looking for truly transparent affordable amp s


I'm looking for recommendations for amps in the 100 + watt area that are highly transparent, coming in under $2500 on the used market. I have 3 systems that include Meadowlark Audio Hot Rod Herons, BG Corp 520DX, and custom speakers similar to Legacy Focus using Eton drivers. The custom speakers are paired with a JAS Array 2.1 SET amp using 805 and 300B tubes. This is my reference for transparent sound. Source has ranged from a Consonance Droplet 5.0, to Modwright and Upgrade Co modded Oppo players (83SE), and a Cambridge Audio 851C (which I hope to have modded as well) all driving the amp direct. I don't like preamps. I'm looking for a similarly transparent amp to drive the BG Corp speakers and the Meadowlarks. I recently acquired a gainclone built with premium parts and love the sound; it's quite a clear window on the original performance. But it just doesn't have the power to drive any of the speakers to the levels I like to listen at so I'm looking for an amp capable of this level of transparency and detail, with sharply defined images. Any recommendations? I have Gamut on my short list. And may I ad that in the last few years I've had the following amps and none come close to the level of transparency I'm looking for:

Theta Intrepid (used to biamp)
bridged Pathos Classic One MK III
Wyred 4 Sound ST-500
Sim Audio I-5 LE
Consonance Calaf (tubed version)

Amps that had promise but didn't quite make it:

VAS Citation II EL34 monoblocks
Audio Zone integrated gainclone
Cambridge Audio 840W

Thanks in advance for your input
lcherepkai

Showing 1 response by hgeifman

I suggest you look at one of these three Hypex NCore Class D amplifiers:

1) Stereo powered by Hypex SMPS1200A400, 600W @ 2 Ohm, 1-Ohm minimum, $1,490/each, 1200W Hypex power supply for 600Wpc, dimensions 2.8″ x 9.8″ x 12″ (70 x 250 x 308mm), 8.5 lbs (3.9 Kg), specify faceplate finish: black or natural aluminum.

2) Bridged Mono Bloc powered by SMPS1200A400, 1200W @ 2 Ohms, 1-Ohm minimum, $2,980/pair, 1200W Hypex power supply, dimensions 2.8″ x 9.8″ x 12″ (70 x 250 x 308mm), 8.5 lbs (3.9 Kg), specify faceplate finish: black or natural aluminum.

3) Regular Mono Block powered by Hypex SMPS600, $1,900/pair, 600W power supply, specify faceplate finish: plain black, black with NCore logo, plain natural aluminum.

"Hypex NCore is among the most popular and successful amplifier technology. NCore arrived December 2011. The first two NCore batches sold out in hours. There are several thousand Internet pages referencing NCore.

Hypex market NC400 strictly for so-called “DIY” or hobbyist. Hypex does not solicit OEM and offer no quantity pricing. James Romeyn Music and Audio, LLC professionally builds NCore amplifiers for music and audio lovers who lack skill, time, tools, and/or work space to properly assemble their own NCore NC400 amplifiers.

Hypex NCore NC400 drives any speaker and is among the best values in audio. Your amplifier ships twelve days after payment and arrives soon thereafter. Compact, lightweight runs cool, affordable, reliable, draws little current, and superb performance for power hungry applications".

See:

http://jamesromeyn.com/#/home-audio-gear/hypex-ncore-nc400-build-service-on-time-or-free-build/

I borrowed the Hypex NCore NC400 Power Amplifier Mono Blocks (from a friend) and connected my Bricasti M1 DAC direct (no pre-amplifier) to the Hypex Ncore NC400 and listened. After many days of listening, I decided that, for me, going direct from the Bricasti M1 DAC to the Hypex NCore power amplifier sounds great to my ears. My system sounds much better because the music was clearer, more detailed and more open. For me, the Hypex NCore NC400 power amplifier mono blocks sound more natural and open. It seems another layer of sound is presented without the pre-amplifier in the system (my opinion, everyone has a different opinion on this).

As a result, I ordered the Hypex NCore NC400 Bridged mono blocks from James Romeyn Music and Audio, LLC (James). He was very helpful in answering my many questions about the Hypex NCore units. I hope to get delivery in about 2 weeks. I suggest you give him a call. See:

James Romeyn Music and Audio, LLC
James Romeyn
Hypex Ncore NC400 Professional Build Service
435 213 3953