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Mono Blocks on a Budget, is it possible?

I’m really struggling with the direction to take my system. I have the following:

Legacy Classics speakers
Aurender N100H media player
Schiit Freya tube pre-amp
Schiit Yggdrasil DAC
Schiit Vidar x2 (in mono block mode)

I will be replacing speakers at some point but the rest of the system I love... except the Vidars. Before them, I had NAD 356BEE that was used for the amp. Very clean and I loved it, except it was only 80 Watts. I decided to upgrade to the Vidars. They cost twice as much From a good manufacturer like Schiit so they must be better right? Not really. They are more noisy than the NAD amp and I’m finding myself less in love with them that I though I would be. I was planning the Vidar purchase for about a year and now that I got them I don’t know which direction to take in replacing them. I want to get cleaner mono amps but don’t want to spend more than $3k MAX for both. The Vidars are 400 Watts into 8ohm, are there any options out there for me that are close to the Vidar specs? I’m open to used but mostly I want the amps to sound almost completely clean with practically no distortion. 
xerotrace
yyzsantabarbara
4,587 posts
 
@mulveling

A pair of Benchmark AHB2 amps (380 watts mono) are 8" x 11" x 3" each and weigh about 10 lbs. They are also the quietest amps you are likely to find (check the specs). They are NOT class D, Unfortunately, these are $3K new and about $2K used (if you can find them),

I have a single unit in my office system (100 watts in stereo).
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Get a Crown XLS 1502. 500 + watts @ 4 ohms! $348!!! Even better would be a second one so you could biamp your Legacy's using the XLS's onboard crossover! The FUTURE of power amps has arrived!!! $348!!!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Bel Canto monoblocks are regular available at your budget and well under used right here and ebay.
Very quiet black background, plenty of punch and made here in the usa

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8i8df-bel-canto-design-ref-1000-silver-solid-state

Just as one example

Or they also have plenty of stereo offerings if want to stay just in one chassis
Also a lot of their older units like the 500m can be had much much less cash and still very respectable amps with great customer service which counts for a lot too
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,515 posts
 
Check out Odyssey Audio. These have enough power to drive just about any speaker you choose!
http://www.odysseyaudio.com/products-stratos-mono.html
jond's avatar
jond
5,694 posts
 
For sound quality versus pure wattage these are nice class A monos for cheap:

http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649362122-monarchy-audio-sm70/
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