Need to pick an amp

[JerryLove]

Here's the speaker: http://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-nautilus-801-loudspeaker-measurements

It wants a lot of power, and spends a lot of time at 3ohm

There's no way I can afford to amp it the way Stereophile chose to do it. The question is: what can I get away with without sound quality being limited.

I'm hoping I can get away with no bigger than http://emotiva.com/xpa2.shtm

Obviously I'd love to run 4 XPA1's, but the budget will in no way allow that.

Suggestions on what will properly power these monsters? So far I've gotten improvements everytime I throw more amp at them. Based on my current LF response: I think I haven't hit what they really want yet.

Heck: I've considered http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/116951/IPR™ 4500.cfm , but it scares me.

 

[zumbo]

You own 801's? You are my hero!

http://www.amazon.com/Adcom-GFA-5500-Current-Power-Amplifier/dp/B000BNGICA
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAC2250
Hybrid?
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VISP331
Used Bryston 4B:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1298802135&/Bryston-4B

 

[clouso]

Here's the speaker: http://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-nautilus-801-loudspeaker-measurements

It wants a lot of power, and spends a lot of time at 3ohm

There's no way I can afford to amp it the way Stereophile chose to do it. The question is: what can I get away with without sound quality being limited.

I'm hoping I can get away with no bigger than http://emotiva.com/xpa2.shtm

Obviously I'd love to run 4 XPA1's, but the budget will in no way allow that.

Suggestions on what will properly power these monsters? So far I've gotten improvements everytime I throw more amp at them. Based on my current LF response: I think I haven't hit what they really want yet.

Heck: I've considered http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/116951/IPR™ 4500.cfm , but it scares me.

Do you already own them or you will??....specs says they can go down to 21Hz....do you have or will you need a sub?....

 

[JerryLove]

You own 801's? You are my hero!

I actually own 2 sets. One of 801 Series2's, and the other of Nautilus 801's. The former is not the problem. I had the matching (Nautilus) center and surrounds, but sold them over Christmas. These will be used in 2-channel.

Thank you for the links: but they are all both more expensive and less powerful than the Emotiva XPA-2

Do you already own them or you will??....specs says they can go down to 21Hz....do you have or will you need a sub?....

I own them at present. If I need a sub, then these are getting sold.

Currently I'm powering them off a Yamaha P5000S, but I don't think it's quite up to the task as the LF seems a bit anemic.

 

[zumbo]

Added used Bryston 4b to previous post.

That Emo is 75lbs!

 

[templemaners]

Couldn't you do someting like bridge the P5000S for one and pick up a matching P5000S to bridge on the other speaker?

 

[JerryLove]

Couldn't you do someting like bridge the P5000S for one and pick up a matching P5000S to bridge on the other speaker?

That would present a 1.5 ohm load to the amplifier. Though I know a few (very expensive) amps that would not mind: I don't believe the Yammy is one of them.

If I were going to try to power from two P5000S's, I'd be more likely to bi-amp. But what I'm really interested in is finding someone with better knowledge to tell me, firstly, if the XPA-2 will work and if not what the minimum that will is.

 

[zumbo]

how about 2 xpa2?

Sweeeeeeet.

 

[JerryLove]

how about 2 xpa2?

For a similar cost I could use 2 XPA-1's... however that's very expensive.

 

[zumbo]

For a similar cost I could use 2 XPA-1's... however that's very expensive.

Wouldn't bi-amping with 2 xpa2 be better in this situation? I would think so.

 

[zumbo]

Active x-over.

One xpa2 for the highs.

One xpa2 for the lows.

Remove passive.

 

[Matt34]

Never heard of these before but came across them on Audiogon a few weeks ago.

http://www.reddragonaudio.com/products/m-1000-monoblocks/

....uses the ICEpower 1000ASP module

 

[tcarcio]

Well I have the older 801 series 80 which are not as efficient as yours and I use a Crown cts-600 that is 300w per channel and they will blow me out of the room so I wouldn't think you should need more then something like that.

