2. amps-preamps
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Amps on the cheap....real cheap

I have a pair of power hungry A-1 soundlabs. My original intent was to pick up a set of JC-1's or Atma MA-1 to drive them. That is still my intent but it won't happen for a year or so. In the mean time, I would like to find something to power them with. I have an old Adcom GFA 555 which I could utilize. This amp is bridgable to 600W mono. My thought was to pick up a second one, run them mono (current used price around $300.00) and live with it until I spend the money on better power.

Before I rush out and buy another used Adcom I thought I might get your thoughts on the best budget amps out there, either mono or single chassis, that would have the juice to get the A-1 moving.

I know this is a tall order on the cheap but I am sure there are a few great budget amps out there on the cheap that would hold me over.

I would like to stay under 6 or $700.00 for the amps.

Thanks in advance.
lance_s
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Bridgeing amps actually will reduce their stablility into low impedances, so I think that one Adcom is better than two for your Sound Labs. Why not just throw a couple of hundred at upgrading your Adcom? You will have a nicer sounding amp that is stable into low impedances and the reactive load that the Sound Labs present.
lance_s OP
27 posts
 
How do you upgrade the adcom? Who might be qualified to do that and what would it cost?

I was trying to get the speakers up and running tonight, the right channel on the adcom was lighting up the distortion sensor on the front of the amp quite a bit earlier than the left and then it went dead. I believe that I lost the channel tonight so now might be a good time to either upgrade it or dump it...
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Wow, that sucks. I take it that you are not handy with a soldering iron and a scope. Well, Musical Concepts is the best at this. Here is a link to the Adcom amp page:

http://www.musicaldesign.com/adcom.htm

Best of luck,
Marty Kohn
Portland, OR
sufentanil's avatar
sufentanil
776 posts
 
Philojet, if you find an Innersound ESL amp for less than $1000, then you should definitely jump on it. They tend to run in the $1200-$1500 range for the ESL 300. (I own one; it's a great amp.) You're right in that it's the perfect choice for electrostats.

For the price that the original poster supplied, though, I don't think the Innersound is in range.

Michael
lance_s OP
27 posts
 
i will continue to keep a look out for a used esl 300 or sanders 300. I think that might be a great stop gap. I am currently upgrading the backing plates anyway so I have some time to look.

Thanks for all the ideas.
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