Class A amplifier alternative?
Hi everyone,
I am looking for an amp with about 200-300 watt/8ohm/channel for my speakers. People say that Class A is the best to have. However, with this power, Class A amp would be super heavy (for me) The amp at this power is usually 100 lbs or higher. I wonder if there is any other solution here that doesn't compromise the sound quality? My budget is $3000 (used items).
Just FYI, I once tried class D but the sound is very clinical, thin and sterile in my system.
Thank you!
Huy
Well I suppose if your looking for a full time heater Class A is the way to go..
How about a Parasound do a little research pick one of their modles and be happy. It's a Class AB I'm sure, a reasonably priced product that sound really good 3K shouldn't be a problem..
The right class D makes the difference.. The question is the cost.. I used Nord One Ups.. I'm quit happy for the the 4 month a year I run them..(Summer)
Regards |
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The Legacy i.V2 amp may come up for sale used or perhaps you can find a great deal on a new one. "The i.V Ultra amplifier has handily outdone all other amps reviewed, regardless of genre, which is unprecedented. I invite the community to peruse the entire listing of amps I have reviewed from the past 14 years; there is not a one of them, not a single one, that I would prefer to be hearing. It’s not just a matter of being somewhat better, or in some respects having advantage, but rather a wholesale superior experience." |
@atmasphere You are right, I should have tried a few more before making the conclusion. Do you have any suggestion on Class D amps that have a warm and relaxed sound signature? |
The new GaN Class D amps are all the rage and have the power you desire. I just ordeed a Mini GaN 5 Balanced Power Amplifier from Class D Audio to expierament with. I am a tube guy but hell for $750.00 and if I dont care for it I will dump it, return it what ever. Helping a small US Manufaturer without a cult follwing.
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As always, I agree with Ralph. I can understand modern feelings about class D. Most of us have had nothing but bad experiences. About ten years ago, one of the first class D mega threads (might have been Audio Circle, not sure), was something like, "Tried this class D amp and sold my $20k tube monos." So I thought, why not try it and built the kit ("from a small US Manufaturer without a cult follwing") with all my favorite tweaks and upgrades. Horrible right off the bat. Hmmm, must need more break-in. Long story short, 1000 hours later, I thought something must be broken. Contacted the designer and we determined that the amp was working properly. Kind of like the first CD players. I could never sell it in good conscience, still sitting on a shelf. Nice PS and chassis though; I might stick one of the latest modules inside and try again. Just about every year or two since, another "best amp I ever heard, tubes and transistors are obsolete, blah, blah, blah". Of course, again, over time, not acceptable. Always some grating, annoying subtlety. I think there have been some major breakthroughts in the last year or so. I posted the two recent reviews of the Legacy i.Vx Ultra series just as a baseline. With everything else in audio, you must audtion in your home with your speakers using a well broke- in dealer loaner or have a good refund policy with mail order. With all that said, I think many of the negative comments regarding these modern class D designs implemented well (really good power supplies, excellent noise and grounding techniques, etc) are folks that simply didn't put enough hours on the amp to make an accurate assessment. Or the typical Audiogon types with countless comments of gear they have not heard... Finally, I have no skin in this game. Whatever technology sounds best, I'll take. Wouldn't it be wonderful if inexpensive, cool running, energy efficient amps of whatever technology one day replace the big, hot, uber expensive +$50k mega-amps.
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My Herron Audio monoblocks had to go back to Keith for some service and updates and I picked up a pair of used PS Audio Stellar M700 monoblocks to hold me over. I was not expecting them to be as good as my Herron M1s or the Rogue Audio M180 tube monoblocks I had before, but... they are really good. They're dynamic, detailed, but a little on the warmish side of neutral. No rolled off top end or harshness that are some of the things people commonly complain about with Class D amps. They are supposed to be "voiced" to sound like tube amps, and I think they've come close to that goal. You can find a pair in your price range. There are a lot of options in your price range, especially used. Someone has a Parasound A21 listed, that might be worth a look. |
@mglik do you have link to Atma-Sphere Class D mono blocks? I googled but couldn't find. Thank you. |
Not sure what speakers you have. IN building 40wpc Class A mono block amps we recently had a friend bring over his Mola-Mola mono blocks $16K retail with a ton of wpc. After swapping them out, he asked us why to the Class A amps sound more powerful. So unless you really need 200wpc a good class A will perform. But like already mentioned, nothing I know for $3K!
