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Amp suggestion for Kharma Ceramique 2s??

I am looking to upgrade my amplifier. I have used low-powered SS amps (47 Labs Gaincard and Aloia 13.01i) with fantastic overall sound, but they didn't have enough power for my large family room (needed more bass and macro dynamics). If you have any experience with any Kharma speakers, please let me know which amps have worked well and which haven't. I listen mostly to intimate jazz (vocal), classical and occasional rock.

The order of importance for me is musicality, palpability, transparency and resolution, but I believe that you can't achieve the first three without resolution. As you can see in my system below, I am taking a minimalist approach to maximize resolution.

Anyhow, I'm open to Tube or SS as long as they have quite, black background. I prefer monoblocks (particularly interested in Claytons and Blue Circle BC8), but that is not a requirement. My budget is about $4000 used, and the amp(s) MUST have RCA inputs. If you can help, I'd truly appreciate it. Thanks.

My system consists of:

- RAM-modded SACD1000 with > 3v output (Awesome sounding!)
- DYI Silver Interconnects (the only interconnects!)
- EVS Nude Attenuators
- ???? POWER AMP(s)
- FMS Zero speaker cables
- Kharma Ceramique 2.0
- Audio Tekne power cables
- BDR cones and pucks, Soler Points, Aurios, etc.
henry_la
aolrsw
9 posts
 
I highly recommend the Thor Audio TPA-30 mono blocks. I use them to drive a pair of Kharma Cermique 1.0's.

Good luck
jtinn
1,124 posts
 
I have heard the Kharma's with the Manley Snapper Monoblocks and it is a great match. Give em a shot.
thorman
1,262 posts
 
Hi: I am using the Thor Audio, TPA 30 watt tube monos with the Kharma 1.0 speakers can't imagine a better match. These Kharmas sing well with the Thors'. Unless you play music quite loud or have 600 sq.ft. room, I wouldn't think you'd need more power.
henry_la OP
13 posts
 
Aolrsw, Jtinn and Thorman, thanks for your responses. Aolrsw or Thorman, I've read somewhere that TPA 60 is much better than the 30. Any thoughts? The 60s are probably out of my reach (price-wise), but was just curious. Also, are you getting good enough speed and dynamics from the TPA 30s?

To provide a little bit of background info as to why I started looking for a new amp, when I visited Kyle at Reference Audio Mod, his system (Silver Rock pre and a 60W opamp-based SS amp driving 99dB Montra Sound speakers) with my modded SACD1000 was getting sound that had the you-are-sitting-in-an-orchestra-seat speed and dynamics that I simply could not replicate at home. Since I don't want to part with my Kharmas, I thought I'd look for an amp that has more power than my Aloia (rated at 30W but measured at 60+W).

I am curious if Thor's 30 watts would deliver the awesome dynamics that I am looking for... Maybe it is not even possible to get such sound from the Kharmas? I don't know, but I sure want to find out.
txlef
15 posts
 
Henry, it might not be your amp. How old are your Kharmas? If they are more than a couple of years old, I suggest looking into a crossover upgrade. I had the crossovers in my 5-year-old Kharma 2's upgraded to "Enigma" by Bill and Anthony at GTT and I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. A veil was lifted from in front of the speakers and I finally heard for real all the "potential" I had sensed in the speaker from day one. Look into it.
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