Interim SS Amp - Likely Candidates?

An audio friend just recommended the Benchmark AHB2- thoughts?

+1 Parasound A21+ or the A23+, depending how much power you need. 

Brand new ones in silver are on sale from Parasound for 30% off. 

One or two baby Schiit amps.

https://www.schiit.com/products/gjallarhorn-f

Do not laugh. Purchase a 2nd hand Nuforce STA200. Cheap and musical....

@norust your friend likes you. Get the AHB2

Many love the Benchmark and many dislike it ... better listen first ...not sure the Parasounds are either smaller or cooler than the First Watt ...I had the F7 and the A21, but not at the same time

Or find a pair and use them to passively vertical bi-amp your Razz. A great alternative to what everyone is suggesting, and preferable, ime. My best, MrD. 

I have owned the Parsound A21+ and liked it though I thought it was a little thick. A good amp for a bright speaker.

My recommendation is the Schitt Wotan at $2k. I consider it as good as a couple of $8k SS amps I owned in the past. The Wotan has tremendous bass like the A21+, it is much cleaner on top.

It does need about 2 months of heavy play for the top end gremlins to completely go away. I have listened to this amp with the Yggi+ LIM | MIB | OG on Magnepan Mini speakers. 

BTW - over the past decade I have bought and sold the AHB2 about 6 times. I was doing a lot of audio swapping then. The AHB2 was replaced by the Wotan because the AHB2 is not great with Maggies. The AHB2 is a bit cleaner on top over the Wotan, but that is usually the case for ALL amps compared with the AHB2. The Wotan has a lot more power and grunt that the AHB2 cannot deliver. I love the AHB2 since it is such a unique sounding amp. 

Fosi V3 with the 48 volt 10 amp power supply - about $110. Why spend thousands for an interim amp?

I haven’t tired one of these yet but I’ve watched and read a lot of reviews about the Harman Kardon 930 Twin Power receiver. There’s a complete one with the box available on Ebay right now that fits your budget range.

I’m going to be putting a HK 930 into my 2nd system when it’s reconditioning is complete. I had been using a Scott A 436 integrated but there wasn’t enough power for the Infinity RS4b speakers which can dig down to the 4 ohm range.

Musical Fidelity A1

https://www.stereophile.com/content/musical-fidelity-a1-integrated-amplifier

Schiit Tyr Mono's $1599 each

Mike

Van Alstine comes to mind:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650216457-van-alstine-set-120/

The Schitt Tyr are more polite than the Wotan I mentioned. This was from Jason Stoddard the designer. The Tyr are on clearance now and will be replaced by a new more expensive replacement that has some of the Wotan's designs. The new Tyr should be the top of the line.

For value and quality, the best used Moon amp you can get for your budget.  Consistent resale value.  To me, more engaging than the Parasound.  I have had both.  The Moon 340i, one of their basic integrated amps, is a fine stand in, and holds its own against many things more expensive.  More life and breath than many.  And they get better as you go up or with separate amp or monos.

Why not a Modwright amp?  I LOVE Dan’s gear!

https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=modwright+amplifier

The Topping B200's have gotten great reviews.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-b200-monoblock-amplifier-review.61206/

Another vote for Benchmark AHB2.  I bought it for an interim amp and it was so good I kept it.

@jasonbourne71 -- I find your replies on this Forum to be very refreshing.  You consistently make sane and reasonable comments, and seem to always strive for value.

I agree with you 100% on this Forum Question.  Unless you start your campfires with $20 bills, why on Earth would you spend $3,000 on an "interim" piece of gear?  In my humble opinion, unless you can flip it and get your money back, that is a waste of money that could be used elsewhere.  There are too many very good budget amps available such as the Fosi you mentioned and ANY amp from Schiit Audio.  Usually, Schiit Audio has great deals on B-Stock gear on their website.

One question I did not see addressed: How long is the "interim" period shaping up to be?  3 months?  6 months?  1 year?  The answer would drive what I would want to spend.  Good luck, @norust!

Yes the fosi mono blocks with the 48 volt gan power supply 89$ is a bang for the buck.enjoy the search

Go with Orchard Audio. 

