looking for a warm ss amp....

I'm surprised nobody mentioned NAD. All NAD amps I've heard were on the warm side of neutral, and they have some good high-power power amps for around $500. For under $500 you could get a used one and if it doesn't solve your problem, resell it for little or no loss.
Perceived brightness can also be caused by a lack of power in the amp (particularly if the amp lacks current and the speakers have dips in the impedance curve at low frequencies) and the NAD power amps have current to spare.

I'm sorry you were lead astray over cables. IMHO there's far too much hype and hyperbole regarding cables. Cables can be the icing on the cake of a good system but will not rescue a fundamentally unbalanced system.

Fishcall... the Plinius integrated can be had used for what you have budgeted, esp. if you don't go for the mkII model. I would agree with Seandtaylor99 about NAD. I've been happy with the NAD equipment I've had in the past. Their new BEE series of integrateds is supposed to be very good.

Gunbei-
do you think that the mccormack dna 0.5 or dna 1 have enough power to drive the paradigm studio 60 speakers? i am finding that the denon 3802's 110wpc isn't enough to make this speakers sing. i like to listen to my music loud. and i will use the system for movies as well just not as much so i will need something to do dolby digital, etc. i was hoping to use the denon for that but it sounds like from the above posts that the denon's preamp section will still keep me from what i am looking for.

Hi Fishcall,

I believe the DNA 0.5 is rated at 100wpc and the DNA 1 at 185wpc, so I'm pretty sure the either McCormack can drive the Paradigms quite well.

The 3802 is designed to drive multiple speakers for a home theater. Many more compromises have been made in its design in order to accomplish this. A good two channel amp, the McCormack just being one example, is made with less compromises and designed to drive just two channels. Without going into detail they really are worlds apart.

Please don't think a McCormack is the only amp that might help you achieve your goal. Although I've never owned one, I've heard them and have been impressed. It just seems to be a very good candidate within your budget. Plus, there are many happy past and present McCormack users here on Audiogon.

The Plinius 8200 integrated is also a very suggestion. Its rated at 175wpc and if it's like any of the bigger Plinius amps I've heard, it's very smooth, powerful and has a touch of warmth. It combines the preamp and amp into one chassis and would save space over having separate components.

Either of these would be a big step over the Denon. If the 3802 is sonically similar to my friend's 5700 I remember it being a bit dry and thin sounding overall. It wasn't very dynamic either.

I can understand your hesitation to spending all this cash on gear you've never heard, especially if want to retain HT capability. I tried doing the same five years ago and found that I couldn't be satisfied with an all in one system. I eventually started a second stand alone two channel system.

Whatever you do, don't jump into anything right away. Do more research and save enough money to make a BIG step which will hopefully also be a noticeably improved one.

Good luck.

I own Paradigm 40 V.2 which I have reviewed as well. I used different amps and have mentioned about them as well in the review. One amp which I had the pleasure of listening in my own system was the Audio Analogue Puccini SE which my friend and I had researched and he went ahead with it.

The amp was first hooked up to my Paradigms and I was very impressed with it's clean and warm sound. It was a very beautiful looking amp. Although the specs stated that it was a 50 watter, but, it sounded more like an 80 watter. We never felt the need to crank up the volume since it was able to produce everything it was supposed to at normal listening levels.

I would also not use the Denon pre as has already been suggested by some if I were you. I have heard a Denon A/V amp at a friends place which was very similar to what you have and I was very dissapointed with the sound when comes to two channel music was concerned. There was no warmth to speak whatsoever.

Since I got the Paradigms I have tried a few other amps as well but I am very happy with what I have. The Puccini was certainly an exception (even without being broken-in) straight out of the box and hooked up for the first time.

Nad's for the price are superb sounding and the C370 is another option you have, albeit less refined than Puccini.

Good Luck!