2. amps-preamps
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Amp upgrade question

I have a passive bi-amp w/ two CJ SS amps. I can pull this off because they have the same gain, sensitivity and input impedance. The amps are an MF-2500 upgraded to a 2500A running LF and an MF-2100 running HF. 250 WPC on the LF 100 WPC on the HF. I'd like to get better performance on the HF. It's not that I need it louder so much as wanting it better. It's not bad now by the way.The question is should I throw $500 at an upgrade by a great shop (new Cardas Rhodium RCA's,speaker binding posts, silver wire, faster/better PS diodes) or just buy an MF-2250 which show up here for 900-1200 usually. It is a more recent amp with better quality and 120 WPC which would also be the exact match needed for my passive bi-amp in terms of input imp., sens, gain. I would love to have tubes for my HF amp but feel I would need a power amp w/a gain control as finding those same needed input specs would be tough. I use a passive line stage. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

ET
electroid

Showing 1 response by aball

aball
2,018 posts
 
Yeah, it is hard to beat horizontal biamping. It presents a way better load to the amps than first seems apparent.

My suggestion would be sell off your 2100 and get an older McIntosh MC275 or a vintage MC240. The older ones have gain controls that work super well for passive horizontal biamping, which is exactly what I do in my system with a MC240 and Kora monoblocks on the bass.

The transparency and resolution of those McIntosh tube amps when only running 200Hz on up (or so) is about the finest I have ever heard in my life. Totally worth the money even if you have to save up for it.

Arthur
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