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Musical, high powered Amp under $1k

I'm looking for a new (used..?) amp around $1,000. So far I've liked the anthem HCA 20 amp the best between my modded Acurus a100, and a Mcintosh MC 2105 (first taste of Mac and I was very unimpressed).

Anyways, it seems both myself and my Paradigm Signature 2's V.3 like a more powerful amp, like the Anthem, so with that in mind, what amps should I be looking at? I'm thinking I can get something as powerful as the Anthem with a touch more air and sweetness to it, for the same $ the anthem would cost me $1100 (ouch).

Usually I can find a few amps in the $1k range that look tempting but I'm stumped right now...
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timlub
1,649 posts
 
As much as I don't like people peddling their goods without listing on the forum, the Muse 160 is a terrific amp.... I've followed them many times, going price is $800. Also agree with Marqmike, his list is all good, I'd probably recommend a Sumo Andromeda II or III. The original is getting very old, but with some updates can be great also.
Good luck,
Tim
lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes
414 posts
 
If you can find a B&K EX442 Sonata, sweet, musical, and tube-like as all heck. I once a/b'd an EX442 Sonata against a pr of Paoli 60M tube monoblocks (8417 outputs) which is a super moded pr of Dyna MkIII's and could barely tell the difference between the two....and the B&K will run you half of your $1K budget....best bang for the buck, IMHO.
pgawan2b
122 posts
 
Have you considered something from Monarchy Audio? I see a pair of SE100 MK2s (100W@8 ohms / 200W@4 ohms) listed on Audio Circle for $1075. The SE100 MK2s are Class A monoblocks so you will need one amp per speaker.

I have no experience with the SE100s, but I do have a SM70-Pro which I like very much. I've owned three different pieces of Monarchy equipment over the years and each piece has been very impressive to me from: (1) a build perspective, (2) a performance perspective, and (3) from a value perspective.
mingles
775 posts
 
Sunfire 300 or 600. Hard to beat the price to performance ratio.
reynolds853
367 posts
 
If you come across a Denon PMA 2000IVR I would get it. It's conservatively rated at 80wpc into 8 ohms, 160 into 4 ohms, and puts out a prodigious amount of current. I always found it to be quite musical and a tremendous bargain.
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