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Best amp match for Paradigm Studio 100s

Thinking of the following: Anthem MCA-2 - good reviews, inexpensive Bryston 4B-ST - good reviews, a lot more expensive than the Anthem, Is there that much of a difference between these two?? Any other suggestions are welcome. Not too concerned about the cost, but don't want to spend if I don't have to. Thanks
miked
lhk_audio
2 posts
 
Please take a look at the new Llano Hybrid Class A Amps 200w/ch 2995.00 See them at LHK AUDIO in Showcase Dealers.
bulldogger
274 posts
 
The best deal you can make would be to purchase an Aragon 8002 which produces 250 watts into 4 ohms. You are probabely famililar with the larger Aragon 8008. You can find these amps used for around 800.00. They are built like tanks and actually sound better than the 8008 being more transparent with a better balance between highs and lows. I have auditioned a great number of amps and this one is one of the true values that is often overlooked. It should be more than enough power to drive your speakers. The bass is outstanding and it is a very dynamic amp. I am sure many here can recommend much more expensive amps but most will not outperform that amp, and the Anthem certainly does not have the build quality or sound of the 8002. Both the Bryston amps and Aragon will outperform the Anthem. The differences are mainly in the tightness and control of the bass and transparency in the mid-range.
dpaulin26e2
1 posts
 
If you are going to use it for 5 channel, the Carver 705x THX is an excellent amp was $1300 retail and can be had for about $600 used. If you want any better go to the Rotel 1095, B&K 7250, or Parasound 2205. These are all 5 channel amps and a slight improvement over the 705.
jschrimpf
32 posts
 
You may wish to check out the Marsh amps. marshsounddesign.com
alberta_steve's avatar
alberta_steve
53 posts
 
Miked. I have a pair a paradigm ref studio 80s and currently use an MCA 2. There are lots of better amps out there but there is a synergy in this combo. Paradigm bought Sonic Frontiers before the MCA2 was designed and Im going to guess, and its just a guess ,that the mca series was designed for the reference series speakers. My mca 2 will be going to the TV room, as i call it,it the spring in an mca 3 version. So in the meantime Im looking at an Anthem amp 2 and a Volks amp. But thats 2 and 1/2 times the money the next step up. Im going to listen this wednesday to the volksamp/Anthem combo. will let yo know. Mean time Im very very happy with Mca2 and Paradigm pair. Che2rs steve
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