Best Amp for $300 to Power Paradigm Monitor 9s


I'm looking for a 2-channel amplifier to power my Paradigm Monitor 9 (series 7) speakers. I want something simple, with few bells and whistles, but excellent sound. I've read that the Paradigms are bright and so a warm amp would be the way to, and have heard that Marantz pairs well, but am open to any quality option.

My budget is about 300 dollars, and I'd like something in the 100 WPC range, so I will likely buy second hand vintage.
commodus1
My budget is about 300 dollars, and I'd like something in the 100 WPC range, so I will likely buy second hand vintage.
Another possibility to consider, should one appear for sale, would be a Carver M400t "cube amp," which is rated at 200 watts/channel and I believe typically sells for slightly less than your budget.

That was a 1980's amp whose "transfer function" (the relation between its output and its input) was intended to emulate that of the highly regarded and very expensive pure class A Mark Levinson ML-2. It didn't quite succeed in that regard, as might be expected, but I owned one for a number of years and its sonics were very respectable for its price class (and higher), at least when used in conjunction with easy to drive speakers. (I couldn't find an impedance curve for your particular speakers, but they are rated as "8 ohm compatible," and I found additional reasons to suspect they are not difficult loads). And it sounded fully as powerful and dynamic as its 200W rating would suggest.

DO NOT, however, buy any of the earlier "non-t" versions of the M400, which were quite poor sonically IMO. And I have no experience with "t" versions of other Carver models of that era which were designed to emulate the transfer function of a Conrad Johnson tube amp (which I suspect would not be a good match for your speakers even if the emulation were perfect), rather than the transfer function of the solid state ML-2.

The M400t, btw, did not use electrolytic capacitors for energy storage (using the magnetic field of an inductor instead), which eliminates a significant concern about condition that would apply to most other amps which are that old. The amp I owned, btw, is still going strong after 30+ years, in the home of a relative.

Regards,
-- Al
Ok, this is the very best amp for $300-$400. Very good sounding amp for sure. Muse model 100 just showed up!

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-muse-model-100-stereo-power-amp-silver-2014-09-19-amplifiers-95831-sacramento-ca
I had a Carver m4.0t 360w/ch into 8ohm for many years. Sold it used for just over $300. Very nice amp with tube amp like transfer function. I think this was the CJ emulator model, don't recall exactly. WOrked quite well with Magnepans I used with it and most easier load speakers that a tube amp would do well with.

The Maggies were quite inefficient though and benefited from all 360 watts.
crown xls series when used at home application fan hardly ever engage and even if it does than at very low speed. it runs faster if the power needed larger or if it runs on high power long time.
Czarivey

You are right. Just disconnect the silly thing. The amp is not in a cab or rack and will breath just fine.

That Muse is a fine alternative for sure.