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Picking an amplifier

I have the following speakers:
NHT 2.1 Front LR 200W @ 6ohms
NHT AC1 Center 150W @ 8 ohms
NHT SW2 Subwoofer 200W @ 8 ohms
The rear speakers are inconsequential (and boxed up) they might come out to play when I move to bigger digs.
I’ve been using NHTs 214s and 216s, (think lightbulbs) but the market is drying up. I remain unconvinced they are worth the shipping & costs to repair.
My (current) short list of replacement amps:
Outlaw Audio model 770 7 (7 channels)
Bryston 9B ST (5 channels) (2 years left on warranty)
Parasound 5125 (5 channels)
The budget is $1000, I have located sources for all three at or below $1000.
Any/all discussion of suitability, repair outlook, and peanut shells welcome. From a listening perspective, I've been fine with the NADs, but am priced out of the newer models. Nuts, I might even repair the NADs if I find the right person with the skills & tools.

shalmaneser
shalmaneser OP
62 posts
 
Auxinput: What’s the difference between sterile and neutral? A distinction w/o a difference? Happy you found a sweet spot in your journey.
Maybe we should talk music.
Here’s some music I love: Bob&Tom recordings on YouTube of "Here Come the Mummies". I’m disappointed with HCTM CDs because they epitomize the term sterile - the difference is The Wall of Sound and isolated studio performance. The phrase "wall of sound" came to represent the effect of crowding all the musicians into one room where they would get into each other’s microphones. This effect was prominent when studio artists were producing nearly all the music for public consumption. http://www.wreckingcrewfilm.com/

Fleetwood Mac’s DVD performance of The Dance.

Led Zeppelin frustrates me because they never mic’ed up and produced for detail. Ironically, they used tube amplifiers in their farewell concert "Celebration Day".

Eric Clapton’s unplugged version of Layla.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxO1gwbHPQ
Johnny Cash - God Will Cut you down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc

You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive featuring Ruby Friedman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiE_Bk8FOY0
Warren Zevon - Keep Me In Your Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiE_Bk8FOY0

2psyop's avatar
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2psyop
1,543 posts
 
Too bad a Parasound A31 AND A21 is out of your budget. That is about the best sound you could squeak out of your NHTs. Lots of current for each speaker. But I think the 5125 would do a good job too. The Bryston would also sound great. I consider both brands to be Hi-fi.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

@2psyop - totally agree.


Generally, neutral means sound without additional coloration.  Warm can add a rich/lush/laid-back/smeared character.  Cold can be too fast/bright/harsh.  Neutral is more like "accurate".  However, "sterile" means it could be too clean and not any bite/grittiness and also it can mean dull / uninteresting - the sound is just not engaging.

Your Eric Clapton video is the best recording out of all, but I love Johny Cash as well.

Jazz is my primary listening when I'm working or at the computer.  I love Melody Gardot.  If you like jazz, get her Live At the Olympia bluray.  It is the absolute best recording of her (as well as the best jazz live recording I have heard).  The Youtube videos do not compare at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb3lTVL7qM8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NrNI9Qr-KE

I also love Diana Krall, Lyn Stanley, Jane Monheit.  If I'm not listening to jazz, I'm actually listening to metal. lol.

shalmaneser OP
62 posts
 
auxinputs: What's the first thing we discover as we climb the wall of audiophile? Excellent music is harder to find than good equipment. Thanks for the links. (snoopy happy dance) I've wandered through jazz from time to time. Even looked through a hot mess that was an extensive history of jazz. It was something like 50 CDs. Ugh. 
Now I want both the Outlaw for power and the McCormick for detail. Sigh. 
shalmaneser OP
62 posts
 
Auxinputs: Live At The Olympia Paris comes in BluRay & DVD. Has anyone heard both?

I can get Parasound A23 for under $1K used. I’m interviewing local repair people about the NADs - can use them for sub & center. Is it wrong/bad/crazy/evil to mix manufacturers? Will there be electron flow from crossing the streams?
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