Budget Integrated to drive 2prs 4ohm Spkrs

[Mothman]

I was asked today for an amp recommendation by a colleague at work which I didn't feel qualified to answer but I told him that I knew some people who would:).

He's looking for an integrated to run 2 pairs of Heco 4ohm speakers. His prime concern is sound quality rather than asthetics. Budget up to £300 (to include the cost of any necessary recap if vintage kit). Inputs for a minimum 4 sources but 6 would be ideal. His taste in music is varied but mainly Rock\Indie. Needs to be solid state as has 2 youngs kids.

Over to you

[Reid Malenfant]

Something like this springs to mind (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAD-C370-integrated-amplifier-/180584293357?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item2a0ba9a3ed). NAD amplifiers are well known for driving low impedance loads, he'll probably need it if they are quoting 4 ohms you'll probably find them dropping lower at some point :doh:

Not the prettiest but it'd certainly do the job & has plenty of inputs :)

[Alex_UK]

Do the Speakers need to be switched, and does he need a Phono input? If the answer to both is "no" then I'd suggest an Audiolab 8000S - he could even get a new one (http://www.sightandsounduk.com/Audiolab-8000s-Amplifier.html) (albeit the Chinese built rather than Huntingdon original - but I struggled to tell the difference when I auditioned a new one against one I had used for 13 years...) - I loved mine, and only replaced it when it broke with my Creek because I wanted a change. He'd also have the option of adding an 8000P (or more) or 8000Ms (monoblocks) at a later stage if he wanted an upgrade path.

I'm sure there will be lots of other equally valid and better informed opinions though!

[Mothman]

Alex, by switched do you mean 'A' or 'B' and "A+B" if so then yes, if by swithched you mean speakers go quiet of when a headphone jack is inserted then not sure. A phono input is required but could source a seperate cheap phono section if the right amp was missing one. Do you think the Audiolab would handle the load of driving 2 sets of 4ohm speakers together?

[Reid Malenfant]

You'll definately need an amp that can handle a real world 2 ohm load :doh:

I somehow doubt the Audiolab would be very happy at all, but do check the amps specifications before dismissing it.

If you don't see specs for a 2 ohm load then it simply isn't designed to drive a load that low & attempting to do so will more than likely either make lots of distortion (when the current limiters activate) or possibly the sacred smoke will escape when the output transistors & emitter resistors are burned on a funeral pyre :eyebrows:

[Alex_UK]

Please imagine I never posted that suggestion then! I'll get my coat! :o

[DSJR]

A cheapo amp able to drive very low impedances is a conflicting requirement I'm afraid. Why do you think that Krells cost so much - wan't always for D'Agostino's/Ricardo's Ferrari fund, although a lot went that way in the early days I reckon ;)

Your best bet is perhaps to wire the speakers in series if it's an ss amp for maximum stability. I know you'll lose gain, but an old far eastern powerhouse, even a modern NAD, would have an easier time of it. Even Naims don't care for 2 Ohm loads for long..

[The Vinyl Adventure]

i used to run my 4ohm dyns with a nad c320 quite happily and after that a nad monster surround sound amp .. dunno if that helps?

[DSJR]

Please imagine I never posted that suggestion then! I'll get my coat! :o

Alex, don't fret. At least the 8000S would shut off if the volume level under severe load became too severe, unlike some other hairshirt amps made in the UK which would fry themselves, together with the speakers as well no doubt :eyebrows:

[Mothman]

One of these is for sale localy, I appreciate it's probably not the last word in audio quality but from the specs do you think it would handle the load?

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/products/hf/ax592.html

[Reid Malenfant]

One of these is for sale localy, I appreciate it's probably not the last word in audio quality but from the specs do you think it would handle the load?

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/products/hf/ax592.html
I certainly looks that way :)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I love it when companies come up with bullcrap like "ToP-ART" to sell stuff... It must have started with a load of people in a board room, more than likely in America... "we don't have enough specification to make people buy this stuff" (imagine a gruff American accent of some sort) "we need something to make it stand out from the croud" ... "John!..." (the gruff sounding guy is called John) "... I have an idea... Let's just make some shit up... No one will know, and if we make it sound technical no one will ask" "Pete ... " (the second guys called Pete) "... Your a genius"
I bet you ten quid that's how it went!

I that amp is anythin like my yam amp of that era it wont be the last thing in detail, but it should sound ok... Smooth and a touch warm ... But that is based on a different amp just from a similar time so I might be wrong!

