amp- best bang 4 your buck [Archive] - Lansing Heritage Forums

dino

01-10-2009, 10:41 AM

I did do some research on power amp ss and tube. my speaker can be bi-amp i useing a 75watt rms old sansui g-8000 receiver and boy do they sound good but i want much more power. between 250 to 400 watts rms. the used amps I was looking at are mcintosh mc 352- bryston 4 b sst- hafler 9500- rotel rb 1090- parasound hca 3500-now the amps some people rave are pass lab- mark L-krell- and etc I dont want to spend nor do I have that type of money. and if I go with bi amp I was thinking of a used crown k2 and a used music reference tube amp so what amp give u the most bang 4 your buck and wont put me in the dog house or poor house:blink: If this help I have a pionner spec 1 preamp and my speakers are below

Mr. Widget

01-10-2009, 12:03 PM

dino

01-10-2009, 02:50 PM

I really doubt you need a big amp, but if you feel the need, I'd recommend the Hafler 9505. They are very solid, sound good and are very affordable. Your system seems tight for space though and they do need some breathing room... no fans only convection for cooling.

Widget u r right widget the room is small its called my room no wife no kids just mine:p thanks 4 the info

JBLRaiser

01-10-2009, 03:34 PM

Will almost triple your wattage.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MONSTER-SANSUI-G-9700-STEREO-RECIVER-200WPC_W0QQitemZ280299629598QQcmdZViewItem

TonyM

01-11-2009, 02:43 AM

I'm using two Adcom GFA-5802s to biamp a pair of Martin Logan Ascent i. I've used a single in the past to drive several different pairs of JBLs and Altecs (definately overkill for Altecs but perfect for the JBLs). I went to two after I got the Logans and they have no problem driving the electrostatic panels to fairly loud levels.

They're rated for 350 watts per channel into 8 ohms, they're advertised as a Pass design (I'm sure there are some compromises for cost but if you look at the schematic of one you can see some of his work - all mosfets, simple gain stages, bypassed caps, etc...) It's kind of a blue colar amp, it just goes out there and works for years. I know there are better amps out there but the extra cost keeps me from upgrading. If I could afford Pass amps I'd be going that way.

I've seen them go for some reasonable prices on Audiogon along with some of the older versions. The mosfet amps are fairly stout but replacement output fets for the older models might be out of production. As an alternative you could consider the 555. Those are going really cheap.

If anything, they'll keep you warm in the winter.

Tony

Andyoz

01-11-2009, 04:39 AM

I've had a Bryston 4B SST for a few years now and can't see me ever changing it. It just sites there, runs cool and really gripes the JBL low end.

maxwedge

01-11-2009, 10:40 AM

I really doubt you need a big amp, but if you feel the need, I'd recommend the Hafler 9505. They are very solid, sound good and are very affordable. Your system seems tight for space though and they do need some breathing room... no fans only convection for cooling.

Widget
I recommend that one too but the Hafler 9505s seem to be hard to come by but if you find one jump on it fast.:bouncy:

Mr. Widget

01-11-2009, 10:51 AM

I recommend that one too but the Hafler 9505s seem to be hard to come by....:I have two, am I greedy? :D

I like them quite a bit. They replaced a pair of Hafler XL-600s I had. I see 9505s from time to time on both agon and eBay. They are typically sub $800 each.

I've had a Bryston 4B SST for a few years now and can't see me ever changing it. It just sites there, runs cool and really gripes the JBL low end.I agree... I'd go for those too, but they cost more than the Haflers do.

Widget

Fred Sanford

01-11-2009, 10:58 AM

I've had a Bryston 4B SST for a few years now and can't see me ever changing it. It just sites there, runs cool and really gripes the JBL low end.

I had one, and bartered it away for repairs on my 4333As...in some ways, that might have been self-defeating, and I kinda regret it...a really good-sounding amp.

Currently using an Adcom 2535 to bi-amp the 4333As (60WPC x 4), and plan on employing a second one & bridging some channels so I'd have ~200WPC for lows & 60 WPC for highs.

je

maxwedge

01-11-2009, 11:05 AM

I have two, am I greedy? :D

I like them quite a bit. They replaced a pair of Hafler XL-600s I had. I see 9505s from time to time on both agon and eBay. They are typically sub $800 each.

Widget
Yeah you are! Trade them to me for my P500s!:p

scott fitlin

01-11-2009, 11:14 AM

I love CROWN! mELLOW MIDS, AND nothing, yeah, nothing KIcks LF like crown!

I grew up on Crown, been thru BGW, Bryston, MaC, eVEN HAVE SOME MCORMAKS!
crown rockzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

:D

jeenie67

01-11-2009, 07:44 PM

.......Because there's no substitute for "The Crown". This perpetuity eminent....always without plaint...oscillating vibratory disturbances of sonority....conducting algid amid adventure...the sovereignty of the castle. .....goes well with altecs and mustard!

Titanium Dome

01-12-2009, 09:50 AM

dino

01-12-2009, 09:57 AM

thanks I will post here looking for hafler 9505 and check ebay and audiogon as well:)

jbl_daddy

01-13-2009, 07:23 PM

I am currently using two Crown K1'2 and four DC300 Series 2's in my TV room and it rocks. ":barf:CROWN FOR LIFE"

Rolf

01-14-2009, 01:13 PM

jbl_daddy

01-19-2009, 09:16 AM

I have purchased all of my DC300 Series 2's from eBay over the past 6 years. Expect to pay 2 to 300 per amp. The K1's were new.

