Beginner Audiophile. How to chose a right amp? Recommendation for my setup?


Hi

I am new to the world of audio and looking for an enjoyable stereo setup for myself.

I have chosen my next set of speakers, DAC, and a streamer, but can’t quite choose a power amp.

You don’t have to read this -->> "How do you pick a right amp for yourself? Do you consider Damping Factor? Do you match Tube DAC + Tube Amp? or Do you match Solid State + Tube Amp? for what reason? What sound do Soild State DAC/Amp + Tube DAC/Amp combos make? Are there characteristics in Amps? like in DACs? if so, what are they?"

Literally, there are just too many questions I want to ask. But, for now, I just want to listen to what you want to say, whatever is in your mind or any advise you would like to give as more experienced audiophiles when you pick a power amp.

I seek for the right components, ideal setups and match because I learned something from my very first set of audio gears I bought for this thanksgiving that I unfortunately returned a few days ago. The sound quality from Sonos Amp was hard to endure! The SVS Ultra bookshelf was great, but not quite so when it dealt with high notes.

So, I did my research this time and found my next set of audio gears.

1. Monitor Audio Gold 100 5G speaker
2. MHDT Lab Orchid DAC
3. MiniDSP SHD Ultra streamer

What I focused on during the research was to pick gears that can produce wide sound stage, great 3d imaging, airy voices, and great details with smooth yet realistic sounds.

But, I don’t have a clue how to choose a right power amp.

I can just pick a internet recommended under $ 1K power amp and be done with it. Maybe I can still be okay. But, I don’t want to just buy something without knowing anything to go through a return process again. I’d rather at least learn some basics before buying a music component, even if I end up returning something. Because I know now that I can be pretty picky on stereo sounds.

So...

Please comment anything you want to add.

Recommend me some used/new power amps + deals (under 1K ish), if you have anything in mind.

Direct me to the right direction.

Thanks.

K





yggy1
K,

I didn't mention that the Ref 9 amps we're last $5200 for the pair when they were in production.   That's the BIG reason many of us buy used.
Also, they put out 175 watts/ channel at 8 ohms.  They will drive most any speaker out there except electrostatics.

Bob
POWER !   get more vrs less !  Most speakers respond with more agility to aps with generous power supplies.  I and all my past speakers) have liked 150 w/ch into 8 ohms and up.   
Buy used, best bang for the buck. Audiogon is very reliable.  Most of my systems are used, never a problem with vendor except a dude named Vlad Zharkov in Mississauga, ON (buyer beware!).

Otherwise get ClassDAudio.com amp.  Great value + lots of clean watts for the money in your budget. New.  Made in USA with great warranty.  Not affiliated, but happy customer. Can confirm Tom stands behind his products. Had an issue, warranty honored and upgraded. 


Hey K,

If you don't mind buying used gear, there is a couple amps that are extremely fine sounding with many different types of speakers.  

Nuforce Reference 9 SE mono block amps.  

There are a couple for sale on US Audio Mart.  One set has a pencil diameter scuff on one amp.  The other is in very nice shape.  They are selling for $1200 for the pair OBO.  Offer about $1000 and they should be yours.  The other has TDSS upgrades done to them and are V2 so also an upgrade.  They are selling for $1700.  They are overpriced as I bought a pair of V3's for $1400 4 years ago.  TDSS did their level 3 upgrades to them 2 years ago and turned them into superamps for sound and even more reliable.  

These amps sound incredible and take up very little room as they are  advanced class D amps--Nuforce and Nuprime offer excellent sounding amps.  They have very detailed and dynamic sound with excellent bass reproduction.  The Ref 9's used to be their top of the line amps.  These are basically the same company but Nuprime is the company name now.  Jason Lin is the designer and most of Nuforce is still with Nuprime.  

I have these amps at a couple other's recommendation and will for as long as they live.  My system is very resolving and yet is not hard on the ears at any time.  The amps are much responsible for this.  You will not worry about upgrading after buying these.  I've tried them with 5 very different speakers at friend's houses.  In each the Ref 9's produced the best sound with their speakers.

