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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
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sufentanil's avatar
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sufentanil
782 posts
 
Philojet, if you find an Innersound ESL amp for less than $1000, then you should definitely jump on it. They tend to run in the $1200-$1500 range for the ESL 300. (I own one; it's a great amp.) You're right in that it's the perfect choice for electrostats.

For the price that the original poster supplied, though, I don't think the Innersound is in range.

Michael
lance_s OP
27 posts
 
i will continue to keep a look out for a used esl 300 or sanders 300. I think that might be a great stop gap. I am currently upgrading the backing plates anyway so I have some time to look.

Thanks for all the ideas.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
Sufentanil,

A few years back I saw a few of them in the $1000+ price range so presumed they could be had for less now but did not see any for sale here. Maybe it is because Innersound is out of business and people are holding on to them or none are being sold any more.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
07-04-08: Grannyring
Buy two Applied Audio Research SLA 2 amps. They cost $250 new each. One would also be enough.
Now there's an SLA-4, which is 100w/channel x 4, so you could bi-amp at 100 watts per wire. These go for about $439. The really attractive thing about the SLA-4 mated to an electrostat is that the SLA-4 is rated to 2 ohms.

I think the funky and low loads that electrostatics sometimes present may be part of your problem.
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