Need a 2 channel amp-help please

[PatrickBateman]

Hey guys,

I am looking for a 2 channel amp and I want to stay around $500 or less. I will definately consider used as well.
I have looked at the

-NAD C272
-Outlaw Monoblocks
-Rotel (not sure what model)

I have also heard people using pro-amps, supposedly they have great power, I am just not sure how well they work in a home theater.
What I really would like is ample power and an amp that doesnt get hot.
Any help would be great.
Thanks

 

[EJD]

Before I moved over to HT, I had a NAD 214 that I absolutely loved. Very solid 80wpc and sounded great. I wish I had never sold it.

You can pick them up used for about $200 or so. For $500, you could pick up two of them and use them in bridged mode for a killer budget set up.

 

[mazersteven]

Rotel (not sure what model)

Thanks

Rotel RB-1080 If you can find them used for $500 that would be a good deal.

http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/rb1080.htm

Or

http://www.behringer.com/A500/

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHA500

 

[skizzerflake]

Another recommendation is to shop for a used Carver power amp. There are Carvers around that have been running for 20 years (I had one until last summer's lightning strike). They are very powerful (200 - 400 wpc) and sound great. They produce almost NO heat (stepping power supply) are small and don't require a fork lift to move them. Ebay is a possible source.

 

[Seth=L]

I concur, I have owned a Carver amp before, very efficient amplifier design, it ran cool even with very pressing demands.

 

[wire]

Before I moved over to HT, I had a NAD 214 that I absolutely loved. Very solid 80wpc and sounded great. I wish I had never sold it.

You can pick them up used for about $200 or so. For $500, you could pick up two of them and use them in bridged mode for a killer budget set up.

Agree
The brigded mode a very good idea .

 

[wire]

Another recommendation is to shop for a used Carver power amp. There are Carvers around that have been running for 20 years (I had one until last summer's lightning strike). They are very powerful (200 - 400 wpc) and sound great. They produce almost NO heat (stepping power supply) are small and don't require a fork lift to move them. Ebay is a possible source.

Me to
I got some Carver stuuf , its good stuff . The price on Ebay has gone up lately , by quite abit . About a 1 1/2 years ago you could pick up Carver Amps on Eprey for about 40% less than now . Again look on Audiogone for some good Amps 1st . Then try Ebay .

 

[wire]

Rotel RB-1080 If you can find them used for $500 that would be a good deal.

http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/rb1080.htm

Or

http://www.behringer.com/A500/

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHA500

That Rotel looks like a beast (duel power supplys ) , never heard one before , Rotel makes good stuff .
Checked audiogone , one for $550.00 not a bad price for a Big amp like that .

 

[PatrickBateman]

Do older amps have any issues due to age?

 

[markw]

Great amp. Still running mine every day.

Before I moved over to HT, I had a NAD 214 that I absolutely loved. Very solid 80wpc and sounded great. I wish I had never sold it.

You can pick them up used for about $200 or so. For $500, you could pick up two of them and use them in bridged mode for a killer budget set up.

Bridging is a great idea if you're gonna use 8 ohm speakers. It was recommended (by a NAD dealer) that I not run four ohm Maggie 1.6's (or any four ohm speaker) with a bridged 214, or any amp for that matter.

Reasoning being that a bridged amp "sees" the speaker load as one half of what the speaker is rated at. i'e, it "sees" an 8 ohm speaker as four ohms and a four ohm speaker as two ohms, and that's pushing any amp.

Now, had they been any eight ohm speaker, it would not be an issue and I would have jumped on a second 214. I looked for a NAD 218 but, at that time, they were not available at a price I could afford so I would up driving the Maggies with a Rotel RB-991, 200 watts a@ 8 ohms, 300 @ 4.

The 214 is currently driving a pair of Sound Dynamics RTS-3's in the library/gueat room.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Do older amps have any issues due to age?

No, they don't but why do you think you need an amp? What is not working properly?

 

[Rob Babcock]

Amps definately can have problems as they age. Caps don't last forever and all things made by man can wear out. I have a Carver a400X that I use to power my subs and it's worked fine (I bought it new in the mid to late 90s) but my 2nd identical amp flaked on me a few years ago. Old Carvers were nice amps and very powerful for their size but don't have stellar reputations for reliability.

 

[Rob Babcock]

No, they don't but why do you think you need an amp? What is not working properly?

Probably his speakers aren't making any sound. I myself have noticed that preamps don't seem to drive speakers very well without a power amp.

 

[PatrickBateman]

No, they don't but why do you think you need an amp? What is not working properly?

I am using a receiver only now and it can not properly drive my speakers. I need some more power.

 

[mazersteven]

I am using a receiver only now and it can not properly drive my speakers. I need some more power.

Before you purchase an amp, you should play with speaker placement and room acoustics first. These two thinks can greatly affect how your speakers sound.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Probably his speakers aren't making any sound. I myself have noticed that preamps don't seem to drive speakers very well without a power amp.

You see, he does have an amp, after all. You got to pull it out first.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am using a receiver only now and it can not properly drive my speakers. I need some more power.

OK, now we are getting someplace. What receiver and power? Speaker impedance and sensitivity? Room size, how far do you sit from speakers?
How loud do you listen or want to?

 

[wire]

Probably his speakers aren't making any sound. I myself have noticed that preamps don't seem to drive speakers very well without a power amp.

Hehe
Funny guy
Yeh Patrick
what are you running now ?

 

[markw]

humor us. please.

I am using a receiver only now and it can not properly drive my speakers. I need some more power.

What amp and what speakers. While you're at it, how big is your room?

 

[UFObuster]

I ventured into separates with a Rotel RB-1080 (Yamaha V2600 for pre-amp).
I like the Carver suggestion, too.
My advice: save a little more...get at least the Rotel 1080 (200wpc) and no matter what happens, you likely won't be looking for 2 channel power again. Having separate 2 channel will also enhance a conventional stereo playback as well.

My original purchase remains the power for front speakers in my HT with separate 5 channel to do the surround/center/back. Buy and keep the best front 2 channels you can afford.