Have the upgrade Bug again, Questions

[Cos]

I am moving into a larger home in July and want to upgrade my amps with a little more juice: My Home Theater will be moving from a medium sized room 18 x 18 to a basement which is larger, 26x22 approximately.

- I am going to move my HALO A52/A23 to secondary system (Bedroom moved to Family Room) Integra 30.5 has Pre outs


I am really leaning towards the HALO A51/A21 setup because I have been extremely happy with the sound quality.

The Question of the day is:

1. I can get a new A51 for around $3500
2. I can get a new A21 for around $2300

So looking at $5800 for my seven channel setup. Should I look at other amps at this price point, would I even notice a difference in sound if I did? I haven't seen a need to go more than 250W per channel, or do you think more juice is needed?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would get an ATI AT3007 for $3248 + s/h (on sale). Full MSRP is $6,000.

ATI AT3007 Seven Channel x 300 Watt Amplifier - B-Stock (120 V) - Amplifiers

The fully balanced ATI amp is essentially a Lexicon/ Mark Levinson/ Theta Digital/ Cary Audio, so it is extremely high quality.

 

[Cos]

Wow, that is a really great price. If I can just get over the handles in the front as I don't rack mount .

 

[Pyrrho]

Wow, that is a really great price. If I can just get over the handles in the front as I don't rack mount .

With something that heavy, you want a good way to grab onto it.

 

[RichB]

Wow, that is a really great price. If I can just get over the handles in the front as I don't rack mount .

Parasound puts them in the back where they belong (as he ducks, waiting for ATDG )



- Rich

 

[ImcLoud]

You can get a lot of stuff in that price range, Outlaws xmass sale gets you a marantz 7701 {$1700 pre/pro} with a outlaw 7900 {300x7}{$3500 amp) for $3999, Or for $3688 you can get an EMO XPR2 {600x2} and an XPR5 {400w x2} .... I will bet if you demo them all you will like the emos best... I heard a 7.2 that had them two emo amps and a pair of XPR1 {1000 watts ea} running two custom made subs with 4 ohm 18's... It was intense for sure, his opus 2-3 fronts sounded insane... The best part is this was all in an apartment, lol although the apartment was in the Victor at North Station in Boston, we were at a small going away party for a friend, that place is amazing, but at $5000 a month it should be...

I would go bang for buck over name plate...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Wow, that is a really great price. If I can just get over the handles in the front as I don't rack mount .

You can unscrew those front handles easily.

In fact I had to pay about $50 to get a set of handles for my AT6012 amp. You could sell those handles on eBay.

Or just send those handle to me. I love them.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Parasound puts them in the back where they belong (as he ducks, waiting for ATDG )
- Rich

Why............... You...............

Of course, you know one of the biggest reasons I bought the ATI was because of those big sexy heavy metal front handles.

It was between Bryston front handles vs. ATI front handles.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

With something that heavy, you want a good way to grab onto it.

Yup. I have carried my ATI amps holding on to those big heavy metal front handles. They are strong and sturdy. Love them.

 

[Adam]

If I can just get over the handles in the front as I don't rack mount .

With something that heavy, you want a good way to grab onto it.

Parasound puts them in the back where they belong...

Out-of-Context Man apologizes for the derail, but he just can't stop laughing. This thread is gold!

 

[cpp]

Out-of-Context Man apologizes for the derail, but he just can't stop laughing. This thread is gold!

that's for sure. Ya know some guys just like those big old heavy things with the option to grab from the front or the back using the included handles You sure don't want to bump the stuff and lose control.

 

[slipperybidness]

Parasound puts them in the back where they belong (as he ducks, waiting for ATDG )



- Rich

Actually, my Parasound 1206 has handles in the front AND back

 

[JonnyFive23517]

Outlaw 7900, 7x300 watts for $3500? Great quality. Depending on the rest of your system, spending that $6k on the Parasounds might be overkill.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I know a dealer friend who can get B-stock Lexicon, Mark Levinson, and ATI w/ full warranty. I'm waiting to see what the prices are for comparison.

 

[Cos]

Outlaw 7900, 7x300 watts for $3500? Great quality. Depending on the rest of your system, spending that $6k on the Parasounds might be overkill.

Give the fact that pretty much the only difference spec wise between my current Halos vs the A51 is power, I am pretty sure it is not overkill for my setup

-I am pretty much going to avoid emotive, just because they are too damn heavy
-That and I am still pretty ticked off that they jumped up the cost of their soon to be released Pre/Pro....if they really do release it by Feb from $1499 to $1999

The ATI really looks to be the best buy for me at this point because the cost and the fact I can take off the handles.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The ATI really looks to be the best buy for me at this point because the cost and the fact I can take off the handles.

I don't have the prices for ATI yet, but b-stock (full manufacturer warranty) Lexicon ZX7-Z (300WPC x 7Ch amp) is $3,900 and Mark Levinson No531H (300W monoblock) is $2,800.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Mark Levinson 532 delivered 355Wpc into 8 ohms, 500Wpc into 4 ohms, 660W into 2 ohms @ 1% THD.

The Lexicon ZX7 delivered 400 watts into 8 ohms and 600 watts into 4 ohms @ 1% THD.

Lexicon ZX-7 Multi-Channel (300 watts x 7) Power Amplifier - Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

Mark Levinson No.532H power amplifier Measurements | Stereophile.com

 

[PENG]

Yup. I have carried my ATI amps holding on to those big heavy metal front handles. They are strong and sturdy. Love them.

I have both, Bryston Front and Parasound Rear, and I prefer the front but don't exactly know why. They should make it optional, i.e. owner could relocate them at will.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have both, Bryston Front and Parasound Rear, and I prefer the front but don't exactly know why. They should make it optional, i.e. owner could relocate them at will.

I use those front handles not only to carry the amps, but also to push/pull them from the FRONT of the rack, not behind. So rear handles would not be as useful to me.

It is easy to unscrew them, so they should make the handles interchangeable front-rear.

But seriously, front handles was one of my requirements. I made up my mind not to buy any amps that did not have the front handles.

 

[Cos]

Finally pulled trigger and got the A51/A21 amps. My dealer gave me a great deal on the A51 Demo w/full warranty and new A21 4700 for both. I was really leaning towards ATI based on feedback, but I have been 100% satisfied with my 52 series halo's just wanted a little more juice.

My bedroom systems sounds a lot better two as my old 52s are now driving my GoldenEars. Glad my little Integra 30.5 has pre outs!

General comment, the Black Halos look strange to me coming off the silver ones they replaced.

When my new home is completed I will be upgrading my HT speakers and seriously considering a Bryston Pre/Pro, but that won't be for about another 6 months so I have time to look/listen.