2. amps-preamps
  3. 131712-103828

Picking an amplifier

I have the following speakers:
NHT 2.1 Front LR 200W @ 6ohms
NHT AC1 Center 150W @ 8 ohms
NHT SW2 Subwoofer 200W @ 8 ohms
The rear speakers are inconsequential (and boxed up) they might come out to play when I move to bigger digs.
I’ve been using NHTs 214s and 216s, (think lightbulbs) but the market is drying up. I remain unconvinced they are worth the shipping & costs to repair.
My (current) short list of replacement amps:
Outlaw Audio model 770 7 (7 channels)
Bryston 9B ST (5 channels) (2 years left on warranty)
Parasound 5125 (5 channels)
The budget is $1000, I have located sources for all three at or below $1000.
Any/all discussion of suitability, repair outlook, and peanut shells welcome. From a listening perspective, I've been fine with the NADs, but am priced out of the newer models. Nuts, I might even repair the NADs if I find the right person with the skills & tools.

shalmaneser

Showing 3 responses by knownothing

knownothing
1,655 posts
 
Shalmaeser, I would try this before dropping big $ on an optical cable.  I think the optical converters on both sides usually don't merit the added expense of a fancy optical cable compared with coax cables.  This inexpensive cable is all glass and works very well in my experience, better than much more expensive synthetic fiber cables.

http://www.uniqueproductsonline.com/gltodiopca.html
knownothing
1,655 posts
 
Wow auxinput, this was a really interesting description of the differences between 2 and multi-channel inputs via coax and HDMI.  I have an Arcam receiver that does really well with either analog inputs or HDMI hires from Bluray.  My transport has the option to output "raw bitstream" or "PCM" data, and I have a very clear preference for raw bitstream.  But the 2channel Redbook output to the DACs in the Arcam via HDMI sounds much less engaging than Bluray through HDMI or 2channel redbook out to external DAC via optical cable and back into the Arcam via analog Interconnect.  I couldn't figure out why the character of the sound of the same DACs in the receiver was SO different between low and hi res recordings, and why the same redbook recordings (from the same transport!) sounded so different between the receiver's built in DACs and the external DAC.  The character of the external DAC for all resolutions and sources (CDs/optical, Tidal or JRiver/USB) of material was closer to the very fine sound of Bluray recordings processed by the Arcam receiver.  Redbook content via HDMI just sounded flat or compressed compared to Redbook via optical.  I attributed this to the DACs in the Arcam being optimized for higher res source material, but now I am not so sure it isn't the HDMI interface.
knownothing
1,655 posts
 
Shalmaeser, I am assuming you are questioning how Tidal could sound similar to Bluray (or 24/196 files)?  I will try to clarify.  Hi Res material generally sounds better from both multichannel Bluray (HDMI) and Hi Res 2 channel FLAC or AIFF formats (USB), but the general overall character of the sound of Redbook (CD/toslink or files/USB) or "HIFI" quality Tidal streaming source material (USB) is closer to Hi Res sources compared to Redbook from CDs via HDMI in my system.  Make sense?  I find Tidal can sound pretty good.  Clearly better than MP4 or Similar, if not quite as good as Redbook from CD of files for the same content.
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