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Subwoofer Amp Recommendations

I've added a stereo pair of VBT Magellan passive subs (fantastic, BTW)to my 2-channel system. VBT recommends using their 200S amp, which I have---and it is good---and I could get another for stereo, but as I'm using a Tact 2.2x, I don't need the crossover/volume functions in their amp, and would rather not have to put the signal through another set of electronics.

My considerations have ranged from the new Carver Pro amps (but I'm not happy about their connections as I'd need new cables or adapters) to used Adcoms/NADs/Aragons. I've also considered PS Audio and Sunfire, but not sure if I need to spend that much just for a bass amp.

A friend suggested the new Panasonic 45 digital receiver which takes a digital input (saving me the expense of a DAC, but I already have an extra anyway).

Your thoughts and experience would be appreciated.
richards
bhouser
112 posts
 
Both the Talon ROC AK and Thunderbird models (the t'Bird is about $12,000 delivered with the amp) come with the new Crown CTs-600 amp with IQ-PIP interface card. This amp is digital, and has a parametric EQ built-in that you connect to and program with your PC (via TCPIP connectivity, like your Internet connection). It is a very small form-factor (19 x 3.5 x 14), rack-mountable design.

I just ordered a ROC AK, and have talked to Mike Farnsworth about this sub amp. He is very complementary of it. He has used the Crown analog 'car-battery' style amps for his subwoofers for years, and feels that this is the best so far.

The only concern I have about it is that it is fan-cooled (potential noise), though the fan speed can be programmed to vary based on thermal demand, so they probably do not run much at idle. The plus-side of this fan cooling is there is NO top-to-bottom ventilation needs, so you can stack them tightly in a rack without providing any vertical clearance.

We'll see how it sounds....
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Ritteri...Why is slew rate meaningful for a SW amp? Is "flat to 5 Hz" really significant? If so, I suggest a Kenwood LO7M, or other DC coupled amp, which is flat to DC.
polara
72 posts
 
i use odyssey mono blocks for sub duty-
elevick
2,439 posts
 
Cheap older amps simply won't cut it! Buy a pair of Janis 1/a's on ebay for $350/pair. Only 100 watts but clean and powerful down to the last octave. Your old carver will just muddy up things in the upper bass region and never get down to the 20-50hz region.
ritteri
223 posts
 
Slew rate is very important in my book. It has to do with the dynamic ability of an amplifier and how quickly it responds to sudden changes in signal.

Being flat down to DC I feel also is a good indication to of how well an amplifier can reporduce low frequency signals. Many amplifiers in the bottom of the frequency spectrum slope off in the last octave slightly giving a "dry" thin sound. But I have found that amps that can reproduce a flat signal down to DC basically have much better detailed bass that is rich sounding.

And just because an amplifier is rated to respond down to DC doesnt mean it can reproduce the signal in a linear fashion.

I personally wouldnt suggest an amp thats 25 years old btw. My father had an old pair of those he sold about 10 years back. Nothing special at all.
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