2. amps-preamps
  3. 149904-99596

Recommended solid state amp for user with tinnitus

Hello all,

I'm 58 and been a music lover since my teens. Through a variety of jobs in noisy work environments (metal working), target shooting, loud rock in my teens, etc., etc., I have been a sufferer of tinnitus for many years.

I am finding the 20-year old Martin-Logan Stylos speakers in my home theater are aggravating the tinnitus. I am replacing them as the front left-right mains in my home theater with the new Monitor Audio Gold 300's (gen 5 2019), along with a PS Audio DirectStream DAC. My  Marantz AV7702mkII home theater processor will be the preamp for 2-channel playback. The speakers use a MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphram) high-frequency transducer for the tweeter,  90 dB Sensitivity (1W@1m) • 4 Ohms Nominal Impedance • 3.5 Ohms @1 kHz Minimum Impedance, 250 Watts Power Handling (RMS) • 100 - 250 Watts Recommended Amplifier Requirements (RMS).

I was looking for a solid state amp in the $2000 - $5000 range that would work well with the Gold 300 speakers and keep the sound warm and non-fatiguing with good resolution. Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. I'm wondering if McIntosh might be suited for my situation(?). Any suggestions for solid state are welcome.

In my office, I have a PrimaLuna HP tube amp, PS Audio DirectStream DAC and Monitor Audio PL100 monitors, and they tend to be much easier on my ears and tinnitus issue. I do NOT want a tube amp for my system that I am asking for recommendations on, no way to place it in my cabinetry.

Thank you in advance,
Sam
128x128samster777
ericsch
753 posts
 
Samster, General Hearing Instruments makes a tinnitus masker that I use when my tinnitus is bothersome. You can find the details on their website.
samster777's avatar
samster777 OP
12 posts
 
Thank you everyone for the responses and advice, I truly appreciate you all taking the time to do so.

jimcrane, what I have in my 5.1 theater system is a Classe CAV-150 6-channel x 150w bridgeable amp that I bought new in 1997.

I am considering multiple options to keep this amp in my system, in these possible configurations:

A) Bridge the Classe six channels to three channels, 300w x 2 for front left-right (Monitor Audio Gold 300's), 300x x 1 center channel, add a new 2-channel amp for rear surrounds

B) Use the balanced inputs on the Classe and have 150w x 2 for the Monitor Audio front left-right, bridge 300W to the center channel, use the remaining two channels 150w x 2 for the rear surrounds (no additional financial outlay, use what I have)

C) Buy a new 2-channel amp (hence my question on here) for the front left-right (Monitor Audio Gold 300's), bridge the Classe six channels to three channels, 300w x 1 for the center channel, 300w x 2 for rear surrounds

I did call Classe this morning and they said as long as I don't hear anything going, like one channel playing louder than another, to keep the CAV-150 going in my system. I asked if this 6-channel amp was a step down from their two-channel audiophile grade amps, and I got a somewhat reserved yes, not that they would describe it as a step-down, but not quite the same level as a dedicated 2-channel amp, BUT still head and shoulders above average consumer products by far.

Thoughts?

Thanks again,
Sam
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,816 posts
 
I mask my tinnitus at bedtime not with fan noise but music. I put a long Classical piece in the DVD player in the bedroom, and if I’m still awake when it’s over I get up and do something for awhile, then try again.
Post removed 
samster777's avatar
samster777 OP
12 posts
 
I have a MIT-ISO Strip for the power conditioning 
More to discover