New power amp time

[crazyfingers]

My current power amp is a Carver M400 cube. It's 40 years old and has recently started to buzz louder and sending the same buzz through the speakers which I can hear clearly 6 feet away.

It's 200 watts/channel.

All i want is a 2 channel amp. I don't play music as loud as I did in college. I don't know that I need a full 200 watts/channel but I expect at least 100 to be on the safe side.

A new amp would drive by 4 OHM Allison Three speakers and connect to my NAD preamp.

Hmmm

I think I'll be taking a drive to my stereo specialty store soon. My budget is probably around $2000.

Are there issues I should consider while shopping? Times change. It has been 40 years since I thought about a new power amp.

 

[ski2xblack]

Does it need to be pretty?

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

 

[crazyfingers]

Does it need to be pretty?

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

Pretty is kinda down on the priority list. Is it good? I do like some kind of indicator if it's being driven close to recommended capacity even though I doubt I would. Why do manufacturers put the power switch on the back?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

ATI, NAD, Parasound, Anthem, Rotel, Legacy Audio, etc. Any of them would be great.

 

[lovinthehd]

One of my Carver M500t's started doing that too so I just replaced them with some Crown XLS amps I had handy....considering sending them for modifications/repair to the Carversite! folks....

 

[Trebdp83]

I don't think you'd have an issue powering those speakers with the NAD C268 and it can be had for half of the available budget and is an aesthetic match for your C658. The C298 is out of the budget range and actually not really necessary here.

 

[crazyfingers]

I went to my hifi specialty shop today. It's the same shop I got the Carver and the Allison Threes from. Store manager is still there after 40 years. They have an excellent return policy if after several months I don't like something. I like them and it's a local store.

They recommend:

Rotel RB-1582 MkII, 200 Watts / Channel. I'd do the black to match all my other stuff.

RB-1582 MkII

At 2 x 200 Watts per channel and utilizing Rotel's Balanced Design Concept for superior performance, the RB-1582 MkII is a compelling stereo amplifier.

www.rotel.com

or

NAD C298 185 Watts/Channel 340W x 2 Rated Output Power into 4 Ohms

C 298 - NAD Electronics

The C 298 may appear to be a basic Power Amplifier, but we have carefully thought through all the use cases typically encountered to create a rich feature content. Selectable balanced inputs make the C 298 a natural for studio use or connection to High EndPreamplifiers and Processors

nadelectronics.com

Am I allowed to talk price or is that the AVS Forum that price talk is forbidden?

Anyway, the NAD is a couple hundred over $2000 initial budget and the Rotel is not. Also the Rotel is on sale for 25% off for the month.

In as much as aesthetics is low priority, the NADs match. I'm not sure if the peamp might put the amp into sleep mode better.

While I've yet to fully digest the info on their web pages and look at reviews, But I'm throwing these out here I'm wondering if anyone has any particular thoughts on which would be superior. The guys at the shop talked a lot about the NAD having Purifi ‘Eigentakt’ Amplifier Technology. Is this a real benefit or just marketing?

 

[Trebdp83]

I don't think it is ironic that they talked up the unit that will make them more money.

 

[lovinthehd]

The Purifi modules are the best measuring class D modules out there. You can also get them for less than in a NAD (from Buckeye for example).

 

[mono-bloc]

Stick with the Rotel

 

[ryanosaur]

Purifi or Hypex from Buckeye Amps.

If you think you need to fancy things up and spend more, you don't. But there are shops selling same Amps with custom input buffer options.

I would look at the New 2-channel NCX500.

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

Other options readily available on his site to peruse.

If you really want to blow things out of the water get the Purifi 7040 Monoblocks!

FWIW, I use Hypex amplification and am very happy with it. I did not notice any difference changing from Class AB to class D. These things will provide gobs of clean power and are not going to add any distortion unless you seriously try to overdrive them.

 

[Verdinut]

The Class D Purifi amps is now the way to go. Class D amps are more efficient which means they draw less current than any Class AB amp. Other advantages is that they are also more compact and heat less than any amp with a different output configuration. It's mostly the heat that shortens the life of an amplifier.

 

[mono-bloc]

I'm sorry don't agree with you, While everyone has there own opinion, on these excuses for class "D" amp's, They just don't come up to my expectations for audio amplification. I've tried Some of the established brands Mola Mola and Bel Canto are very good and not to be de-valued simple because there Class D. But the newly introduced Hypex and Purifi models fall very short on established class D brands. There simply cheap copies and really only lack a key wind to get them going, with there over inflated claims of over inflated power out puts.. And while it reads very well very few people buying this rubbish have quality speakers, to test there capability's Try a pair of Equinox Jupiters rated at two ohms and watch them self destruct, or a pair of Magnepan -magneplanar panel speakers An epic fail will be the outcome. Unyet they quote outrageous claims of what there capable off... And the guable buyer visits Amazon, and other box sellers of this crap, and scoop them up as if there's no tomorrow.
Ask your self why is it that people on established audio forums the likes of AS and WBF, avoid this stuff like the plague.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I’ve seen amp bench-testing for class AB down to 1 ohms (ATI, Denon). Are there class D amp testing down to 1 ohms?