Happy Listening. |
Used quality amps are something to consider but beware once you start getting over 15 years or so the capacitors start drying out ,especially output caps , rebuilding too can give you are great amp like the Older Threshold Stasis class A amps for example , BAT, Classe, Coda ,Bryston ,Mark Levinson made in North America check both Audiogon, as well as U.S audio mart. |
I just had a really good outcome with running my Cambridge Audio Azure 851w's (A/B) in a Bi-amp dual mono setting (200/350) and you could go bridged mono blocks (500/800), though I hear the 800w is generous. Best part is you can find them for $700-900 each used and weigh 40lbs each (80lbs still kinda heavy). Extremely happy with them and I'm not even pushing their power or my wallet! Happy hunting! |
Depending on the efficiency of your speakers, that much power is a waste of electricity. Especially in class A which runs at full power regardless of volume level. (Hence the extreme heat) A 90 Db efficient speaker will play at shouting levels with a 1 watt input from 1 meter! To fill a LARGE room, 40 watts would do it. I understand that we want what we want. I'm currently running a Rogue Audio Dragon amp (300/500 watts) My Tekton DI's are using a fraction of the power with no sterile or thin sound at all. Matching your components is key. It can be frustrating, and expensive! I hope this helps and that you find the sound that you're looking for! |
Class a/ab run from,D.
,,look for a used McCormack, sanders, Sunfire 300 (class h) will destroy a class d amp. Check the gon for a good amp. be weary of fleabay, unless 100% feedback, lots morons on fleabay. usaudio,art, Agon, lots used audio dealers, call them, i would drive 2 hours for a good amp. Plus the amp will not endure shipping rattle, dropped by the brainless eejits. if I had the coin, I would try the carver Raven 350s' |
I, too, needed a 300 Watt into 8 Ohm amp to drive my B&W 702 S2 speakers in a very large room. I was unwilling to buy a 100 pound, heat-radiating monster. I bought a used pair of Bel Canto e.one REF600M amplifiers ($3000) and a used Rogue RP-7 hybrid pre-amp ($3500). I am delighted with the setup. There is nothing thin, cold, or clinical about the sound. It’s warm, precise, and has an incredible soundstage. I auditioned it with a Bel Canto preamp, which I did not like nearly as much. The hybrid Rogue pre-amp with the class D monoblocks is a great combination. |
+1 on the Voyager GaN amp.
My previous class D was a EVS1200 which Ric Schultz builds them based on dual IcePower AS1200 modules. One of the reasons was I wanted a lot more power than I had with PS Audio M700s. I raved about the EVS 1200 for almost 2 years, but wanted to hear whether the GaN hype was real, so I ordered a LSA Voyager 350. Well, not only does it blow away the EVS 1200 in every imagineable way that audiophiles hold near and dear, it is considerably more powerful |
300 watts @ 8ohms. Seems to want heavy class A bias budget $3k What your describing will be a multiple of your budget There is stuff in the class AB range that is "rated" at that kind of power output but I cant recommend them. Heck even some AVRs will hit your 200watt and are easily in your price range but there is a lot more to amps than their power claims. You have to consider the quality of the watts. What speaker do you want to power? |
Ok stuff like your describing such as the x350.8 (among other similars) are indeed what he wants but way over budget The OP also has to keep in mind that the heavy amps also tend to be better. There is a reason they are so heavy Call me ignorant but if an amp is 25lbs or something like that i would automatically dismiss it. isolation is both heavy and expensive. Quality power supply is both heavy and expensive. Large custom toroidal transformers are heavy, and expensive. I can go on and on
I think your best bet is to keep it closer to 200watt @ 8 ohm and look in the $5-6k new department and hope to get 40-50% off in the used market |
I guess the obvious question, and the only way to be truly helpful is to ask what speakers are you running and what is your room like? Why do you need 2-300 class A watts into 8ohms? If it’s just to say "mine is bigger’ that's pretty much a waste of time and energy. Tell us more about your setup ad perhaps we can be more helpful? |
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