2. amps-preamps
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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
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mapman
15,679 posts
 
Krell KAV250 is as "transparent" as anything I have heard in recent years. I've almost "jumped on" one on a few occasions.

I've heard it with both Martin Logan and Focal speakers and similar results with both.
tjassoc
113 posts
 
The Pass XA-30.5 is an easy recommendation.

While it'll be slightly higher then your $2,500 limit, it will EASILY be worth the few extra hundred dollars.

We've used this amplifier with our moderately high end system (Meridian 800 Series Sources, MIT Top Tier Oracle Cables, Watt Puppy 5.1 and now Sasha I Speakers) for years until we finally upgraded to a pair of XA-200.5's.

We've integrated our home theater system with our stereo system (with a priority on stereo), and we use 3 X-250.5 amplifiers to drive our theater speakers. The X-250.5 is no match for the XA-30.5. The only thing the 30.5 gives up with percussive dynamics, otherwise it's no contest. Imaging and coherency were dramatically better, it provided a natural harmonic of the recorded venue few systems approach much less obtain.

When I was selling an X-250.5, the person came to our home and asked to listen to our XA-30.5 in comparison to our X-250.5. He purchased the 30.5 instead!

We've had many amplifiers in our system through the years; Bryston, Theta and Audio Research. Audio Research amplifiers were exceptional but we opted not to continue to use tubes because we integrated our theater system.

Hope this helps.
lcherepkai OP
126 posts
 
Aolmrd1241----thanks for the suggestion of the Taranis amp. The review sounded promising although the lack of RCA inputs seems odd

Jrinkerptdnet----all my sources have variable outputs (including a Revox tuner) and I seldom come close to turning any of the volume controls all the up so I'm happy where I am on sources (after I have the Cambridge modded that is). I've heard and read great things about the First Watt amps and demoed the Aleph 5 many years ago but have found that even my quite sensitive custom speakers devour lower powered solid state without mercy. On these speakers, I use a 45w SET amp presently and used 45w EL34 monoblocks a few years back with great results only very rarely running out of power but have had to listen at much lower levels to avoiding clipping the 2 gainclones I've had on these speakers (and the speakers are biamped so the amps haven't been asked to do low bass). I've thought about trying some of the high sensitivity speakers out there so as to be able to use the lower powered SET amps, and perhaps the First Watts as well, but I'm quite satisfied with the speakers I have but thanks for the recommendations.

Peter---the Liberty amps sounds very promising, pretty much what I'm looking for and the reviews speak volumes but no one tried the amps as monoblocks so would you please comment on the sound of the bridged B2b-100. I know that a single Pathos Classic MK III sounded significantly less involving that a bridged pair. Thanks!

Lyle
islandmandan
848 posts
 
For $430, you can build a Class D Audio kit amp, 125 Wpc. Very transparent, with great punch and detail. I replaced my First Watt M2 amp with it, quite happily.

Since then, I have made the amp into two bridged modules for 500 Wpc (though the modules share the same power supply). I also converted another Class D Audio CDA 254 amp into a three channel amp.

Cheap to try, great to listen to and enjoy. Not affiliated with Class D Audio, I'm just happy with my purchases.

Regards,
Dan
beavis
272 posts
 
Since you've already got an SET amp, consider looking at a number of P-P amp from Decware. I think you might mat need a little more power to than a SET to drive a multi-driver speaker.
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