Go for a used Benchmark AHB2 you will not regret it especially with the LS 99.

A21+
just look at US Audio Mart

They rarely come up for sale used

Thats because people who own them 

keep them

Good luck

Solid input all around.  @yyzsantabarbara @ditusa - appreciate you reminding me of Schitt as I didn't think to consider them which is an oversight as I love the Yggy LIM DAC. I will check out the Wotan & Tyr!  @allenf1963 - my "interim" system may be in place for a year.  I don't consider that I will be starting campfires with $20 bills on my amp spend as I will move it at a later date to a second system in the lower level.  However, as I noted above I do need to consider the Schitt amps in my thinking and am certainly open to @jasonbourne71 suggestion of the Fossi which I admit I know nothing about.  For the price of one or 2X monos I certainly could throw a few $20's on the campfire to see how they might play in my system.  Still open to the other suggestions and thanks to all.  

Looking at what New Record Day did with Jay using a Douk amp with upgraded Staccato op amps pretty much convinced me to explore the world of Class D amplifiers. 

Exploring Class D sounds like it checks all your boxes.  Many Class D come in smaller forms, produce way less heat.  There are some great options for newer designed class D amps that address stereotypical issues / sound signatures associated with Class D.  Peach Tree, Orchard, Schiit, NAD, PS Audio, Atmoshphere and many.  They would check all your boxes and allow you to explore something outside low watt class A. 

@norust -- Keep us informed on your decision!  I was just joking with my comment about the campfire, I’m glad you weren’t offended.  A year is definitely a long time -- I thought you were talking about 3 or 4 months.  It makes sense to get an amp that you can use in your main system, then move to a secondary system.  I would definitely look at Schiit Audio. 

Sonic bargain- Odyssey Amps

@kennyc nailed it!

https://odysseyaudio.com/#

@kennyc ​​@blackbag20  Great suggestion.  I had not heard of Odyssey audio prior to your post.  Just checked them out and certainly they check a number of boxes.  Appreciate you steering me in their direction.  @allenf1963 I know you were joking and appreciated your thoughtful comments

PSAudio S300. Light and surprisingly good for the money. I got a 1 yr old one from The Music Room to be a backup to my ARC Classic 60. Different strengths but really nice change of pace. PS Audio often has factory reconditioned ones as they take trade ins.

PSAudio S300. Light and surprisingly good for the money. I got a 1 yr old one from The Music Room to be a backup to my ARC Classic 60. Different strengths but really nice change of pace. PS Audio often has factory reconditioned ones as they take trade ins.

+1 on Moon. The 330A is right in your price range (used), is very space conscious, runs cool & sounds great. 

I had a really bad experience with Odyssey Audio honoring their satisfaction guarantee, When the guy learned I wanted to return the item he became belligerent and it turned out to be the worst experience I’ve had in my 20 years of purchasing many dozens of components. Actually, it ranked up there with the worst customer service experiences of my life. Despite getting a refund eventually, I still lost a good chunk of money when all was said and done. 

The aforementioned Benchmark is a good amp, but I prefer the original Parasound A21. The Parasound is warmer sounding but significantly more effortless in its delivery. Perhaps I would prefer monoblock AHB2s to the single Parasound, but that would cost about 3X the money. FWIW, the original A21 sounds better than the 21+ and cost about half as much on the used market. Both amps run barely warm to the touch because of their large heat sinks. 

As for Bel Canto, I recency had their e1X amp in house for demo. It was very disappointing, even for class D. I much preferred the Axxess Forté1 integrated in an A/B comparison. 

The NuForce STA is a great recommendation. It’s essentially a Goldmund amp for a bargain price. 
 

In that price range …for me it’s easy a Musical Fidelity M6Si or m5si or a Hegel H 390 or 590.  And they’re so good it could remain as your main amp. 

