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Looking for 200 watt Amp to drive Dynaudio Heritage speakers

Hi Everyone - 

BACKGROUND 


A few years ago, during Covid and after having worked for so many years without really treating myself to a sound system, I took the plunge and started purchasing audio equipment. Unfortunately, I was a terribly uninformed audio buyer and dove in with some purchases that were not terribly well considered. Oh well. 

So here we are today... I have a pair of Dynaudio Heritage Special speakers that I was considering selling.

The Dynaudio Heritage Special speakers require power to open up. Driven at 100 watts, they sound a little anemic and the treble dominates at lower levels. So they ended up in the closet for the last year with plans to sell them. In retrospect, the dealer I purchased them suggested a lower wattage amp than was advisable. 

For my primary system, I'm now running QLN Prestige Three speakers with a Conrad Johnson Classic 120 EL34 amp, LTA Microzotl preamp, Merason DAC1 and Innuos Zenith. The sound of this system is wonderful - ethereal, nuanced, great soundstage and imaging. Very relaxing combo. 

I'm thinking of cycling the Dynaudio into circulation for a few months a year to change things up. I'm looking for a 200 Watt Solid State Amp. But here's the thing, I'm getting older and lugging heavy things around - especially when stairs are part of the equation - is terribly unappealing. 50-55 pounds is pretty much my limit right now.  

I had some Pass Labs amps in for home demos and the thing was a back breaker. I think it was 80 pounds or so. My days of pseudo body building are over... so lugging that thing up and down stairs is something I NEVER want to do again. 

QUESTION FOR THE FORUM 

Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced solid state 200 watt SS amp - no more than 50-55 pounds - that I can use to enjoy these Dynaudio Heritage Speakers? Class AB or Class D, obviously. For weight considerations, I'm really open to a Class D amp, assuming it sounds good. 

Budget is $5K or under - new or used. 

In terms of what I'm looking for - and given my weight requirements - I'd say the primary thing I'm looking to avoid is overt brightness. Otherwise, I'm pretty open to what suggestions the forum might have. Thanks in advance! 
 

128x128bluethinker
chocaholic
202 posts
 

Another vote for the Hegel H390. 250 wpc into 8ohms, 45 lbs. I share your distaste for cinder block behemoths. 

mgw
51 posts
 

@cbrez, that was my thought exactly, high current over simply high wattage. I have heard the Dynaudio HS driven very nicely indeed buy Moon 240 and 250 (50Wpc at 8 Ohms). Importantly these are 85W and 100W pc at 4 Ohms, repectively.

bbarten
64 posts
 

If the sensitivity is what another poster mentioned (85) AND they are 4 ohms I'd go a little more power if you really want to get the SPL up with very low distortion.  I like the two monoblocks at 300w each idea the best.  Also and as suggested by that same post you can get more power with less weight and lower cost than your target all day long.  Not sure what the high-end people think about Emotiva but they have some great options.

akg_ca
2,231 posts
 

REGA OSIRIS integrated amp pre-owned

A no compromise, super high performance, 162 W into 8 Ω (250 W, 4 Ω), dual mono amplifier housed in a custom Rega CNC machined aluminium case.

TECH SPECS

The Osiris uses a low distortion high linearity and a bandwidth common base voltage amplifier driver stage. This type of symmetrical circuit topology will provide the necessary voltage swings to enable the Osiris to drive any speaker system with the minimum of distortion.

Eight Sanken 200 W output transistors are used in a “triple” high current output stage enabling the Osiris to drive even the most awkward of speaker systems with ease.

The cascoded differential input amplifier uses two low noise LED referenced current generators. The open & closed loop feedback levels and gain bandwidth product components are optimised to give a tight and controlled sound stage, especially at the low frequency end of the audio range.

Nichicon audio grade capacitors are used in bypass and de-coupling positions. Electrolytic capacitors have been bypassed with polyester capacitors where necessary, improving on the HF performance. Low inductance film SM power resistors are used in the output stage.

POWER SUPPLIES

The Osiris uses two low noise, purpose designed 400 VA toroidal transformers using high-grade, fully bonded core material. The transformers are mounted to the chassis using Rega’s innovative mounting technique which eliminates noise being transferred from the transformer to the case when the transformers are operating under arduous mains (line) conditions with high levels of asymmetric mains (line) distortion. These transformers combined with 40,000 Micro Farads of Rega K-Power smoothing capacitors per channel, provide more than enough current to drive the hardest of loads.

All the power supplies utilise fast recovery rectifier diodes throughout. (Fast diodes generate less high frequency switching noise therefore giving rise to a cleaner DC). The input and low-level driver stages are fed from a regulated symmetrical tracking power supply with a low noise voltage reference, which provides a fully stabilised low noise voltage, ensuring the highest level of sonic purity.

All the dedicated audio power supplies feed only the audio circuits. The input switching, display & micro controller and protection circuits have their own dedicated supplies, keeping the audio signal path as pure as possible.

REVIEWS

 

 

 

 

mattw73
61 posts
 

Hypex Nilai 500. Low weight product getting great reviews by many but you also see mention of others that weren't feeling it. Alpha Audio has some video reviews with lots of music clips. Comparing the Nilai to other class D but also their Reference Pass Labs amp...all the amps are tested on some high end TAD speakers. I don't have the links but should be easy to find if interested. 

These Alpha Audio guys seem pretty legit, they have done some pretty good reviews on Power Supply's, amps, cables, etc. They normally do subjective opinions with objective data (measurements) in their reviews. The Nilai has peaked my interest and I'm going to try one out. It's a new technology so not your standard Ncore/Purifi type modules. It uses a different power supply and FR is linear past 20khz, where as the other models would roll off a DB or so before 20khz. You can try the mono blocks for around $2k us..stereo for $1500. Pretty cheap if they truly perform like many have said...but still  a product I would recommend buying with a good return policy in case it doesn't mesh well with your gear. Anyway, just thought I'd mention a small, low weight, cool running amp at a budget type price to go a long with all the other great hi end amps already mentioned. Good luck. 

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