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Handling Heavy Amps

There are several amps I’m interested in possibly purchasing but I’m dissuaded because of their weight. I’ve had lower back issues so I need to be careful. I live alone. Even if my wife was still alive she would not have been able to help much. Also Children live far. I see that many of you have these 60-100 pound behemoths and I wonder how do you manage. If I buy from my dealer he’ll load it in my SUV. However when I get home it will be difficult to get it out and onto the garage floor where I can place it on my handcart. Then when I get it next to my rack I need to maneuver it out of the box and up onto the rack. I guess I would need to see if my dealer would deliver it and place it on the rack. Probably for a fee. So that may work. But then if I need to paint, move furniture, resell the unit whatever I would need help. I think I can handle up to 40lbs. So how do you handle these amps? Is it a concern for you?  I’m spoiled by my Benchmark 12 lb AHB2. It’s also the reason I’ve been investigating Class D amps. 

jfrmusic
jfrmusic OP
268 posts
 

Thanks again guys. Very informative responses. At the moment I've got the CODA S5.5 and the SimAudio 330A or 400m Mono blocks at the top of my list. The CODA is 45lbs. The SimAudio units are under 33lbs each. Have no actually experience hearing the CODA but I have heard several YouTube demos of the SimAudio amps. Even though YouTube is not HiRes I did get a sense of their character and it seemed relaxed and laid back with good control, deep bass and a very smooth high end.

I spoke to James at Destination HiFi and he said the S5.5 is a perfect match for my Harbeths and has several customer with that configuration.

I won't make a decision until my new Streamer and DAC arrive and I give the Benchmark AHB2 a shot. But I still feel that no matter how ut sounds I can do better than the Benchmark with the units I'm considering

@fastfreight 

You mentioned that your amp was superior to the Benchmark. Can you share your specific qualitative experiences in this regard. It would be helpful.

@vthokie83 

Please elaborate on your enthusiastic response to the CODA S5.5. What type of magic?

vthokie83
862 posts
 

jfrmusic,

I'm putting together some listening notes from the first few week with it, I'll be posting it for the other thread....but I'll repost it here as well. I highly recommend you check out the other thread started by Terry a couple of weeks ago that I referenced above

jfrmusic OP
268 posts
 

@vthokie83 

Thanks. I am following that other S5.5 thread.

fastfreight
787 posts
 

Hello @jfrmusic to me the Benchmark amps were on the dry and sterile side compared to the organic and lifelike qualities of Audionet.  The Audionet are extremely resolving, but not fatiguing or overetched.  Very full spectrum natural sound with what I call 'sparkle'.  Nothing boosted just all there. In my family room I have the MM Makua preamp w onboard Tambaqui.  I used to have the beautifully matching MM class D Kaluga amps. They sounded great; until I carried up my Audionet Max amps to try and they have never left.  I sold the Kalugas and bought new Heisenbergs for my basement system.  My friend brought over his ABH4's to compare with my Max amps.  He was determined to find what it was in my system that sounded so good.  It did not take long to appreciate the difference between the Max amps and the Benchmarks.  I think the Max are the sweet spot in the Audionet line up.  I have only ever heard good things about Coda, but I have not had the pleasure of their company, nor Ayre.  Ask more or come listen!  Ken

lanx0003
831 posts
 

$12,000

Accuphase A75, 97lb. $124 per pound. Good deal. Class A class A sound. True continuous average output power, i.e., 60 wpc into 8 ohms & 480 wpc into 1 ohm. 👍︎👍︎👍︎👍︎👍︎  100 lb is not that heavy. It is lighter than your lovely best half.

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