2. amps-preamps
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tough choices

Hi all
______

 I had a lot of fun on here a few years back.  I have a dilemma that I hope I can score some help with:
 My current system is:
-sonus faber aida
- AR: anniversary edition preamp
-AR .CD 9
AR: 750 mono's and 250 Mono : one pair of each.
 four REL subwoofers 
  I 'm fed up with these monoblocks,  They broke down a few timesIve owned them for three years now. The dealer explained  to me that this is due to the care they require, I E: the voltage and bias need continual attention, which I m not prepared to give them. The dealer is offering 80% value on trading them in .
I got them for two reasons, One the Preamp is fantastic , and the sonus faber is suited to them. As sonus bought AR recently , that is the logic the dealer offered me.
    Now , the dealer is offering me a trade in to switch to solid state power amps. However they suggest I buy two Boulders per side, the idea is sound , however I just don't wish to shell out a quarter Million (i Live in Canada) . for the power amps. The speakers were about a 100K. 
  Also, they now tell me that Sonus says that the speakers need to be tri-amped .  Which would up the amp.cost significantly. 
The advice Im seeking here is how I could tri amp the Sonus Fabers and do it on a budget of about 100K ?
  My dealer has no suggestions yet at least , except to bi-amp with T&A amps for 100K . The thing is I'd liek to try tri-amping instead .
thank you for reading , looking forwards to your answers
bagir
dinov's avatar
dinov
836 posts
 
McIntosh and sonus faber!
audiorusty
270 posts
 
Per the Sonos Faber Aida owners manual these speakers do not have to be Tri-amped. They can be Tri-amped but they are also designed to be driven by a single stereo amp or mono blocks if that is what the owner desires or can afford. Also with the Aids's cycling down to 18 hz, not sure you are getting much use out of the sub woofers.
sokogear
1,095 posts
 
First world problems....
graystoke
27 posts
 
wow, that is about  £62,000,uk pounds to spend, KEF makes speakers that are tri-amped, some in early thousands, don't know why just do, you will always get a better sound with three amps, per speaker, but just two better amps will sound better for the same money, 
2 amps at £30,000, 
6 amps at £10,000,
the two amp system will be far better, in every case, but you still have to buy with a demo,  
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
Saying they “need” to be tri-amped is extraordinary. Maybe that is what is required to get the absolute most out of the but that is a choice.
I would look seriously at AVM monos. If you really want six, the Ovation MA 6.3s are awesome amps and will just be to the warm side of neutral, tonally similar to ARC IMO. They are $23K/ pair here in the US. At current exchange rate, that would give you six at about $100k CAD.

I am an AVM dealer here in the states but am not allowed to sell in Canada and I will not trans-ship. If you are interested, I would be happy to reach out and find you a dealer in Canada. PM me and let me know what part of Canada you are in and I will pass the info along.
Getting 6 good sounding mono-blocks at $20k to $25k USD per pair should be quite feasible. AVM is one very good option.  I think you will struggle to find something from Constellation/ Soulution/ Boulder/ D’Agostino/ Burmeister at that price though and IMO, AVM is very close in terms of sound quality. It is a strong value all things considered.  
The other brand to look at is Pass Labs. You can easily heat a portion of your house with these since they are Class A and 100w each but six XA100.8s will be a little less expensive and I think will run about $90K CAD.
The Pass X600.8 are more comparable to the AVM at 600w of class A/B power each and would run a bit more than AVM at what should be about $110K CAD.
I am not a Pass dealer but finding one won’t be that difficult.


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