BMWCCA

01-19-2009, 09:51 AM

I have purchased all of my DC300 Series 2's from eBay over the past 6 years. Expect to pay 2 to 300 per amp. The K1's were new.I'm pretty sure Dino solved his problem already with the purchase of a Hafler he was waiting to receive. I haven't checked on that saga recently to see the resolution.

I just wanted to remind anyone reading this thread that the Crown PS-400 is in many ways an update to the DC300A-II even though they were contemporaries and the DC300A-II cost a bit less and may have stayed in production longer for that reason. I have several of both and like them both. My preference is now the PS-series for the updated panels, rack handles, turn-on delay, and my imagination tells me they just sound better. I"m sure I'm wrong but best case they are the same as the DC300A-II but normally sell for less. Let's just keep that little secret between us though, OK? ;)

jbl_daddy

01-19-2009, 11:02 AM

Is the PS200 the same as a DC150?

BMWCCA

01-19-2009, 11:12 AM

Is the PS200 the same as a DC150?Yep, same as the D150A-II, but with the standard PS-series upgrades and slightly higher power rating (95 vs. 100wpc @8ohms).

Forgot to say that the PS-series can fit an adapter to accept balanced inputs. Not the case on the D150/DC300s. Headphone "monitor" front-panel output, too.

Rolf

01-19-2009, 12:49 PM

So, as I can understand new Crown's is NLA?

hjames

01-19-2009, 12:56 PM

So, as I can understand new Crown's is NLA?

I think you don't understand it ...
Actually, I think no one replied to your question ...

Google is your friend ... really!

I did a Google search for Crown - and found

http://www.crownaudio.com/

On their website I looked for International Distributers list
http://www.crownaudio.com/gen_htm/distribselect2.php

Pick country and ... Bob's yer uncle!

Guess you just need a woman to show you how all this technical
stuff works, right darling?

International Distributors

These are the Crown distributors for NORWAY:

Lydrommet AS
Sandakerveien 74
N-0484 Oslo Norway
PH: +47 2323 2800
FAX: +47 2323 2801
Contact: Flemming Bjerke
E-Mail: flemming@lydrommet.no
http://www.lydrommet.no (http://www.lydrommet.no/)

Rolf

01-19-2009, 02:16 PM

I think you don't understand it ...
Actually, I think no one replied to your question ...

Google is your friend ... really!

I did a Google search for Crown - and found

http://www.crownaudio.com/

On their website I looked for International Distributers list
http://www.crownaudio.com/gen_htm/distribselect2.php

Pick country and ... Bob's yer uncle!

Guess you just need a woman to show you how all this technical
stuff works, right darling?

International Distributors

These are the Crown distributors for NORWAY:

Lydrommet AS

Sandakerveien 74
N-0484 Oslo Norway
PH: +47 2323 2800
FAX: +47 2323 2801
Contact: Flemming Bjerke
E-Mail: flemming@lydrommet.no
http://www.lydrommet.no (http://www.lydrommet.no/)

Thank you. Yes I need my wife back. Unfortunately she is at the hospital, fighting with cancer.:(

hjames

01-19-2009, 02:20 PM

Thank you. Yes I need my wife back. Unfortunately she is at the hospital, fighting with cancer.:(

Very sad to hear about your wife, we all wish her the best.

Triumph Don

01-19-2009, 02:21 PM

A Crown K1 like this has served me well for a few years now. No fans, no noise, 350 @ 8 ohms per side. A, ah, real looker too. Should sell for around $500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Crown-K1-1500-Watts-Amp_W0QQitemZ230320040073QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item230320040073&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Or the bigger dog at 500 per side [looks a little rough, priced right though]

http://cgi.ebay.com/CROWN-K2-POWER-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ120365637189QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ LH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120365637189&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Grillsargeant

01-20-2009, 09:33 PM

Follow Widget's advice and get the Hafler if you can. It's worth every penny and is an exceptional deal at current prices. It's got phenomenal bandwidth that others can match (at greater cost) but cannot beat.

I own and use daily a Hafler 9505. It is fantastic amp, better than any Crown I have heard. To further ad to it's value, I sent it to John Hillig at Musical Concepts. He was part of the engineering design team on this and older Haflers. He updated it and modified with new caps, etc. That has made a great amp turn exceptional. It is now a toss up to the McShane modified Harman-Kardon Citation II, except the 9505 has more power (250 wpc 8 ohms) and tighter bass. Not really necessary with horns. But definitely nice to run on a daily basis. KT-88's are getting very expensive.

Good luck on finding a 9505 if you are looking. I wouldn't sell mine!:D

evans224

01-21-2009, 12:30 AM

robertbartsch

01-21-2009, 09:52 AM

I own a bunch of big old consumer amps including Adcom, Denon, Onkyo, etc. but they suk.

To get the full potential from your drivers, you need big power.

I think you should consider a new Crown XLS series amp. These are dirt cheap, very powerful and are rock solid. I own two of the 802D series and they are great.

Crown is currently offering a factory rebate of $100 on these too.

jcrobso

01-21-2009, 01:48 PM

Maybe a bit off topic, but it looks like pro amps use XLR input connections. I know they make RCA to XLR adapters (my NAD CD player does not have XLR outputs). Do these sound any better than just plain old RCA's?
Look for an amp that 1/4" or 1/4" & XLR. You can use a 1/4" mono plug, this will unbalance the input when you plug it in. John