Helomech wrote::

When the guy learned I wanted to return the item he became belligerent and it turned out to be the worst experience I’ve had in my 20 years of purchasing many dozens of components. Actually, it ranked up there with the worst customer service experiences of my life. Despite getting a refund eventually, I still lost a good chunk of money when all was said and done. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

In the past I have let posts like this go, but it is so easy for anybody who doesn't know me or Odyssey to read an uncontested negative post and form an opinion about that particular product, be it Odyssey or company XYZ....so, I am monitoring more closely and try to put comments in perspective on this oh so anonymous internet:

Well, you're posting this again, and I still have no idea as to who you are...

Over the past 25 years I have hand made and sold an average of over 400 units / year myself.

Well over 8 K + customers when everything is said and done. Hundreds and hundreds of customers who I have helped out in one way or the other..........why ?? Because I pride myself on being a good guy who is taking care o his customers, (ask any of the THOUSANDS of happy customers) but I can also be irritated and don't take crap from anyone....So, not knowing who you are there definitely is a reason why I behaved the way I behaved....And believe me, I probably have to say the same thing about worst experience in my audio life

We have on average 1-3 returns a year for various reasons. And yes, if you buy an Odyssey from me and return it then you will have to cover expenses, such as cc and shipping. I don't have a restocking fee and I don't make profits of that process.

Been on the road, so late to the party.  Seems like a great opportunity to check out class D.  The Orchard amps you listed look intriguing.  If you go that route, please let us know how they compare to the F8!

Schiit Aegir 2 Monoblocks - should provide plenty of power for the Razz.

Well,  again,  who are you ???????

If I behave like a manchild,  (and yes,  I am aware that I have  behaved this way in the past)  then there's a reason for that........as for cc charges, we changed cc companies in the past year or so because the fees went up wayyy to high.   BUT  every time I run your card one way or the other it cost me (and ultimately you)  a minimum of 4.8 % ........

 Here are Couple of  Ideas:: get a good budget GaN amp that you can connect directly to your streamer (if it has a volume control) .  Starkrimson, LAIV mono 's  , Class D audio GaN amps,etc  but something fairly  reasonable $ , small in sized, and new tech.. One of the  youtube reviewers, I think it was Steve Guttenberg, was comparing a 400 WPC GaN amp with .what was either a Class A or tube  amp on some big K horns. But if you got to have class A I have a  big  integrated  class A (about 80lbs)  I let go for $700 (Jungson Ja88 d luxury)  Shameless plug but the shipped would be $$$  so probably not,

OR really good "all in one" unit that you can use later for a bedroom etc 

I never managed to hear the bel canto 500Ms (not for lack of trying on the sparse used market)--but I did find a cherry pair of 600Ms. The main difference between them is that the 500Ms feature an older class D amp module, ICEPower vs the 600Ms using NCore.

More important the class D module used is the input stage and overall design & construction. I can only say good things about my 600Ms. They have a beautifully clear, but not at all sterile or edgy sound. They’re easily the best SS amps I’ve ever heard.

But ICEPower can be very nice, too. My first class d amp was the Wyred 4 Sound ST-500, a stereo amp based on an ICEPower module. It has a wonderfully musical sound. I kept it as a backup; it was so good to me for 3-4 years.

I’m guessing the bc 500Ms & W4S ST-500 would be roughtly equal in how hard or reasy they are to find used. You can’t go wrong with either IMHO.

I am appreciative of all the thoughtful suggestions and continuing to gain additional knowledge that helps narrow down my decision - definitely leaning to trying the Class D route at this point.  There are some solid options out there in my price range and the smaller footprint and lack of heat make it attractive.  

  GaN class D amps  ANK or Class D Audio,, et. al.  would give you a small  form factor, very reasonable $$, new tech to compare with your Pass amp and  a big thumps up on Odyssey Audio fine amps. several friends have these  and I have several hours at THE Show in their room. I was going to pull the trigger on an amp preamp amp but my cancer got the money. Sorry Klaus,, I should have got the Odyssey system.

or an god all in one unit that you can put in the bedroom etc. like the  Advance Paris A10  

Have fun and happy listening

@kim108  your input & thumbs up on Odyssey is duly noted! Thanks... Interesting you mention Advance Paris as I did run across one of their used X-A160 power amps.  I am not at all familiar with Advance Paris as a brand so will do a deeper dive.  Sorry to hear about your cancer but it seems your sense of humor is doing great!