Amp recommendations for PSB T6

[emtuzas]

So whats with the people saying things like "NAD amp is a warm sounding amp, pair it with these speakers" etc, etc... or saying that some other amp has a brighter sound and so on... And then whats the reason to pay 1000+$ for an amp, if you can get powerful receiver, if there's no difference? Except for the power independence.

 

[Irvrobinson]

So whats with the people saying things like "NAD amp is a warm sounding amp, pair it with these speakers" etc, etc... or saying that some other amp has a brighter sound and so on... And then whats the reason to pay 1000+$ for an amp, if you can get powerful receiver, if there's no difference? Except for the power independence.

If we're talking about solid state amps, most of that "warm sounding" stuff is just nonsense. Tube amps often sound different because they can have interaction effects that alter their frequency response with some speakers.

Does the Emotiva amp really sound different than the Yamaha? With your speakers, that aren't an especially difficult load, it seems unlikely, but it is possible. The Emo amp, for just two channels, weighs more than that entire AVR, which probably means that the Emo's power supply and output stage is far superior to the highly constrained design in the Yamaha. It is also possible that the cheap and current-constrained pre-amp stage of the AVR is more compatible driving the highly sensitive Emo than it is its own amp channels. Match the levels like ADTG recommends and make the determination for yourself. Just don't be shocked and disappointed if they suddenly sound identical.

 

[PENG]

So whats with the people saying things like "NAD amp is a warm sounding amp, pair it with these speakers" etc, etc... or saying that some other amp has a brighter sound and so on... And then whats the reason to pay 1000+$ for an amp, if you can get powerful receiver, if there's no difference? Except for the power independence.

You know how "hearsay" works right? Those talks about warm and cold are mostly (yes, there could be exceptions) BS but over time became the perceived truth after the same BS being passed around for years. I have a pair of Marantz that are biased to do class A at lower output level. When I listened to it at the highest SPL I am comfortable with, it averages from fractional watts to may be 10 to 20W peaks on some highly dynamic classical SACDs. Even when presumably operating in class A mode, it sounds just about the same as one of my very old AVR, a Denon AVR-3805. There were moments I did feel it sounded tube like (supposed to be), but then as soon as I played the same thing on the Denon, I was quickly brought back into reality. Same experience with my other two separate and one HT systems. It took me years to realize the hearsays are myths are simply just not reality, but as ADTG put it well, we audioholic really don't care, we go with our desires. I just love to own audio gear that looks good, feels good, and sounds good on paper. Just for examples, I am now thinking of grabbing the newest Oppo 105, and then the newest Marantz 8801 to replace my AV7005, knowing that they will definitely not sound better than the 95 and 7005, but I still want them for other reasons, some of them I mentioned already.