for $599.00.

Their engineering office is around the corner from my house & according to them, they are waiting for the new/next generation of units to arrive. I run a couple of their little mono-blocks and was thinking of getting one of the larger 7 channel amps for the theater.

Their engineering office is around the corner from my house & according to them, they are waiting for the new/next generation of units to arrive. I run a couple of their little mono-blocks and was thinking of getting one of the larger 7 channel amps for the theater.

Sounds great. I read a lot of good things about their multi-channel amps as well.

Can't wait to see what the next gen. 2 channel amp is. I'm still holding out on their 2 channel preamp.

Paul

Modern power amps I've been interested in are the PS Audio brand, PSE, B&K, and Bryston. 10-15 year old amps for the most part.

I moved from vintage 70's amps to mid-80's amps and was quite pleased. another 7-10 years worth of refinement would probably be a slightly noticeable increase for me.

I can't see that your power amp is going to raise your electricity bill by very much in most cases.

Class A is arguably superior for a home stereo system, although I tend to suspect that there isn't an audible difference between a good class A amp and a good class AB one.
... Well, if it's a powerful Class A amp it'll be sitting there sucking up all that power regardless of if there's any signal being fed to it. Just look at those big Krell's that are Class A and how much heat they kick off just sitting there. My Parasounds are bad enough and just idling they measure about 160 degrees on the heatsinks. In the winter they make nice little heaters. A pure Class A amp would suck up a lot more power and kick off a lot more heat than those.