[Mothman]

Hamish, agree with you about the Top-Art crap. The reviews I can find on that Yammy aren't to shabby and it would seem to tick most of his boxes in terms of connections. At £60 it may be a no brainer, then at least if he fries it he's not too out of pocket.

[Marco]

I love it when companies come up with bullcrap like "ToP-ART" to sell stuff... It must have started with a load of people in a board room, more than likely in America... "we don't have enough specification to make people buy this stuff" (imagine a gruff American accent of some sort) "we need something to make it stand out from the croud" ... "John!..." (the gruff sounding guy is called John) "... I have an idea... Let's just make some shit up... No one will know, and if we make it sound technical no one will ask" "Pete ... " (the second guys called Pete) "... Your a genius"
I bet you ten quid that's how it went!


Hahahaha.... I just lurve the stuff that goes on inside your daft nut sometimes - you're worse than me! :lol:

I don't disagree, btw.

Marco.

[John]

I love it when companies come up with bullcrap like "ToP-ART" to sell stuff... It must have started with a load of people in a board room, more than likely in America... "we don't have enough specification to make people buy this stuff" (imagine a gruff American accent of some sort) "we need something to make it stand out from the croud" ... "John!..." (the gruff sounding guy is called John) "... I have an idea... Let's just make some shit up... No one will know, and if we make it sound technical no one will ask" "Pete ... " (the second guys called Pete) "... Your a genius"
I bet you ten quid that's how it went!

I that amp is anythin like my yam amp of that era it wont be the last thing in detail, but it should sound ok... Smooth and a touch warm ... But that is based on a different amp just from a similar time so I might be wrong!

Yes i was at the meeting its all true I say John :eek:

[Alex_UK]

Gee, great idea, Chuck will come up with a fancy logo that makes a brand statement but looks nothing like what it actually is. :)

[Canetoad]

I have an NAD C372 and I find it sounds neutral with plenty of power. It and the C370 (previous model) don't have a phono stage though. I use a CA 640P. Sounds very good with my Rega Planar 3 and Squeezebox Touch/Caiman.

I also have an NAD C350 in my 2nd system and it sounds very good too. I prefer the C372 though.

[goraman]

I know!, a stacked pair of pioneer spec 2's switched to 4 ohm.If you only need 1 input as they have there own volume controles.

[Beobloke]

Assuming a limited budget, then it has to be a NAD. Regardless of what you think of their sound quality/styling ( and I personally like both!) their load driving capabilities are second to none.

Back in my days at Mordaunt Short I once connected eighteen loudspeakers in series/parallel combinations to a C320BEE for burn-in purposes and left them running overnight. It was quite happy with this, although it was a bit warm next morning...;)

Of course, if you have more funds available, I'd counsel a Crown DC-300. Goodmans used to use one their anechoic chamber which had a suspended wire-frame floor. Rumour has it that its leads used to connect to the speaker being tested fell off once, landing on this wire-frame floor. This naturally short-circuited the output and the fuse eventually blew, but the person who noticed the problem was rather surprised to discover that, by the time this had happened, one of the crocodile clips had welded itself to the wire!

[Jason P]

Thirded for the NAD - you could look for a 3130 (probably get it for less than £100) and send it up to this guy for fettling - I'm thinking of doing the same to one my mum owns, if I can get it off her...

http://www.fidele.co.uk/nad_3130.htm

[DSJR]

Of course, if you have more funds available, I'd counsel a Crown DC-300. Goodmans used to use one their anechoic chamber which had a suspended wire-frame floor. Rumour has it that its leads used to connect to the speaker being tested fell off once, landing on this wire-frame floor. This naturally short-circuited the output and the fuse eventually blew, but the person who noticed the problem was rather surprised to discover that, by the time this had happened, one of the crocodile clips had welded itself to the wire!

It wasn't called a DC 300A for nothing you know :lol:

[Mothman]

Unfortunately the Yammy had sold by the time he got there, so it looks like a NAD is now favorite. Inclusion of a phono stage + 5 other inputs would be prefered so is the 3130 the best one to go for?

[Techno Commander]

It wasn't called a DC 300A for nothing you know :lol:

If you connect a 9V battery to the signal input and ramp up the gain, they make very good adjustable power supplies.:)

As I found out when a colleague of mine who does large scale PA work found himself in need of a 48V supply to run a mixing desk halfway through a gig.:eek:

[spendorman]

Of course, even a modest valve amp does not mind low impedances, especially if it has a 4 Ohm setting.