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Newbie: Entry-level monoblock amps

Hi there!

First-time user and first post. Looking into monoblock power amps or stereo amps at maybe $2.5-5k to power a set of Thiel PCS bookshelf speakers.

Heard good things about Emotiva XPA-1s, but what is the general audiogon consensus about the company and the brand?

Should I instead look at a things like a 10 year-old ML or 5 year-old Bryston?

Thanks for your help!
aik
aik OP
1 posts
 
Wow -- thank you all so much for the responses and the warm welcome.

1) consensus seems to be at least try the Emotiva; at worst you're out shipping

2) bryston, ML hard to beat.
McIntosh, Wyred4Sound, Odyssey, Forte and NuForce also good.

3) Bryston 7ST (not SST) seems to be going about ~3k. Is the SST really that much better?

So at this point the plan is:

1) try the emotiva
2) find a used bryston or ML on audiogon. Any particular models other than the 4sst? :)

Thank you all so much again!
hiendmuse
257 posts
 
Quicksilver tube mono blocks- excellent build quality and value.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Bryston really evolved from the ST to the SST, so no you do not want to buy the ST model, and do wan the SST. or SST2.
I own a Bryston 4B-SST2 and would never have put up with the hard sound of an ST.
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