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Amps on the cheap....real cheap

I have a pair of power hungry A-1 soundlabs. My original intent was to pick up a set of JC-1's or Atma MA-1 to drive them. That is still my intent but it won't happen for a year or so. In the mean time, I would like to find something to power them with. I have an old Adcom GFA 555 which I could utilize. This amp is bridgable to 600W mono. My thought was to pick up a second one, run them mono (current used price around $300.00) and live with it until I spend the money on better power.

Before I rush out and buy another used Adcom I thought I might get your thoughts on the best budget amps out there, either mono or single chassis, that would have the juice to get the A-1 moving.

I know this is a tall order on the cheap but I am sure there are a few great budget amps out there on the cheap that would hold me over.

I would like to stay under 6 or $700.00 for the amps.

Thanks in advance.
lance_s
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,471 posts
 
Buy two Applied Audio Research SLA 2 amps. They cost $250 new each. One would also be enough.

These are studio amps and sound 85% as good as the best solid state amps one can buy. I know as I have owned SS amps like the JC1's, Belles Reference and others.

I know its hard to believe and most don't. See my feedback as I am no hack. Feel free to contact me for more info.

These litle amps are just so good.

Bill
jig
160 posts
 
what Philijolet said. IMO, the Adcom has a somewhat grainy/grungy sound in comparison.
lance_s OP
27 posts
 
Thanks for all the replies guys, I do like the esl idea, I have heard pretty good things about them. Carver too. Keep the ideas coming, I know there is a large group of people out there that are like me, looking for a stop gap, or newer younger people just trying to break into audio that think pioneer is the end all-be all (no offense pioneer owners). There are some great budget amps and processors out there on the cheap.
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lance_s OP
27 posts
 
How do you upgrade the adcom? Who might be qualified to do that and what would it cost?

I was trying to get the speakers up and running tonight, the right channel on the adcom was lighting up the distortion sensor on the front of the amp quite a bit earlier than the left and then it went dead. I believe that I lost the channel tonight so now might be a good time to either upgrade it or dump it...
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