09-12-08: Crem1Certainly. If you ask your same question (and add your listening and operating criteria and budget) on the Analog discussion page here at Audiogon, you'll be overwhelmed with suggestions and answers.
Johnnyb53, Thank you for your recommendations. Are there others out there with hands-on experience with recommendations ??
The Best Amp for the Price of Dirt
The Berringer a 500 Reference Amp that can be purchased on Musican's Friend web site for 194.00( each) to your house in the US of A w/ a 2 year warranty is a KILLER. I have several amps and these are scarey. Granted they were designed overseas & built in China... However, they are 19lbs GIANTS . Don't take my word go to the "Audio Critic" web site for a full review. This is my one an only give-away . Use it or loose it. Best to 'All
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09-13-08: Crem1Yep, they and I seem to think alike when it comes to budget gear. I picked the A-9555 partially because of their (and Stereophile's) favorable reviews. But I picked out the Oppo DV-980H (also an Editor's Choice) and the Mirage OMD-15 loudspeaker (one model down from their Editor's Choice award for the OMD-28) on my own. The A-9555 is also a Class C Stereophile recommended component, though I think it's better than that. It certainly deserves to be ranked above the Outlaw RR2150 receiver. |
Johnnyb53 I have also been really happy to read this thread - thank you. I continue to enjoy my Behringer amps for my desktop applications, but was very intrigued to read about the Art amps, and happy to see that Parts Express carries them as in my experience they have an absolutely no questions asked return policy. At a glance, I would think a pair of SLA2s might also be a biamping dream on a budget? Can anyone else comment on how the build and/or sound quality might compare to Behringer and other cheap as dirt candidates? |
09-23-08: CwlondonHow about an SLA4? It is a 4x100wpc (8 ohms) amp with the same wide bandwidth (10-40KHz), low noise ( 100) as the SLA4, and also fits in a single-height rack space. It also has a 2-ohm rating, so its current delivery must be pretty good. Although the Behringer is advertised as a 280wpc amp, it tested at about 120 wpc into 8 ohms, both channels driven, with the frequency response rolling off at 10KHz and fairly high noise levels. For about the price of two A500 Reference amps you can get an ART SLA4, with 4 channels or 100wpc, wider bandwidth, lower noise, and better stability into lower impedances. I'm also active on a guitar discussion page, and while Behringer is considered OK there for the low amount of money spent, it's with the understanding that the build quality is not that great. The ART Pro Audio, however, is considered high quality. Aczel stated that no one should be able to hear the HF rolloff. I say "poppycock!" For one thing, cymbals and violins make overtones out to at least 16KHz, and overtones define the tone quality and personality of the instrument. Secondly, HF rolloff below 20KHz means the amp has an audibly slower rise time. If the ART SLA series is truly linear out to 40KHz as claimed, their rise time is four times as fast as the Behringer. This makes a significant difference in keeping the music sorted out and clear. Definitely translates into inner detail among other things. The Stereophile Review of the Outlaw Audio RR2150, which also rolls off starting around 10KHz, also shows a visibly slower and rounder corresponding square wave response as illustrated and explained here. |
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