Bob
If I were you, I'd search every thread you can find on the Monitor Audio Gold 100 5G speaker to discover what others are using for amplification with this speaker. That will net you the best result. Synergy is everything in this hobby and finding an amp that plays well with the speakers you have is very crucial. Do not buy an amp based on WPC or some other spec; buy it based on how it works with the speakers you already have.
Thank you all ! For supporting me to become a proper audiophile. All your opinions and tips are helping me a lot! For some reason, however, all the audio dealers in my are a seem to carrying extremely high end stuffs. This tells me I should definitely not bother them LoL But, in all honesty, they might have a wide variety of goods including more affordable ones. Who knows, I think maybe I will email them first to see if they even have something in my budget range.
The things you are looking for in a sound system, such as a wide soundstage, great 3 D imaging, airy voices, and great details with smooth yet realistic sounds, has more to do with the speakers, the set up between the speakers and your listening seat, and room acoustics. Amplifiers do have a sound of their own, but we all have our own ideas of what " realistic " is. The amp, ime, should be matched to the speakers, and I would think, at this point, get something inexpensive ( used ) to work with, and take time setting up the room as I stated. A Hafler or Adcom amp can be had for very little, are both good products, and will get you enough from an amplifier, to hear your system, and work with the tuning and tweaking, to your liking. You might find, you do not like your speakers, as you have already sent a pair back. Listen to what I am saying....and I am not saying anyone else is wrong, but as you are a newbie, I believe I am right. Happy Holidays to all, and, Enjoy ! MrD.
These are great questions and I agree with others that a dealer will help you find answers. A good one will help you discover what you love, and, in my experience, that discovery requires actually hearing things for yourself.

- Colin

Fine audio dealer in Nashville, TN
https://gestalt.audio
Direct me to the right direction.

Since you're new-

The most important amp spec to keep in mind when shopping for an amp isn't an amp spec at all, its the sensitivity and impedance of the speakers. You're buying the amp to drive the speakers, after all. Yours at 86 dB/w/m are moderately easy to drive. You could do better but if you like them that's more important it just means you can cross low power amps off the list.

Watts don't really matter. Not the way they want you to think, anyway. 50 watts is not necessarily better than 20, and 200 may be worse than 50. If the first watt isn't any good, why would you want 200 more of them? You can find really good sound quality regardless of power ratings.

Next most important: integrated. What you will find in time is every component benefits hugely when used with good quality interconnect, power cord, and other tweaks like fuses, cones, etc. Buying separates drives up the cost a lot. 

From this it might seem a receiver would be even better. But receivers cram way too much stuff into one box. The list of technical problems is long, but for now its enough to say everything interferes with everything else. A/V receivers are the worst. KISS: consider only integrated amps.

Now here are the amp specs that really do matter: Pre-out, sub out, built-in phono stage. Quality of RCA and speaker binding posts. 

Notice everything above, not one recommended component. That's your job. You already are doing it right. This we know because:
What I focused on during the research was to pick gears that can produce wide sound stage, great 3d imaging, airy voices, and great details with smooth yet realistic sounds.


So now apply the above info to what you're already doing. When you get your amp if its solid state then leave it on 24/7, preferably playing music (and volume doesn't matter) because it will get a lot better as it burns in. But understand that if its good then it should sound awfully good right out of the box- and should have you really happy within a few days at most. Otherwise, regardless what anyone tells you, ship it back.


If you have a local, brick & mortar dealer, go visit them and get your feet wet. Ask them all the questions you want. If you have multiple dealers, visit them all.
Here is another resource link:  
https://www.vandersteen.com/media/files/APJ%20Files/APJ10_PROOF.pdf

It is for the issue on Amplifiers from the Audio Perfectionist Journal at the Vandersteen website. I used it years ago to save time from absorbing a lot of info all at once that I didn't understand and ended up with equipment mentioned throughout the Journal issues.
If you can still score a Parasound A21 new, that is what I would buy. They are around $2500 new and less used.  At 250wpc into 8 ohms and more into 4 ohms it will be all the amp you ever need, even if you make upgrades later to the rest of the system.  The Odyssey Kismet amps being sold here is an excellent buy and would be my second choice. 
Also check out the Adcom amp GFA 6002.  My first amp was its predecessor the GFA 535, 30 years ago.

https://www.adcom.com/product_gfa6002.php

Or the Parasound line at Audioadvisor who has an easy return process.  Both companies have been in the business for a long time.
I'd probably try some of this Schiit..........
https://www.schiit.com/products/aegir

I have a Freya pre and a couple of Modi DAC's.
Great schiit for the money.
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