Amplifier Choices for Low Side of Biamped Speakers


I've been gradually building my system for many years out of other people stuff they sell as they are upgrading. Almost all of it is used and also usually considered "bargain" audiophile. For example, I still use the Proceed AVP preeamp (I even have a spare one) because of its DAC, plus it also gives me home theater. I have a older McCormack HT1 three channel amp, and a Cayin A-50 tube amp, MIT S1 cabling throughout, and Legacy speakers all around.

I've been bi-amping the Legacy mains' using the Cayin on the top end, two of the McCormack's channels for the Legacy's woofers, and then (as a temporary solution) using a small Parasound amp for the surrounds. It works out well with the Proceed because it both has stereo sub outputs and I can set the crossover point internally since it has a setting of 120 hz that matches my woofers' crossover point.

What I want to do now is get a more powerful amp for the woofers, and connect the surrounds to the McCormack where they belong. I'd love to use a powerful digital amp, like the Red Dragon mono blocks, but it's an expensive option, as is the Bel Canto. I have space limitations, which is another reason a digital amp(s) would be ideal. I found the Velodyne SC-1250 1250 Watt 2 Channel Subwoofer Amplifier which can be had refurbished for about $850, sometimes less in auction, but I don't know if it must be used with Velodyne speakers or not.

Anyway, any suggestions for how to power my woofers for under $1000 with a compact amp would be appreciated. Thanks.
les3547
I have a pair of custom speakers similar in design to the Legacy Focus using Eton drivers (tweeters/midranges/midbass drivers) and 12' Peerless/NHT woofers. I've been biamping these for years with a JAS Array 2.1 driving the midbass on up section. For the 4 12" woofers, I used several amps with varying degrees of success. I had a Consonance Calaf briefly (integrated amp)and this was exceptional driving the woofers but I couldn't justify the $1800 I spent on it as a woofer amp so sold it. I've used a Hafler P3000 and this produces a punchy and weighty bass, a great deal at the regular Ebay prices. Even better, and about the same price, are the Face Audio professional amps. I'm using the 250 watt model presently and find it better than the Hafler, but it's also an extra 100 watts/channel.

I had a Wyred4Sound ST-500 for awhile, driving the speakers full range. This digital amp produced a punchy/dynamic bass but it didn't have the weight or authority of some other amps I've used. The Calaf killed it in bass reproduction and an Adcom 555 II I had on hand bettered it in bass as well. I think the Hafler/Face Audio amps are better as well but it's hard to say for sure as I've never ran those amps full range with these speakers.

In another system I have a Cambridge Audio 840W. I haven't used it with these speakers but I find this amp to have really wonderful bass, very tight and dynamic but also with plenty of weight. I reminds me of a Krell KSA 100S I had years ago (as far as bass goes that is). Overall, I really like the Cambridge amp. See the TAS review regarding their impression of its bass capabilities. Thanks and good luck!
Hello,
I have a 2 channel set up running Monarchy Audio mono block amps powering home brew/usher driver speakers. I also have a separate pair of passive subs also built with usher drivers. I use an Emotiva XPA-200. Has 150 watts per channel at 8 ohms which is way more than enough power for my system. At $500 new, shipped with warranty it's a great value. Has RCA and XLR connectors. I also use the Emotiva Control Freak to dial in the gain since the sensitivity is a bit different versus the Monarchy amps. There are certainly more refined amps but I think the differences are more apparent in the mids, highs when compared to better amps. The XPA-200 is solid performer especially for bass.
Best of luck!!!
Pdspecl, Thanks for your input. I am hoping for something around 500 wpc, minimum 300 wpc, and digital. After posting this thread I found Class D Audio (http://classdaudio.com/audio-amplifiers.html). They seem to make quality stuff, powerful, good reviews, and at a reasonable price. If anyone has had experience with them, or any other affordable high-powered class D amp I like to hear about it.
Look at the Crown XLS Series - very powerful, built-in crossovers, cool running, great prices...

-RW-