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Such hard decisions :D Anyone with some insight on Amp Selection?

Alright, so here's the lowdown, i have deftech BP-30's powered by  my adcom gfa-5500, center and surrounds powered by TX-NR838 onkyo receiver, i am upgrading my infinity center channel to the deftech CLR-2000 so the sound signatures match my BP-30s, i dont really want to power the center from my receiver anymore, so was looking into 3 channel amps, i stumbled across 2 local to me 

adcom GFA-5503 or the B&K Reference 4430 - both around 400-500$

seems the gfa-5503 will be basically the same thing i have now with a 3rd channel, and to be honest i am happy with the sound, but not sure if i am missing anything by not trying out the B&K, are they kinda the same class or is the B&K outclassing the adcom (does it sound better to MOST people, i know sound is subjective ;) ) 

i guess just searching for opinions/advice since i dont really mix/match amplifiers.  I did do a lot of research and its hard to pinpoint where my decision should go as there is no DIRECT comparison between the two i could find lol.  Thanks in advance, and if i am saying anything stupid be nice, new to audio forums ;) 

Full setup:
TX-NR838 receiver, also used as dac/preamp
Adcom GFA-5500 powering R/L speakers
Definitive Technology BP-30 FR/FL
Definitive Technology CLR-2000 Center
random monoprice RR/RL
Subwoofer - Sunfire TS EQ 10 Signature
Debut Carbon Turntable.
anthrax-vx
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
why have watts that are unusable, why are they unusable watts?

Because, if the first watt isn’t any good, why would you want 200 more of them?

The reality is even when listening quite loud the vast majority of the time you’re using only a very few watts- and only fractions of a watt when its not really loud. Because if you think about it, a 90dB speaker plays pretty loud with 1 just watt (90dB), real loud with 10 (100 dB), and crazy loud with 100 (110dB). Only 100 watts, and so loud its hearing damage.

And yeah, yeah I know: distance. Whatever. Its still loud.

The above by the way is in impotent solid state watts. In manly tube watt terms 30 watts is plenty. In multichannel home theater terms no amount of watts is enough to sound as good as 30 quality tube watts. Its kind of like, you can have a whole army of Ben Stillers, its never gonna amount to one Arnold. Or to misquote another famous actor: All your watt are unusable to us.
anthrax-vx OP
4 posts
 
you say no amount of A/V watts is enough, yet you said i'd be fine with the watts it provided? and im not sure exactly where the first watt isnt any good is coming from, i'd agree, but not sure if that's really relevant as i haven't stated it sounded bad or said i thought they werent good at any level of volume, just kinda lost in this conversation now :D man we are so sideways off topic its insane hahaha
bryhifi's avatar
bryhifi
374 posts
 
Buying both to audition was the best option, not always feasible to do but always the best way to know as you discovered.  

Having sold both brands back in the late 80s into the early 90s they both fell into roughly the same camp.  Each brand having a few winners in their line-up and some honest to goodness stinkers.  It is interesting and curious in regards to your sound results from the B&K.  If you find something off kilter in your bench testing it would be interesting to hear back.  
anthrax-vx OP
4 posts
 
@bryhifi yeah i will, i think im going to hook it up today, but i dont think an amp should sound THAT different :) ill definitely get back, loving the adcom in the meantime
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