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In addition to considering the various Rotel, B&K, etc., choices, you might also want to look at:
1. Outlaw 5-channel amp (direct from manufacturer -- $1100);
2. Adcom 5500 (2-channel, 200 wpc) and 5503 (3-channel, 200 wpc) combo (can be bought used for about $1500 for both);
3. Bryston 9B-ST (5 channels, 120 wpc) -- about $2800 discounted. (If you prefer a 2-chassis arrangement, then Bryston also offers 2 combos: a. 3B-ST, paired with 5B-ST (both have 120 wpc); or b. 4B-ST, paired with 6B-ST (both have 250 wpc). |
That's a bit like asking "what car should I drive", many brands will work well. What size is the room? Will this set up double as a stereo system? What sort of music do you like? What about the pre-pro?(it should be well matched to the amp). What price range? Give me a bit more to go on, and I'll be glad to offer any advice I can Rowidick. |
That's a bit like asking "what car should I drive", many
brands will work well. What size is the room? Will this set up double as a stereo system? What sort of music do you like? What about the pre-pro, it should be well matched to the amp? What price range? Give me a bit more to go on, and I'll be glad to offer any advice I can Rowidick. |
I am using a BK AV5000II and have been very happy with it. |
Email me privately.I have some suggestions for you. |
ROWIDICK : SHERBOURN 5/1500 5 x 200 MONO AMPS IN ONE CHASIS , RETAILS FOR ONLY $2000. OWNER IS FROM MCINTOSH. |
Harmon Kardon Signiture 5.0 (5x1oo)for apx 1000 or less is a sweet sweet amp that will last well beyond the 5 year warranty. Only downside it is not bridgable like the 4 channel Citation amps. Bryston,carver, b&k,adcom,shelborne are all good choices and 'sound'(ie amplify without audible distortion) virtually identical and are rather indistinguisable from one another. |
Which NHT's? Will make a big difference if it's Super Ones or 3.3s. |
For a smooth topend, the Classe cav75 or better Classe cav150. The cav150 is a great sounding amp for both music/video. The 75 or 150 will blow that Marantz away! |
I use a Krell KAV-1500, which is 5x300watts/channel. It is a bit pricy. However, it is probably the best sounding multichannel amp I have heard/used.
If you don't mind buying a used amp, a Krell KAV-500 is a great amp at 5x100watts/channel. A used one sells for around $1,800 to $2,500. You might want to give it a try.
Another great multi-channel amp that I like for price/value is Bryston 9B-ST, a 5x120watts/channel. Someone in this thread has already suggested to you.
Lastly, this is probably one of the great kept secrets. You might want to look at a JBL Synthesis 650 amp. It is the same exact amp as the Bryston 9B-ST, except under a JBL label. Bryston makes this amp for JBL under its high-end Synthesis home theater systems. I have seen a used one a couple of times within the past month on eBay and Audiogon sell for around $700 to $750 -- way underpriced in my view because of its JBL label. |
Hi Rowidick,
I am auditioning for a pre/pro/amp comb for my NHT HT setup as well. Which pre/pro are you using with the NHTs? |
If you can find it discounted, the Musical Fidelity HT600 can easily withstand comparison to Classe or Krell. |
McCormack was coming out with a 5-channel amp, but I'm not sure it's out yet. If it's out it'll probably give just about anything in the price range a run for the money and it should work wonders with your NHTs. Best of luck.
Tim |
You must check out the ATI 1505. These are great amps. I own two of them. Pure, clean power. And Mike Pontelle at
ATI will personally answer any quwstions. I think the
ATI 1505 retails for about $1700, but they pop up in
classifieds here for around $1200. Good luck !
Note: the ATI multi-channel amps all are bridgeable, so
if you tire of HT and want to push 450 watts into your
mains, just move the banana jacks and flick a switch and
you will be taken into another dimension !
Tom
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I used to have NHT speakers in my HT system - 2.9's up front with the AC-1. I always found them revealing as opposed to necessarily bright. Unforgiving. Anyway, I drove them with the Krell KAV-500. Absolutely excellent performance for movies, pretty darn good for music. If you want a warmer sound, you might check out the Proceed Amp5 (or the Amp2 plus an Amp3). There are some great deals lately on the KAV-500 used, but both of these are more expensive options than some that have been suggested. -Kirk |
I have a carver 705 x 5 channel 125 watt amp. It was reviewed in SGHT. It is worth looking for used. New it was only about $1200-1500. It has great bass and a nice top end. Sounds better than a lot of $2000+ audiophile amps that I have heard. By the way (to give you some perspective on me for reference)I am a B&W man and I hate dry sounding anything. Give me warmth and tonality any day of the week and I'll worry about the soundstage later. |
I'm using an MCA 5 with ML Aerius i's, Cinema and Magnepan MGAII's for surrounds, and the thing never runs out of gas on even demanding HT sources with these difficult loads. Friends with the "big names" are always surprised at the clean articulate sound of the unit, particularly on 2 channel. Bang for the buck - go with the MCA 5. |
