When to Amp it Up?


Just wondering what events led others on the forum to upgrade amps?

What was lacking in your set up, or did something new come out to peak your interest? Any and all stories are welcomed, and recommendation always!

My situation is I love my system, but I feel my amplification might be my weakest link. However I’m struggling to find what exactly I’d be looking for in upgrading? I feel my Bi-amped set up really sounds good, but am looking at more up market amps (Parasound JC5 vs McIntosh MC830 mono blocks). Is more power always better, and should your amp ever cost more then your speakers?

Current Amplification

Dual Cambridge Audio Azur 851w set to Bi-amped dual mono (200w/8o, 350w/4o)

Speakers

JBL L-100 Classic 75th Anniversary (4o)

128x128ja_kub_sz

Showing 1 response by boomerbillone

Hello, and Happy Holidays ja_kub_sz!  Your amps should be just fine! Don't buy more just for the sake of  "new stuff."  Some would think your speakers could be upgraded. Have you tried swtiching cables? You can try some out from Used Cables.com and send them back if they don't improve things. And they're already "broken in." Understand that to get louder, when you already have 200 wpc available, you'd need to go to 1Kw or so. 800 watts is only 6 db louder than 200, and your wife will chase you out of the house at around 500 anyway. Perhaps you live alone? Just kidding.

I was a cable skeptic until I started experimenting. You can make your own very nice speaker cables for less than a dollar a foot plus connectors ($25 or so for locking bananas). Spectacular cable will run you $11/ft or so. USB cables are critical! Contact me if you like. I'm tryng to start a Ventura County Audio Society in California and have DIY info on such things.  Enjoy the music.