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$1,500 Amp budget - Best options?

I have narrowed my speaker search down to a set of B&W 803S or 803D.

Question. What are the best options to power these speakers with amp budget of around $1500? I'll be using my Marantz 5006 as the pre. Yes, I know there are some more expensive options that may offer a bit more quality, but this is what it is and I'm sticking to it. After I get my options, I'll try to audition as much as possible.

So far I'm considering a new Emotiva XPA-2 or used Bryston 4B-ST. What else do you'all think I should be looking at?

Thanks!
rave426
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Classe'.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Consider the Harman Kardon HK990.
rave426 OP
2 posts
 
Thanks for the responses! I'll take a look at as many of these as possible.
nglazer
846 posts
 
Belles 150A Hot Rod. Steal at the price new; grand larceny if you find a used one. Sweet, tuneful and suddiciently powerful.

Neal
steveaudio
331 posts
 
Conrad Johnson MF2500A. Beautiful sounding amp with 240 wpc I believe. Last I knew, around $1500 used.

Or: instead of a 4B-ST, a McCormack DNA 1, (Deluxe Edition if you find one). Might sell for $800-ish. Personally I'd go for that over a 4B-ST.

If your budget allows for a Bryston SST series amp, the word I've always gotten is that they're a real improvement over the ST's.
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