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Thread: Power amp suggestions

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: London

    Posts: 377
    I'm Richard.

    Default Power amp suggestions

    Evening folks. Due to a change of circumstances I'm going to be selling my Graaf GM20 monoblocks.
    I'm looking at the various options to replace them.
    My pre is a SJS Arcadia 2 & my speakers Living Voice OBX-RW's so massive power not required.
    I'm looking at the 2nd hand market with an approx budget of £2K but the less the better of course.
    Probably looking at solid state. Valves not ruled out but I'd want lowish heat & self/easy biaising.
    Any thoughts?

  2. #2
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Sheffield/Peak District. UK

    Posts: 574
    I'm Richard.

    Default

    I too have LV speakers. At present I have a WD valve amp driving them...excellent. But I also find a DADA-modded Quad 306 to be excellent too!

    If I wanted an integrated amp I'd be looking at the new Exposure 2510.

    R

  3. #3
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Manchester, UK

    Posts: 266
    I'm Simon.

    Default

    There are some Canary 300b monos at Emporium for under 2k atm
    Kevin has had Canary for a number of years.

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    SJS Arcadia Line Level Pre-amplifiers, Headphone amps, MM Phono Stages and SET Power amps - service, repairs, upgrades.
    Designed and hand-built in England.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: London

    Posts: 377
    I'm Richard.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sjs View Post
    There are some Canary 300b monos at Emporium for under 2k atm
    Kevin has had Canary for a number of years.

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Thanks Simon, hope you're well my friend.
    I assume that as the creator of my pre ..... they would be a good match then?
    I did buy an early canary integrated (608 I think) from Kevin many years ago.... Built like a tank, bloody enormous

  5. #5
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

    Posts: 9,656
    I'm Gary.

    Default

    Strong recommend for a Meridian 557.
    Enough clean current and grunt to power a small town, 1.6KVa transformer, dual mono circuit, delivers over 30 amps.

    Meridian Data-sheet:
    https://www.meridian-audio.com/media...-datasheet.pdf

    Pick up one for well under your budget, add another £800 or so for full service and recap by ex Meridian engineer still working on them and you’ve an amp for life.
    Love mine, subterranean power, absolutely neutral and wide open sounding.
    Will pick up a second at some point and biamp.
    New speakers first though.

    Its a beast, and as good as majority of folks would need imo.
    Drives anything even down to 2 ohms.

    Alan Sircom’s great review from back in the day.
    https://www.meridian-audio.info/publ...)%5B459%5D.pdf
    AC POWER
    Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
    AMPS
    Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
    SPEAKERS
    Wharfedale Evo 4.4
    DAC
    PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
    TURNTABLE
    Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
    PHONOSTAGE
    Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
    DIGITAL
    OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
    MUSIC PLAYBACK
    Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
    Ipad Roon Remote.
    Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
    SPEAKER CABLES
    Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On
    "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
    INTERCONNECTS
    All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables

  6. #6
    Join Date: Apr 2017

    Location: England

    Posts: 105
    I'm Pete.

    Default

    Being a Meridian fan myself I agree with Gary - although if you get the chance to pick up a 2nd user G57 for under £2k go for it.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

    Default

    Quad 909 is no slouch. Oodles of velvety power for the money!
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  8. #8
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Manchester, UK

    Posts: 266
    I'm Simon.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Johnny nocash View Post
    Thanks Simon, hope you're well my friend.
    I assume that as the creator of my pre ..... they would be a good match then?
    I did buy an early canary integrated (608 I think) from Kevin many years ago.... Built like a tank, bloody enormous
    Emporium also have a Canary CA301 mk2 which also be a good match but with more power, if a little over budget

    As Kevin has had Canary amps for some years I would expect them to be a good match with your LV speakers and I know the preamp should be fine with them.

    As for SS I would probably suggest Sugden. There are a couple of power amps on eBay atm and a few customers hare happy with their SJS / Sugden combinations
    SJS Arcadia Line Level Pre-amplifiers, Headphone amps, MM Phono Stages and SET Power amps - service, repairs, upgrades.
    Designed and hand-built in England.

  9. #9
    Join Date: May 2018

    Location: Woking

    Posts: 803
    I'm Chris.

    Default

    Neurochrome 286 build (as you don't need the power of the 686). Could easily be done for under 2k.

    Having said that, if you get the gain structure correct with the pre-amp etc, a high power amplifier into sensitive speakers can be spectacularly dynamic. Although my 686 into 112db is beyond overkill to be honest!
    System 1: - Amp - Musical Paradise MP-701 mk2 - Neurochrome 686
    - Source: Audio Technica LP-5 - Custom 6V6 stage - Novafidelity X30 - Soekris 1421 (LPSU) - Custom TDA1541 C3G DAC -
    - Speakers: Martin Logan Prodigy's - Subs: - REL T3's -

    System 2 - Amp: Musical Paradise MP 303/Custom 300B SET - Custom 6SL7 Pre -
    - Source: Pioneer N-30K - SONCOZ SGD1 -
    - Speakers: Loth X BS1's - Sub: REL T3 -

  10. #10
    Join Date: Apr 2009

    Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex

    Posts: 7,087
    I'm Dave.

    Default

    Quad Artera Stereo and money left over. Great sound, great build, drives anything and proper backup if ever needed.

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