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Considering A 20-40 Watt Stereo SET Amp

I just got over a 16 day illness (not Covid) where it was touch and go for a few days. I am thinking of rewarding myself with a 20-40 watt stereo SET amp. The speakers I will use are a pair of the new JBL L100 Classic speakers that I bought at the end of 2020. The speakers are rated at 4 ohms @90db sensitivity.

Presently, I am using a McIntosh integrated and I do not listen loud. The meters on the Mac usually sit between .20 and 2 watts at its loudest. I have not started looking yet but I do know I want something with 1 pair of outputs so I can use my SVS powered subwoofer with it. I would also need 3 high level inputs. I don’t want to break the bank as this would be a secondary amp to put into rotation as the mood strikes me.

I do not want a flea powered amp so it has to be 20-40 watts and under 4 grand new. Used would be even better. I am hoping I can be steered in the right direction so I can start my research. I do not want to have to buy other components to accommodate the amp. Source components are a McIntosh SACD player, McIntosh FM tuner and a Sony HAP-Z1ES music player. Nordost interconnects and Canare speaker cables, Shunyata power cords and a Furutech power conditioner round out the system. The amp must be stereo, no monoblocks please. 99% of my listening will be through my Mac FM tuner. The system is also on its own dedicated 20-amp circuit.

128x128stereo5
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 

250 W rms strereo amp. MIN
sure it will play softly, if you want@,little juice, 40W will clip. Don’t have the headroom for full on orchestra, rock music,  blues.

May sound ok, get some sack, then your all set when-speaker upgrade time comes

 

check the Gon every couple days, something will pop up

 

 

low volume mostly,..

 

 

 

your,golden,with a 40W amp  

those speakers need some current to sound best!

just sayin

 

shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 

Line Magnetic 805 SET will have enough power to drrve your speaker.

Even with just 45 Watts spec, it had better control of bass than 100 watts ogue Cronunus Magnum II.

I had been using earlier version 508 for five years.

Thomas

stereo5's avatar
stereo5 OP
6,404 posts
 

@arcticdeth,

I am already using a McIntosh MA6600 200wpc integrated.  I use less than 2 watts on peaks. 

aricaudio's avatar
aricaudio
273 posts
 

@speedthrills The customer's budget was observed when I replied, and I do custom work to fit budget and feature requirements. While what you stated would seem logical, it doesn't hurt to send an inquiry and find out for sure! Best regards, Aric

stereo5's avatar
stereo5 OP
6,404 posts
 

I have been researching since last night and have come to the conclusion that to get something close to the power and features I want, I would be looking at close to 10 grand.  That is totally out of the question just to have a third amp in play.   So I need to rethink my situation.   I have been looking at the Prima Luna Evo 4000 and it seems to have everything I would want regarding power and features, but of course it isn’t a SET amp.  I have already owned and sold a Rogue Cronus Magnum integrated because I felt is was grainy sounding and just wasn’t something I truly liked.   I wonder how much better or worse the Prima Luna would be.    Tough decisions ahead.  

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