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Best Amp to drive my Apogee Stages?

Greetings all.
I am wondering if I might get some good suggestions from anyone who might be firmiliar with the Apogee Stages. I have owned them for quite awhile, but due to blowing up my Krell (300i)intergrated amplifier more than once now (a $400 bill to fix it each time) I beleive that it is time to buy the right amplifier for the job. I need more power for sure, but my wallet is light these days. This means that I must minimize my purchase to something definitly under $2K and even more like $1200 price range. This seems to limit me quite a bit in my findings, but I am wondering if I might have missed something with my research so far? I have reviewed Krell, Levinson, Pass Labs and Threshold to date. Each have older options in my price range, but I am not certain if any will work better with my speakers?

Any thoughts out there?

Thank you in advance.

-LoveItLoud
loveitloud
loveitloud OP
8 posts
 
Hey Gallant_diva. 144 tubes must light up (and warm up) your listening room quite well. That is amazing and fun. My Dad worked for Ampex back in the 60's, but he went to solid state when he bought his Apogee Studio Array back in the mid 90's (when those were the latest from Jason Bloom). He had never heard either the Fullrange nor the Divas until about 1 year ago. It was a teriffic day indeed.

I will keep looking for the Krell KSA-100. That seems like a perfect option for me. If I do find one I have a certified Krell Technician under my belt who can re-cap an one of these older Krell amplifiers for me.

I would love meet you and come listen to some music with you some day? Good recordings seem very hard to find so if you have any vinyl suggestions (any genre) I am open.

LitL
nealw
16 posts
 
I have apogee centaur minors and drive it with Krell KSA 80. i have an audio note pre amp so i think i have the right blend of tubes and power. i then went and bought a pair of Krell KMA 160's (the mono blocks) but still haven't tried it out due to renovations and the kids taking up all my time.

also added a second REL sub so system is looking up would have loved to have the Stages though - have heard them a few times and they are special.
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
I ran my Stage for a while as a Stage-etta...Stage/Duetta. The Stage reproducing highs and mids, along with upper bass...and the Duetta bass panel handling bass from around 80hz-25hz. (The mix of the two sounded outstanding!).

My Stage are the MiniGrands...but the Duetta Signature bass, is better sounding than the MiniGrand subwoofers.

Sadly, one of my Stage now has the dreaded Apogee bass panal BUZZZZZZZ...so the good one is now working as my center channel speaker.

Dave
loveitloud OP
8 posts
 
Hello Dave/All,
Are there any sound differences between the original Apogee stages vs. the mini-grand (top portion) speakers? Besides age of course. I do know that the build is slightly different. Is that as far as it goes or it there more to it?
-LitL
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
The latter built Stage, and MiniGrand Stage are pretty much the same...the MiniGrand with a nicer looking cover, AFAIK. (and of course the expensive dedicated crossover, and two subwoofers)

The MiniGrand bass extends to around 25hz with the subwoofers...right there with the Duetta Signature.

Dave
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