2. amps-preamps
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Picking a power amp

Hi folks,

I'am trying to pick a power amp for a modest system(15,000)

My listening area is 12x20.

I have a MX110z tuner preamp,and a Adcom 545 100wt per channel power amp now.

I just got a Auralic Vega g1 and it sounds great to me.

I'am using tidal to the the streamer and like it a lot.

It is time to pick a power amp or speakers.

I currently have 25 year old Polk m10's and since getting the auralic,I'am fairly surprised how much better they sound.

I don't know whether to get speakers or a amp next,to get to the next level.

Amps I'am considering are Mac 225,240,275 if tube or Mac 7270 or 2205 SS.

I'am also considering AR,and CJ if I could find something 2,000-5,000

For speakers I was thinking Klipsch for tube amp or Sonus Faber if SS,if I can find a model that can do rock and used under 5,000.

I listen to 40% rock 40% pop,blues,soul 20% classical,jazz.

Any thoughts on where to go next.

Thanks

 

twangy57
tomcarr
1,611 posts
 

Speakers first.

It should be obvious by now.

Speakers first.

You won't regret it.

tomcarr
1,611 posts
 

+1 @jallan ATC and Schiit yes!

rubicon15
121 posts
 

I agree, if you’re replacing the amp and speakers at the same time, most people prefer to select or determine their top 1-3 speakers before purchasing an amp. However, if you’re interested in a tube amp like CJ or MAC, it may influence your speaker selection to some degree. Specifically, how much power is needed to drive the speakers and possibly that “tube” sound impacting the sonic characteristics of the speakers. Just keep this in mind when you audition speakers. 

Since you mentioned CJ, a used Classic 60SE or new Classic 62SE is a great place to start. They offer that classic CJ sound at a lower price point. If you need more power, you could consider the 100 watt Classic. Hope this helps. Enjoy the journey. 

sbrownnw
716 posts
 

I have an audio refinement pre and amp you might be interested in as I replaced them with an Atoll IN200 evo integrated amp.  Both are quite impressive sounding.  I use them with ProAc Studio 148 towers, which were basically replaced by the ProAc DT8.  The Atoll IN200 evo is one of the few integrated amps that still offers a tape monitor loop feature to run room processing and / or an equalizer.  

devinplombier
505 posts
 

The Adcom power amp sounds ok,but it seems to get thinner as the volume go’s up.

The bass seems weird,I don’t know if it’s the amp or speakers.Some songs I know have a lot of bass seems to be lacking in bass.

@twangy57 

It’s the amp.

the last thing I want to do is drive into Chicago to shop speakers.

I think I will just get what I know I like and go from there.

I like the Klipsch chorus 2’s and Forte 4’s.

So I going to shop for a pair of them.

There’s nothing wrong going for what you know you like. In fact it saves a lot of time and eliminates a lot of uncertainty and hand-wringing.

I also want to keep looking at the Sonus Faber’s,I know some of them require a lot of amp.

With rare exceptions, all speakers like "a lot of amp", whether or not they actually require it.

For speakers I was thinking Klipsch for tube amp or Sonus Faber if SS

I’m not too familiar with either brand of speakers to be honest, but shouldn’t it be the other way around? Tube with SF and SS with Klipsch? And of course always pick speakers first, then find amps that make them happy. Good luck!

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