New Amp help/recomendations?


Hoping some can share experience on this topic. My current amp (ARC Ref 75) while I love the sound is not powerful enough to drive my new speakers - 89db/4Ohm Sonus Fabers. I mean volume is there, but soundstage a bit collapsed, Dynamics a little flat and bass missing oomph speakers are more cabable of.
Amps I am targeting - through lots of reading and research, since I can't get out to listen - are the following:
PSA BHK 300's, Krell 300XD, Theta Promethius, Pass Labs 250.8, Modwright 150se,
Thanks for input/help here.

mmj

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

Not at all. Watts don't work the way most think. There's many reasons this is so, but unfortunately the minute you delve into them it only riles up the technobabblers and away we go down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. When the only thing that matters is how it sounds, and the reality is there's amps that sound way more powerful than mere RMS watts would lead you to believe. 

Those speakers you have are pretty close in efficiency to my Talon Khorus, which I have driven plenty loud in my rather large room with two different tube amps, 50 and 60 watts. Both of which drove them slightly less authority than a 150wpc McCormack DNA1, not exactly a slouch SS amp. Watts just aren't all they're cracked up to be.
Its not the power. Its the amp. Try a Raven Reflection MkII, you will have no complaints, dynamics, stage, or otherwise. Probably you will have money left over after selling the preamp, IC and power cord you no longer need, and will have no complaints about that either. Spend that money on a DBA and not only will you have no complaints you will have better bass than ever. All without spending a dime.