Power amps

[spendorman]

Getting very good sound using this into BBC Rogers LS3/6:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-3-to-18...-/272159153887

I wonder if there is any cheaper, new, good quality amplifier. Power supply is an from an old laptop, 16V.

[struth]

Thought my amps were cheap lol... Cant buy a pint for that!

[spendorman]

And that includes the postage! Even the volume control seems fine, good tracking balance between the two channels.

I have increased the heatsink by adding on an old one from a computer processor.

[PeteC]

Used to work at the BBC. They used these as monitors in the radio recording channels. If I remember correctly the amps were Quad 50Es. Just a little rough sounding, but you really do need that, or more power, to leave a bit of headroom. The Quad 405 was used later to drive LS5/8s, but here it was with an active crossover arrangement, one channel for tweeter, the other for bass/midrange. Now they did sound very good! A refurbished Quad might suit, or perhaps you can find a class A amp, they sound very smooth, but with all detail present.

[spendorman]

Used to work at the BBC. They used these as monitors in the radio recording channels. If I remember correctly the amps were Quad 50Es. Just a little rough sounding, but you really do need that, or more power, to leave a bit of headroom. The Quad 405 was used later to drive LS5/8s, but here it was an active crossover, one channel for tweeter, the other for bass/midrange. Now they did sound good! A refurbished Quad might suit, or perhaps you can find a class A amp, the y sound very smooth, but with all detail present.

I have plenty of amps with more power, including some that you list, 405-2, also have Quad II's several 303's, Radford STA25 III, A&R Cambridge A60, Technics amps, Pioneer amps, Rogers amps, etc. etc. But, These speakers are used on my computer and run all day and evening, mainly at lowish volume, so something cheap to run is what I'm using.

I think that the 405-2 uses a fair bit of power just idling, could be over 30W, can't remember exactly. I do remember that Quad II use 90W each idling.

I know I'm mad, but I enjoy it.

[PeteC]

Never occurred to me to save power! Just want the best sound. My current amp uses 20W in standby, saves waiting ages for it to warm up properly.

[Barry]

Mine each use 400W idling, yet only produce 25W of acoustic power. Oh, the joys of pure class A amplification!

[spendorman]

Mine each use 400W idling, yet only produce 25W of acoustic power. Oh, the joys of pure class A amplification!

No problem in winter, power is not wasted, just heating room.

[Macca]

Or in 'summer' if you live in the UK anyway.

[Barry]

Or in 'summer' if you live in the UK anyway.

In the summer, I switch over to my "summer amps": Quad 510 monoblocks.