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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
 
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?
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

I only have the bluray, but I'm sure the DVD sounds great as well (if that's the only media you can use).

I hear you.  It's difficult to get a really good 5-channel amp for under $1,000.  Hard to get the best of both worlds (for what you want).

The Parasound A23 is a fine choice and would have the sound quality and impact you are looking for.  It's okay to mix manufacturers, but keep in mind that the sonic signature is going to be different.  I don't know the sound of NAD, but I have read it's warm.  The Parasound is going to be slightly on the warm side, but still very detailed.  You might have less resolution on the center channel if you use the NAD.  Also, when sounds pan across the screen, the difference in sonic signature between left/center/right speakers could be noticeable.  I don't know how critical home theater is for you.

auxinput
2,920 posts
 

Ah, you could check out Diana Krall's latest album "Turn Up the Quiet".  It's one of the most excellently recorded albums I have heard (even on CD).  There's always Norah Jones.  Michael Buble?

If you can do hi-res music, these artist are available at HDTracks also.

auxinput
2,920 posts
 
I know it's over your budget, but there's an Anthem MCA-50 on audiogon for $1150.
shalmaneser OP
62 posts
 
Auxinput: I have both, just checking to see if anyone thought there’s a difference between the Bluray & DVD audio.
Home theater.... As an audience we’re lucky if they get the production mix of stereo right. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve come tracked down a group in a soundtrack that was well produced, only to find out that the rest of their material is garage band stuff. The movie Roadhouse - Jeff Healey band is an example.

DVD movie titles have me running out of batteries in the remote as they play stupid games with the audio. Home theater is 5.1 more ways for hollywood to screw up. I wouldn’t bother with home theater video if it were’t for exceptional movies that come along once or twice a year. Mostly it’s an excuse to have more speaker sizes and a really, really, really, really good 40" 4K IPS monitor. If I were to sum things up, detail, accuracy and power work for me. That lets the source do its thing w/o any barriers. Engineering joke: speed, cost, quality: choose two.
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