32 dB is the problem. The less power an amp has, the more likely the gain will be less too, since its more likely to be used on more sensitive speakers. So amps of the power level in which you are interested are more likely to have 22-25dB of gain.
Amp search
So I'm looking for an amp to bi-amp the upper section of my palladium p37f's. Either solid state class A or tube, between 50 and 100 watts. This is only going to do work above 550 hz with benign impedance loads. Budget is 2500$ so obviously used. The problem I'm having is finding one with 32 DB gain to match the the amp I will be using on the woofers. It's proving a bit tricky to find one. Variable gain one would be even better. Can anyone point me towards such a product? I'm open to older models, within reason.
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@atmasphere I just learned from the manufacturer of my current amp that there's an input board available that lowers gain to 26db. This should make it easier to locate an appropriate amp. Are there any candidates out there that come to mind? |
@lukaszwk It may not be as simple as that. Plan B is to get a passive volume control which you place between the amp with the most Voltage gain and the preamp. In this way you can simply turn it down till you get a match. But here's something to keep in mind. If you don't have an electronic crossover, this means that all frequencies are being fed to both amps. Whether the speaker is reproducing the frequencies is irrelevant; the amp will be (the unused frequencies being blocked by the internal crossover of the speaker). Being blocked isn't the same as saying that there's no effect of those frequencies on the amplifier- in particular the one that is meant to do the highs. An electronic crossover allows you to set the levels of the amps and usually the crossover frequency as well. Since you can't remove the internal crossover, it would seem to duplicate functions but as I explained, it will help.
Totally FWIW Dept.: you really should not be able to tell what class of operation any amplifier is if its competently built! You won't hear a 'transition' from class A to AB in the case of an AB amplifier. This is so true that there are class D amps out there that challenge any fully class A amp ever made. So don't worry about whether its class A or not. Class A is a means to making the amp more linear when there's no feedback for correction so this makes the biggest difference with zero feedback amplifiers. But even there as long as the amp is designed properly and properly biased, you'll never hear a difference! What might be a concern is whether the amp is bright and harsh in the mids and highs. That has nothing to do with class A and everything to do with how well the designer understood the rules of human hearing/perception. Again, there are class D amps out there that have no problem in this regard. I've not heard the Parasound but I wouldn't throw it under the bus because its not class A! |
I have a D Sonic m3a 1200s (class D) which I like a lot. It's just a a fancy I want to entertain and try something else but I didn't want to lose the bass and the control of what this amp provides so bi-amping seems like the way to go. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm throwing parasound under the bus but i am familiar with that amp and not necessarily smitten. Also I am a firm believer in class D especially newer GanFet ones but they are few and far between and currently not many in the used market. Never owned a pure class A so that's why I'd like to see what' the fuss is about. |
Not sure how I managed to miss that on Schiit website before but yeah, that might remedy the gain mismatch although I do plan on having the same gain on both amps. Like I said before I did manage to find a way to lower the gain on my current amp from 32db to 26db (currently awaiting gain input boards) so it should make finding a match easier. |
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