 

[Verdinut]

I'm sorry don't agree with you, While everyone has there own opinion, on these excuses for class "D" amp's, They just don't come up to my expectations for audio amplification. I've tried Some of the established brands Mola Mola and Bel Canto are very good and not to be de-valued simple because there Class D. But the newly introduced Hypex and Purifi models fall very short on established class D brands. There simply cheap copies and really only lack a key wind to get them going, with there over inflated claims of over inflated power out puts.. And while it reads very well very few people buying this rubbish have quality speakers, to test there capability's Try a pair of Equinox Jupiters rated at two ohms and watch them self destruct, or a pair of Magnepan -magneplanar panel speakers An epic fail will be the outcome. Unyet they quote outrageous claims of what there capable off... And the guable buyer visits Amazon, and other box sellers of this crap, and scoop them up as if there's no tomorrow.
Ask your self why is it that people on established audio forums the likes of AS and WBF, avoid this stuff like the plague.

Speakers such as Equinox and those of any other brand with impedances dipping as low as 2 ohms are obviously poorly engineered products and should be out of the market.
I'm sure that @TLS Guy will reply on this topic.

 

[Mikado463]

Speakers such as Equinox and those of any other brand with impedances dipping as low as 2 ohms are obviously poorly engineered products and should be out of the market.

Stat lovers out there would quickly disagree with you, regardless, their low impedance dip is inverse to normal dynamic speakers and it does so well in the upper registers. Amp stability is paramount though given their capacitive nature. yes, I love good di-poles .......

Response to the Op, given your dealers generous return policy, does he offer a demo option ? The Rotel @ 25% off seems like a good deal.

 

[TLS Guy]

Speakers such as Equinox and those of any other brand with impedances dipping as low as 2 ohms are obviously poorly engineered products and should be out of the market.
I'm sure that @TLS Guy will reply on this topic.

Yes, if the impedance dips below the DC resistance of the voice coils/coils, then the crossover is in resonance. That is then a dangerous incorrectly engineered speaker.
This affliction tends to preferentially occur in low run very expensive exotics. Far to many of these speakers are designed by people who have no clue how to design a decent speaker, but can produce a fancy or wierd looking speaker sometimes made out of exotic materials. They get by with rave subjective reviews without measurement in the exotic audiophool press. Wealthy fools are easily parted from their money.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm sorry don't agree with you, While everyone has there own opinion, on these excuses for class "D" amp's, They just don't come up to my expectations for audio amplification. I've tried Some of the established brands Mola Mola and Bel Canto are very good and not to be de-valued simple because there Class D. But the newly introduced Hypex and Purifi models fall very short on established class D brands. There simply cheap copies and really only lack a key wind to get them going, with there over inflated claims of over inflated power out puts.. And while it reads very well very few people buying this rubbish have quality speakers, to test there capability's Try a pair of Equinox Jupiters rated at two ohms and watch them self destruct, or a pair of Magnepan -magneplanar panel speakers An epic fail will be the outcome. Unyet they quote outrageous claims of what there capable off... And the guable buyer visits Amazon, and other box sellers of this crap, and scoop them up as if there's no tomorrow.
Ask your self why is it that people on established audio forums the likes of AS and WBF, avoid this stuff like the plague.

You're funny.

 

[crazyfingers]

I thank everyone for their comments. I called the shop today and put $100 on the NAD for them to save the one they have in stock for me. My wife wants me to wait a week for the next credit card billing cycle.

I don't want to discount the comments suggesting the Rotel and Buckeye. All valid. And I'm sure all three would be a big upgrade from my 40 year old Carver. And frankly, I don't really know how good my Allison Three speakers are. I just know that I love them. But would either one or another of the amps discussed make a difference for the Allison's? I don't know.

So ultimately I just asked myself, which do I really want and the answer was the NAD to match my NAD C 658 preamp/streamer. And I can return it for a full refund if I'm not completely happy.

I ordered some banana plugs becuse I don't have them on the amp end of my speaker cables because the Carver doesn't use them.

And so my next decision is, would Balanced XLR cables between the two NAD's make a difference vs quality RCA cables. Since I had not bought a new stereo component since I got my old ADCOM preamp around 1990, Or perhaps the Denon CDR-W1500 dual well CD player/recorder around 2001, these "New" huge cables vs RCA are brand new to me.

I guess I'll search this forum for discussion on these balanced cables/in-outs.

 

[Verdinut]

I thank everyone for their comments. I called the shop today and put $100 on the NAD for them to save the one they have in stock for me. My wife wants me to wait a week for the next credit card billing cycle.

I don't want to discount the comments suggesting the Rotel and Buckeye. All valid. And I'm sure all three would be a big upgrade from my 40 year old Carver. And frankly, I don't really know how good my Allison Three speakers are. I just know that I love them. But would either one or another of the amps discussed make a difference for the Allison's? I don't know.

So ultimately I just asked myself, which do I really want and the answer was the NAD to match my NAD C 658 preamp/streamer. And I can return it for a full refund if I'm not completely happy.

I ordered some banana plugs becuse I don't have them on the amp end of my speaker cables because the Carver doesn't use them.

And so my next decision is, would Balanced XLR cables between the two NAD's make a difference vs quality RCA cables. Since I had not bought a new stereo component since I got my old ADCOM preamp around 1990, Or perhaps the Denon CDR-W1500 dual well CD player/recorder around 2001, these "New" huge cables vs RCA are brand new to me.

I guess I'll search this forum for discussion on these balanced cables/in-outs.

XLR connections won't make any difference unless the interconnect cables are longer than 12 feet, in which case there's a possibility of picking up RF noise interference between the two components. Actually, balanced XLR connections were designed for long cable runs in pro audio installations in large venues, not for home use.

An exception is when you are using pro amps which only come with XLR inputs, as in my case with the QSC DCA series amps in my HT system. In my situation, the connections are from an unbalanced RCA connection and remain unbalanced. Fortunately, they consist of short cables.