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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
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
I'd really like to hear the cherry. I've always been worried about over-dampening the lightweight, in my case, rs5 driver. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,480 posts
 
DAC is going to make a set of amplifiers for audition in your own home. Tim promised to notify me when they are ready.
gweedoargus's avatar
gweedoargus
10 posts
 
I second the pass labs xa25. It drives my B&W 804 d3s with no problem. Smooth, with resolution and no listening fatigue. I also have tinnitus in my left ear. 
moofoo
290 posts
 
You may not want to take this direction since HT is involved, but I have found switching preamps made the bigger, positive difference in the sound of my system. I went from 12AU7 signal tubes to 6SN7s and the sound was much fuller, robust, detailed, natural and very non-fatiguing. I was very surprised at the difference it made. Much more enjoyable. I have a very, very slight ringing in my right ear sometimes, not all the time. It got pronounced if I listened too loud or long using my old preamp. I am 64.
jimcrane
163 posts
 
Samster,
Lots of good suggestions here.  I'd start with your Classe option "B" simply because you'll use what you already have.  If the audio results are not acceptable, then you could undo the modification to your system and try one or more of the suggestions offered here.  If the audio results are acceptable but the modification doesn't give you the tinnitus relief you're hoping for, then you could try one or more of the suggestions.
I hope you'll keep us informed.
Jim
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