View Full Version : Sub £1000 power amp
Hi all,had a recent upgrade of my system,so at the moment the stereo side of things(let's forget the AV) consists of
Cambridge cxc-beresford seg in preamp mode-arcam alpha 9p(mid)alpha 8p(bass)monitor audio silver 8i,all cables and sockets from mains are kimber.
The amps are 20 yrs old,slight bit of buzz coming through the speakers with your head next too the speakers,and surely I must be able to get better sound from something new? Amps are kept in a cupboard,but on a built in isolation rack,door is kept open when running,the 2 at the moment don't get hot,but I'd prefer something on the smaller side if possible.
Shortlist so far
Schiit vidar
Roksan kandy k3
Marantz 70...(2 channel)
Project rs stereo
Nuforce sta200
2nd hand pair Cyrus mono
Can I get a better sound going to one box? All of these do a lot more watts than my arcams do (70+50) surely things have moved on? Any recommendations or suggestions gladly accepted.
hifinutt
08-11-2018, 09:15
this cyrus 200 is very well priced and well worth a look
https://www.rdhworld.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=19&p=360968#p360968
even cheaper !!
https://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/moreinfo.php?prod_title=Acoustic_Reality_eAR_202_P ower_Amplifier_Preowned&p=power_amplifier&prod_id=62687&offset=
Bigman80
08-11-2018, 09:39
Hard not to recommend the Firebottle Monoblocks which are around you price point i think. A few members here have them as I once did.
I picked up a Krell KSA100 MK2 for not too much more than your budget. That's what I'd look for although it's absolutely massive and there little chance of hiding it.
I also have to recommend Monarchy Audio. Probably a few bits available in you budget and you will struggle to find ANYTHING of a similar price that will beat them. One word of caution, the Transformers can buzz. Budget in a replacement transformer or two and rest assured you have some of the best amps ever heard by me.
A one box solution won't be as good IME.
Your Alpha's have a mains earth as does your Roksan Kandy CDP.
I have a Kandy and it hates any amp that is not double insulated.
A couple of years ago i tried running a Pioneer A400. This was mains earthed and the resulting hum loop drove me nuts.
Would your hum be a low level earth loop perhaps?
NIGE.
I went from an Alpha 8/8p/10p to a Firebottle Air, and then Monoblocks.
I am happy with the performance gain.
I am intrigued as to why you don’t run the 9p on the bass though?
Hi
I can vouch for the Monarchy sm70 and Firebottle mono blocks, i have both and unbeatable for the money
Steve...
hifinutt
08-11-2018, 19:28
yes the monoblocks are good , one proviso , you need a bit of headroom for the valve which can get knocked off if in a tight rack
and they take 6-8 weeks to make . those 2 i suggested are excellent and available now
Bigman80
08-11-2018, 19:56
yes the monoblocks are good , one proviso , you need a bit of headroom for the valve which can get knocked off if in a tight rack
and they take 6-8 weeks to make . those 2 i suggested are excellent and available nowThe valve doesn't have to be on the outside. Can be fitted inside.
Dauntless
08-11-2018, 20:06
I to have the Monarchy Audio SM70's. The main problem is that they are Class A for some of their output and so run hot. Maybe a problem for an enclosed installation. Another amp in your price range are Temple Audio Mono Blocks. They come in at £500 for a pair or £1000 with an enhanced power supply. As they are Class D amps they run cool so would be ok to put in a cupboard. Temple are based in Sale, Manchester so not too far away. you can find them here
http://www.templeaudio.net/monoblock.html#tabb
Too be honest I've flipped them around either way numerous times,and there's very little in it,in fact every time I've flipped them I'm convinced myself it sounds better that way!
These have made my new shortlist,thanks to everyone's help,going to be between firebottles and the temples,I'd prefer to buy new as I'm hoping to get at least 10 yrs before another change,heat will obviously be a problem in a enclosed space,class D might just be a good way around that,I like the idea of the 60 day trial with the temple monos,especially as there only a hour away from me.
