amp for Dynaudio Contour 1.1

My friend has a pretty big master bedroom (sorry I am not quite sure the size). The budget is approx <$3000 for the preamp/amp combo or an integrated. Prefer solid states and Jazz, vocal, etc... The only thing concerned is to remove the over-brightness of the dyns.

Thanks.

Thanx Ruo:
I am not endorsing these products nor have I listened to them but the Musical Fidelity AC3r amp and pre retail for about $3000 and got quite good reviews. Because they are solid state and new you could look around here for used. They seem to be a good match because the Contours have low sensitivity and the recommended power is a minimum of 65W in medium rooms. I'm sure you will get other good suggestions so your friend may want to put together a short list. Personally, I'm a big fan of Bryston and their 3ST amp might fit the bill. Happy hunting,

My friend has a pretty big master bedroom (sorry I am not quite sure the size). The budget is approx <$3000 for the preamp/amp combo or an integrated. Prefer solid states and Jazz, vocal, etc... The only thing concerned is to remove the over-brightness of the dyns.

Thanks.

Your friend will definitely want something with reserve power - preferably something that has at least 100 w/ch into 8 ohms and doubles (or nearly doubles) into 4 ohms. If you give those speakers the right power / current, they'll really sing. While I don't have personal experience with either, I think Wirehead's advice of investigation Musical Fidelity's stuff and/or Bryston is excellent advice - the MF stuff is really good looking on top of being very well reviewed.

I don't think it's the Dynaudio's that are giving your friend the over-brightness, particularly if he was listening to a Parasound driving them. I own a pair of the 1.1's (as well as the 3.0's) and I wouldn't use "bright" as an adjective for them at all. -Kirk

He might be happy with McCormack electronics, solid-state but a very rich, sweet sound and incredible value. A TLC-1 preamp and DNA-0.5 or DNA-1 amp would be well within his budget. The deluxe versions are even more refined. There seems to be a good selection of used McCormack stuff here on Audiogon and on ebay right now.