 

[sholling]

Now you know you're eventually going to buy a pair of XPA-1s anyway so why put off the inevitable.

I have the same addiction and have an XPA-2 due here monday. There goes most of the money I had saved for a new super sub for the family room.

 

[90gstman]

A lot of folks pair them up with Classe amps. You can find a used CA 250 (250/500 watt 8/4 ohm) for $1000 to $1500 on ebay. Or a used CA 300 (300/600 watt) for less than $2000.

I listened to a pair of 803d and 803s with aClasse CA-2100 (100/200 watt) amp that was capable of pushing them to very satisfying levels.

I think you just need something that can drive that low impedance without falling apart, not nessaserily more watts, if that makes sence.

 

[JerryLove]

Wouldn't bi-amping with 2 xpa2 be better in this situation? I would think so.

Under the best of circumstances (completely even load between HF and LF section) it would be identical.

Under anything other than completely even lad two XPA-1's would be superior.

Active x-over.

No, I will not be disconnecting the multi-thousand-dollar crossovers in these $15k speakers

 

[JerryLove]

Well I have the older 801 series 80 which are not as efficient as yours and I use a Crown cts-600 that is 300w per channel and they will blow me out of the room so I wouldn't think you should need more then something like that.

The Nautilus 801 requires a great deal more power to drive than the 801 Series 80. Your's are far more similar to my 801Series2's, which I am not having a problem driving.

I'm already running an amp more powerful than the one you've recommended. I suspect the issue is in keeping the voice-coil charged at 3ohms.

A lot of folks pair them up with Classe amps. You can find a used CA 250 (250/500 watt 8/4 ohm) for $1000 to $1500 on ebay. Or a used CA 300 (300/600 watt) for less than $2000.

More expensive and less powerful than the Emotiva option.

I listened to a pair of 803d and 803s with aClasse CA-2100 (100/200 watt) amp that was capable of pushing them to very satisfying levels.

An 803 is no where near the load of an 801.

I think you just need something that can drive that low impedance without falling apart, not nessaserily more watts, if that makes sence.

I think I need something that can keep the voice coil energized at a protracted 3ohms and can also deal with the sudden load variations presented by the N801.

 

[JerryLove]

Never heard of these before but came across them on Audiogon a few weeks ago.

http://www.reddragonaudio.com/products/m-1000-monoblocks/

I've never heard of them either. Is there something that makes you like these over the Peavey line?

 

[Matt34]

I've never heard of them either. Is there something that makes you like these over the Peavey line?

Nope, I was just throwing out options really and would like to see someone here be a guinea pig. They do have a 45-Day In Home Trial Period.

 

[jinjuku]

Here's the speaker: http://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-nautilus-801-loudspeaker-measurements

It wants a lot of power, and spends a lot of time at 3ohm

There's no way I can afford to amp it the way Stereophile chose to do it. The question is: what can I get away with without sound quality being limited.

I'm hoping I can get away with no bigger than http://emotiva.com/xpa2.shtm

Obviously I'd love to run 4 XPA1's, but the budget will in no way allow that.

Suggestions on what will properly power these monsters? So far I've gotten improvements everytime I throw more amp at them. Based on my current LF response: I think I haven't hit what they really want yet.

Heck: I've considered http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/116951/IPR™ 4500.cfm , but it scares me.

Crown baby.... Crown.

As a case in point: I have a 402d that I picked up on a lark, it will run 2 ohm stable at 450 watts / channel. I have a Parasound HCA 1000A. After some extended listening the 402d has more authority and slam than the Parasound. All this mumbly jumbly about finesse, separation, wider soundstage? The only thing the Parasound does better is a lower noise floor. This is on Zaphs ZDT3.5's and some JBL EL90's. I will try again on my Statements when they are built.