Mightn't have made that clear enough,the k3 power amp was what I was looking at,the very slight buzz is definitely confined to the two amps,tried the with everything disconnected and using some different speaker cable,still some buzz there,plugged my AV amp into the fronts,absolutely zero buzz,in fact it was so silent it was quite shocking,maybe the buzz had always been there,possibly isn't even anything to worry about,and is just good justification for me to have a change!
Bigman80
08-11-2018, 22:44
These have made my new shortlist,thanks to everyone's help,going to be between firebottles and the temples,I'd prefer to buy new as I'm hoping to get at least 10 yrs before another change,heat will obviously be a problem in a enclosed space,class D might just be a good way around that,I like the idea of the 60 day trial with the temple monos,especially as there only a hour away from me.60 day trial is a very good thing for the consumer. Never heard temple stuff so good luck whichever way you go!
I picked up a Krell KSA100 MK2 for not too much more than your budget. That's what I'd look for although it's absolutely massive and there little chance of hiding it.
I hates to be the sort of person that recommends what I'm using but I gots to be that sort of person and second this. Try a Krell. Nothing on your short list comes close.
Bigman80
09-11-2018, 08:10
yeah it's hard to argue with that the Krell is an absolute monster. great sound and if you can find one for the right money you would be an astute purchase
Hi
Don't know If you got sorted yet.
I have a 1yr old wyred 4 sound st1000mk2 class d that I'm trying to sell.
Pm me for details if interested.
Mand
Sherwood
09-11-2018, 09:16
I have a custom made Odyssey Power Amp that might be exactly what you need. The only thing is that it's not small. Can't be because of huge power supplies. Currently powering my Magneplanar 1.7 speakers which is no mean feat.
PM me if interested.
Geoff
ijrussell
12-11-2018, 23:48
You should be able to get a pair of Avondale M130s for under $1k.
Mickyricky
13-11-2018, 00:28
Here is a pair still for sale I think...
https://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/avondale-audio-m130-monobloc-amplifiers.221481/
jandl100
16-11-2018, 07:19
Firebottle - I had the dual mono AIR power amp for quite a while and it was excellent. My Trigon monos pipped it at the post, but they are £4k new.
I would certainly recommend the Firebottle monoblocks based on that experience. Superb support from Alan as well, you won't be able to beat that elsewhere, for sure.
Has anyone any experience of the Schiit Vidar (http://www.schiit.com/products/vidar)? That would be high on my list for sub £1000 power amps.
Also Emotiva has a good reputation for good value equipment. They have a number of options in sub-£1000 range (https://emotiva.com/collections/amps).
jandl100
16-11-2018, 17:11
Coo - that Schiit Vidar does look interesting! 100wpc doubling down to 200wpc. Nice.
That can go on my Want List. :)
My experience of Schiit is limited to their Saga preamp, and that was certainly a nice piece of kit.
julesd68
16-11-2018, 17:27
I was expecting it to be Class D, but actually A/B.
£544 + shipping looks good value ...
Firebottle - I had the dual mono AIR power amp for quite a while and it was excellent. My Trigon monos pipped it at the post, but they are £4k new.
I would certainly recommend the Firebottle monoblocks based on that experience. Superb support from Alan as well, you won't be able to beat that elsewhere, for sure.
+1 for the Firebottle mono's
Sherwood
16-11-2018, 21:02
I was expecting it to be Class D, but actually A/B.
£544 + shipping looks good value ...
Don't forget VAT and Duty!
£700 from the european distributor (https://schiit.eu.com/power-amplifiers/Vidar).
Colin2040
16-11-2018, 23:17
I was looking at the Vidar but it can run quite warm from what I have read but has internal controls to protect it getting too hot.
Just seen a pair of Cyrus mono X for sale at a decent price,any opinions on how they'd get on with monitor audio speakers?
Just seen a pair of Cyrus mono X for sale at a decent price,any opinions on how they'd get on with monitor audio speakers?
Only generalising but I'd say would give the opposite of a 'warm' sound, I'd expect it would be quite lean-sounding and analytical, worst case verging on relentless and fatiguing. Depends on what sort of sound you're after of course.
