2. amps-preamps
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Ultimate Amplifier for the next 20 Years

Hello all!
Well, you I am again on the amplifier merry-go-round after my last digital amp(noname mentioned!) let me down in the dumps after a comparison with a Halo A21 amp. I had a keen ear friend who reviews for Stereo Times and he felt the same. Musical instruments more real sounding with better decay. Man was I surprised after thinking that the digital amp was my last! BTW, the most important part, my speakers are a pair of Apogee Studio Grands in beautiful piano black!! Now the digital amp is on subwoofers in which it has ALOT of punch! The perfect(but not cheap) subwoofer amp! High damping factor, runs cool, dual posts to run four(4) subs if you choose to and never runs out of juice!!

Anyway, I want to keep it under $5000 used or new. Prefer 2 channel amp and maybe monoblocks. Amp can't run too hot(very important)! My pre/pro is a Lexicon MC12B.
Here are my amps that I'm considering in order:

Classe CA2200- Runs class A up to 60 watts! Right now I have a dealer making me a killer offer. Probably the one I'm going to buy...

McCormack DNA500- My big second choose!

Theta Dreadnaught II- Since I have a 8.4 sound system but don't need alot of power for the other speakers, this would be the perfect multichannel amp for me(remember the .4 is powered by my digital amp). One BIG problem, it runs tooo freakin’ hot!

NuForce 9.2- Hearing great things.

Krell FBC300Cx- Jason Bloom ran only krell amps with Apogees.

Please add your thoughts on any comparison on these amps or a new one that you think are superior. I want this to be my last amp purchase for a long time! Right.... ; )

THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER!!!
Best,
Paul
ptheo
mdhoover
695 posts
 
The Odyssey Extreme Monoblocks have lots of power (200-300 watts per channel) and current (180,000 microfarads of capacitance EACH), and a class A/B design. I leave mine on all the time and they don't get hot, but do stay warm. I reviewed them here on A'gon. $2700 per pair, brand new. Underrated in my opinion. If you're looking for 20 years, that just happens to be the length of the warranty, too.
ptheo OP
72 posts
 
Sdrconsultant- I would love to try a Goldmund but way to expensive. There low priced stuff is digital-no thank you. As for the Plinius, too big and hot! If I lived in Alaska, no problem.

Plato- The newest version (9.02) I have heard is very good. But it seems they are still evolving. I'll bet at the CES they come out with a stereo version!

Warnerwh- The JC1's are to large and to hot. I would have to use them on the side lower shelf's which only have 8"H. No way.

Elberoth2- Thank you very much!!!

Mdhoover- Same problem as the JC1's.

ONE of the many feature that I really about the CA-2200 is it has switchable inputs(XLR or RCA) on the front panel. So I can go digital(DVD) and analog(SACD,DVDAUDIO) out of my modified Denon 2910. Switchable on the fly! : )
ptheo OP
72 posts
 
THANK YOU EVERYONE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW....
fplanner2000
616 posts
 
I'll second the DNA-500 - have had mine about 8 months and am continually amazed at its performance. I leave mine on all the time and don't have heat issues at all - it just needs a little room to breathe in my rack. Dynamics are incredible when called for, yet inner detail and transparency are also there in a very involving, musical way. My system includes a VAC Phi 2.0 preamp, APL-modded Denon 3910 and Legacy Whisper speakers.

Maybe you should try the McCormack in your system if you haven't already?
213cobra
885 posts
 
Nothing on the original post list is a 20 year amp. And the $5,000 budget is a serious constraint. I can imagine a pair of Audiopax 88 monoblocks being satisfying for 20 years, but they are $15,000/pair.

However, there is one choice at $5,000 -- a used pair of McIntosh MC501 monoblocks. A new MC402 stereo amp would be just behind them. Not only will these amps actually last 20 years, but they'll power anything you'll buy in associated speakers and sound sensational doing it.

Phil
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