Starting Over--Amp First


Starting my audio system over and I'd like some advise from you guys about amps. I.d like to buy an amp that will be OK for a future sort of lower High end system. Stuff like NAD, Rotel, Adcom, etc, not Levinsen, Pass, Krell. That said, I have a chance to get a Krell KSA-100 (100 watts/per pure class A) or a Conrad Johnson Motif (200 watts/channel, Or a McIntosh MC-2125 (120 watts/channel) All of these at about $1,200.00 or should I go with newer and more powerful: Adcom 5800 (250 watts/channel-all MOS-FET-Nelson Pass design) Older NAD 2700 Monitor series @ 150 watts /Channel--These others are significantly less expensive but are they good enough for a potentially "High End" TYPE of system.ALSO-I'M sticking with solid state--Been down the tube road with my guitar amps and don't want to repeat it----(Tubes DO sound "Sweeter" IMHO.

Thanks,

Steve
say811

Showing 4 responses by warrenh

IMHO: Speakers/source---Preamp----amp---power conditioner----cords---speaker cables
It is quite a mind, though. Speakers and source are no brainers for this 'phoolish brain as far as the embryonics of my rig. I'm not married to the which comes first chicken or the egg thing, regading amp and preamp, but speaker/source?-- for sure. OOPs, I forgot the ICs. I'd put them right after the source. Don't want to start my source behind the eight ball would you? Ah, a heavenly signal, now the journey to the speakers.
Mike IMHO (given your percentage measurement analysis)80% leaves a hellava lot of room for improvement for these ears. 20% of a million dollars is still, no matter how you look at it $200k. That is a lot of money to throw away. I'm guilty of these ridiculous percentage quotes myself. Don't know where I get them, but what I'm trying to say, IMHO, 80% of-- doesn't cut it for me...