Again I'm generalising but Monitor Audio with Arcam amplification is a good match.
Lol just looked back and see you already use Arcam/Monitor Audio.
If you are keeping the speakers then I'd say aim for something similar in character to Arcam. Which deffo isn't Cyrus.
Many thanks to everyone for their contributions,anyone got any opinion on the quad qsp or artera?
Bigman80
17-11-2018, 21:36
Artera gets a pretty good writeup. There was one for sale here a little while ago. Looked nice.
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheartofsound%2Enet%2F forum%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D60377&share_tid=60377&share_fid=4177&share_type=t
walpurgis
17-11-2018, 22:17
Artera gets a pretty good writeup. There was one for sale here a little while ago. Looked nice.
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheartofsound%2Enet%2F forum%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D60377&share_tid=60377&share_fid=4177&share_type=t
Yes, I'd like that, but I don't suppose it will sound much different to my 707. It's a later version of the design. Plenty of smooth power.
Many thanks to everyone for their contributions,anyone got any opinion on the quad qsp or artera?
I bought a new Quad Elite QSP on eBay from Lintone Audio a couple of weeks ago. I'm using it with a Tisbury passive preamp and a pair of Quad 2905 speakers. It sounds fantastic to me and I was really impressed by the service provided by Lintone. They have another on sale for just £699.00 at https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUAD-ELITE-QSP-STEREO-POWER-AMPLIFIER-NEW/382629295821?epid=110874624&hash=item59167bb6cd:g:71MAAOSwLjxaedwg:rk:1:pf:0.
technobear
02-12-2018, 15:16
Not very well known as yet but I'm really enjoying this one:
https://hifipilot.uk/store/xtz-edge-a2-300
Oodles of power, terrific sound and only £440.
Bigman80
02-12-2018, 15:26
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 173667712189
Not easy to find one of these in the UK.
walpurgis
02-12-2018, 15:34
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 173667712189
Not easy to find one of these in the UK.
It's probably not in the UK. Read sellers neg feedback.
Bigman80
02-12-2018, 15:34
It's probably not in the UK. Read sellers neg feedback.Ah, good spot Geoff. Too eager on my part.
AJSki2fly
02-12-2018, 16:06
Can I get a better sound going to one box? All of these do a lot more watts than my arcams do (70+50) surely things have moved on? Any recommendations or suggestions gladly accepted.
Do you really want new? If your not too bothered then this could well fit the ticket if you fancy some valves. I've owned 2 of these over the years and they sound extremely good, it would probably give any in your list a run for their money on the SQ front. Only thing is it might not meet you criteria if you want it in the cupboard or possibly size, but aesthetically they look lovely, IMO, and are excellent value for money.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-Innovations-Series-500-Valve-Amplifier-25wpc-Class-A-MM-Tube-Phono-Stage-/173553709512?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c20
It will give you a lovely warm and detailed natural sound, yes it only classed as 25w per channel of PURE Class A but is configured to drive 4, 8 or 16 ohm speakers, I used to drive Snell k's and also at one time KEF Reference 2's, not problem with either, I rarely had it above 50% volume.
Just a thought.
hifinutt
02-12-2018, 16:09
Many thanks to everyone for their contributions,anyone got any opinion on the quad qsp or artera?
now i was just going to recommend an artera as an option
this one at 825 looks good vfm
https://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/quad-artera-stereo-power-amp.219753/
I bought the brand new quad qsp off eBay,really like it,it fits the bill of what I wanted over the arcams,much bigger sound with more detail,listening to the cd of live at Pompeii (1972 obfuscation) and it sounds like nick mason is in the room!
Anyone got any ideas on a preamp? Ideally need something with H/T bypass,had a look at chevron audio earlier who I'm told can put a bypass in,but spotted the khozmo passive so as well,which I think I could run at 0db when I'm using the home theatre? Any better alternatives out there?
walpurgis
03-12-2018, 18:23
I spotted those QSP's on ebay myself, but don't really need one as I have the pretty similar 707. You'll enjoy that, it's a good amp with bags of power.
The Promithius TVC pre-amp works really well with my Quad power amps.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.