2. amps-preamps
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'semi-budget' amps for Platinum Audio Solos

I am new to the higher end of audio and am wondering what peoples' suggestions for a nicely-capable and full-sounding integrated amp would be for the Solo's. I stumbled into a fantastic deal on a pair of these wonderful speakers locally, and could not pass them up. But they reveal the shortcomings of my NAD 7600 receiver, which has been raved about for its own strengths. Guess the speakers deserve something in the next league. However my budget is limited. I would like to find something used in the $500-750 range. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I've seen some very favorable reviews for integrateds like: Musical Fidelity integrated, Creek, Plinius (out of price range I think), Bryston...but Unison research SR1 REALLY INTRIGUED me. Anyone have experience with that one? The solo's are about 84-86db sensitivity, so take a bit of power. The Unico by Unison looks good too. But are these enough power? And does quality of the watts make up somewhat for less power? Any thoughts? Thanks, Chris.
cnahm
rgd
656 posts
 
"take a bit of power"... these beasts require "power-o-plenty"!!! I owned a pair and ran them with a Bruton 4B-ST amp and felt they could use more. I'm not sure your target price zone will offer many possibilities for a high power integrated but I'd look into a Foreplay tube preamp and an older Bryston 4B amp - maybe cost you $800-$900 all costs in and would make a very nice combo.
danheather
108 posts
 
I agree with RGD. They need a TON of power. No integrated (at least in that price range) is gonna' do it. The more power you feed them, the better. I had spectacular results with an Acoustat TNT 200 (200 wpc MOSFET) and a Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 preamp. My recommendation would be to buy some "affordable" brute force, such as a Hafler, Perreaux, old Bryston, maybe even Rotel or Adcom and then buy a decent preamp. It's been my experience that they're not all that picky about the amplification provided that there's plenty of high current.

Down the road, you might want to think about a Sunfire Signature amplifier (600wpc). I know that these are very contoversial, but that's what I heard drive the Solos when I first auditioned them and it was phenomenal. I don't know how the Sunfire sounds on other speakers but I can recommend it for your Solos w/o reservation.

Good luck. You've stumbled across what is probably one of the greatest bargains to be found in the used market.
listener57
730 posts
 
I use 35 watt per channel tube amp, Sound Valves VTA-70i, $500 used,and it really does the job with nearfield listening about seven feet in front of the Solo's. The Solo's are a bargain in the used market at $700 to $800 depending on condition, and yield astounding full range sound combined with all the best qualities of a smaller monitor speaker. You will always hear from tube amp users that a good tube amp can do well when the tube watt rating seems puny in comparison with moderate priced transistor amps of moderate output, say up to 100 watts per channel. I have not tried to fill a large room with 35 tube watts per channel, but I barely have turned up the volume control and the nearfield sound is as loud as anyone in the family can stand. Entire active preamp can be bought used for $200 to $250. Perhaps someone using an economical, integrated tube amp with the Solo's will post their results.
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