Need Amp recommendation

Parasound A21 For sure. 

I've narrowed my "choices" down to two amps......

I would go with the John Curl touch if it ain't really old.

What is the price for each? How old?  

Thanks all for your great advice and especially your understanding of my need to stay within a budget (realizing this greatly impacts overall system quality). Based on advice here and via PMs, etc., I've narrowed my "choices" down to two amps, that are (a) available; (b) within my price range; (3) able to "do the job". I would greatly appreciate any feedback on these. Don't hold back :-)

1. Parasound A21 (not the A21+ although would love that one)

2. Rotel 1552 MKII - I get that these two are not necessarily in the same ballpark, but the Rotel is less than 1/2 the price, so the rookie question is, "is the A21 twice as good as the Rotel?"

I should ad that my music listening is predominately classic rock. Thanks again for your great, non-judgmental help. Cheers!

Van Alstine.

1500 is a good figure for the right amp (500 was unrealistic for anything of good quality)

much to choose from in the used market at that price level

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisae7hj-classe-audio-ca-101-solid-state << -- a good 'un, but given age you might have it checked out by a tech, still, it should come in under 1500 all in...

There is a GAS Son of Ampzilla for sale on US Audiomart. I have been involved in high end audio for over 40 years and started off with a Son of Ampzilla and Maggie SMGa speakers. While I have had some 30-odd amps through the years, I held onto the Son. It has an entertainment factor other amps just seemed to miss. I have used it with other Maggies from SMGa's, MMG's, 1.4's, 1.6's, and 3.6's. It always handled the Maggies very well. 

I had a reference mod performed on it by Mike Bettinger with GAS Audio, formerly GASWorks. I am currently using it on Wilson Audio SabrinaX's and just love it. I have auditioned it against a Gryphon Diablo 120. While the Diablo did have aspects that were better, it wasn't enough at all for me to walk away from the Son. The Son held it's own in that one too and proved again it is a great value.

The nice thing about the Son for sale on US Audiomart is it is in great condition and has a basic mod performed by GASWorks to boot. I should think it would check off all the boxes in your search criteria, especially for the asking price of $750. I do not know the seller, and that being the case, do not represent him.

Good luck.

Check out emotiva spend around $900  a lot of amp for the $$.

Smart move to up budget. If it was me and I owned the Rogue I would find a warm tube like solid state that has high current that doubles between 4 and 8 ohms.
 

The Rogue is not a lush tube preamp but when matched with a warm side of neutral amp it work very well.

Since you upped budget use a little money and upgrade the rubes in the Rogue if it if it hasn’t been done you will be rewarded.

Do a little research and find a amp that sells fairly quick if you want to try others and never loose a dime. Usually the ones that sell quick do so for a reason. 

Peachtree over on TMR as well

Topping PA5 for $349! Placed second to the Benchmark AHB2 at $3500! 48/83 wpc at 8/4 ohms - 0.1% distortion. Over 110 wpc at 1% distortion. Why pay more. The PA5 is state-of-the-art Class D! Don't be fooled by the low price! 

If you are ok with Class D there are some good options. Personally I think Tube pre and modern class D implementations are a nice combo.  I ran a Rogue RP-1/S300 combo for years and enjoyed it very much.

PS Audio S300 (used)

W4S (new)

You have spoken and I have listened… I am upping my budget to 1500.

Steve's DNA amps are the best solid state I have heard. Had one myself years ago, very nearly as good as tubes. Very close. Might be a stretch and hard to find but when you consider how they hold their value it is practically like getting a free amp.

If you can stretch a little find and good deal on a McCormack dna-1. I had a Rouge 99 magnum paired with a DNA-1 rev A 15 years ago and to this day still miss that combo ran it with some Vandersteens. Something about that the Rouge matched with the warm midrange of the DNA-1 worked. I used 2 Ken rads and 2 gray glass rca’s and it was very transparent and musical, that pre and amp had very good synergy. If you do get a McCormack ask seller to take picture of inside of amp and send it to McCormack and make sure is has the more current board so it’s more trouble free. McCormack answers the phone and will be glad to help. I’ve seen them still asking $1000 you may be able to pick one up for $800 maybe low if the ready to sell.

There is a B&K 4420 amp listed on US Audio Mart right now for $500. 225 wpc @ 8/350 wpc @4.

That is a good deal, looks good, and I think B&K are really nice ‘sweet’ sounding amps. Wish I had kept mine as a back-up for my old Belles 400A.

Nothing close in that range......800 bucks might get you in to a used odyssey stratos extreme which will drive them if you are lucky enought to find one. I have one sitting in the closet as a back up. They put out 300 w per channel into 4 Ohms.

Used it to drive 1.7 for a year while I saved up the cash for the new amp I wanted.(Bryston 4B3)

Cheers.

Wendell prefers Bryston 

$500 or under will be tough. If you are patient and willing to stretch just a little, the Parasound A23 can be found for $600 or so. 

An Aragon 2004 will drive them just fine and can be had at your budget if you are patient as well. The issue with them is they are getting a little long in the tooth. 

I would immediately think used Rotel as a budget option. Not sure it is likely to get a better option in that price range.

Maggies NEED power, around 250wpc for most people. Not sure there are any good amps in your price range. You don't want to put a cheap amp on Magnepans.