2. amps-preamps
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100W, 200W, or 300W?

I'm pretty new to this and could use some help. Working down my list of upgrades: did speakers, room treatment on order... I think next up is to replace my amp.

I'm currently using a Harman Kardon PA2000 stereo amp that I had sitting in storage. 100 WPC @ 8 Ohm. It's "OK", but it probably the weak point in my system right now.

For speakers, I picked up B&W 805D3 tabletops with stands.

88 dbSPL sensitivity, 8 ohm. They recommend 50-120W @ Ohm for the amp power on their site.

I pulled up an amplifier calculator and plugged in some numbers:

88 sBSPL, 8 ft distance, 85 dB volume w 15 dB headroom and this came out to 3W RMS w 94W peak

I have my heart set on blue watt meters so I see the following options:

1) MA5300 @ 100 WPC, no autoformers, integrated
2) MA7200 @ 200 WPC, has autoformers, integrated
3) MC302 @ 300 WPC, has autorormers, seperates


For the MA5300, I'm concerned that there isn't enough headroom. If I even get close to the 94W peak, it means that I'm pushing the amp to the max, so I'd probably be operating in an area of reduced sonic performance since it's being stressed. Is this a correct assumption?

The MA7200 looks like it'll leave plenty of headroom and it also has (for better or worse) autoformers which seems to be what puts the "mac sound" in macs.

The MC302 is just sexy as heck... but is there any realistic gain with my current set up that I would get by buying one of these? Or is it so much overkill that I am just throwing money away at this point?
eisenb11
azazello
63 posts
 
I recommend You 1000 W to break easy old bide, tub, sinks....
eisenb11 OP
33 posts
 
@ei001h @twoleftears Ok... I take it back! After checking out of those videos I have to say... dang, Luxman sounds smooth on the 805D3!

It appears that those Luxmans are almost 50% more cost than the Mac gear that I’m looking at.

I believe the MA7200 is around $7k, and the L-509X is around $10k new. I’m having a hard time finding price data on used stuff, but it looks like a used L-509X may be in the price vicinity a little shy of a new MA7200?
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Don't rule out either the L-507uXII.  Another top contender would be the Aesthetix Mimas, which would again tame the B&Ws.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
You started this discussion indicating you really wanted McIntosh.  That's fine, but keep in mind that McIntosh has a mild and laid back midrange type of sound.  Very pleasing to listen to on a high resolution speaker like B&W D3, but it's not going to be as exciting and dynamic as other amps.

The Luxman that I heard is definitely not laid back.  It is more of the fast high resolution and dynamic type of sound.  Luxman would not be a good pairing with speakers such as Focal or Wilson.  It can come across as being too thing/bright, but they should do very well on B&W.

I suppose it depends on what kind of sound you are after.
eisenb11 OP
33 posts
 
@auxinput wish there was someplace to do a real-life side-by-side. I have to admit that at least in the various Youtube and Instagram videos that the Luxman seems to pair with the 805D3s better than the Macs do... 

But, at least for me, online video is good to compare overall themes - but useless in understanding what the sound is really like.

For example, last night I watched a video of my speakers paired to a Mac playing a song that I've played often - and it sounded terrible. But that song sounds much better with my "meh" amp on the same speakers - Hence the nature of beast with online videos - a recording of questionable quality (the video) of the playing of another recording (the subject of the video) ultimately being played on a device of likely even lower quality (my iPad)... :)

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