Cheap, but still good power amp 120w pc @8ohm?

[Goochtoucher]

I have a pair of Wharfedale Xarus 5000s, looking for a power amp in the <£250 range that can power them well, roughly 120w pc as my current Quad 303 doesn't drive them loud enough.

I use a Marantz Nr1402 that I use as a power amp and have been looking at second hand amps on ebay and gumtree but i do not know enough about amps to find a good quality brand, let alone the specific models.

Thanks in advance guys

 

[ImcLoud]

Here are a couple...

a pair of these, ran mono to each speaker will give you 150-200w per ch. This seller will accept bid as low as $125 Carver MA202 Stereo Power Amplifier 100 Watts P C 4 Ohms 200 Watts Bridged | eBay

Next would be emo 125x2 $350
UPA-200 | 125W x 2 | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers, and monoblock amplifi

Or if you want to go pro gear Crown XLS1000 is plenty of power... For around $300, but class D sooooooo......

 

[Goochtoucher]

I live in the UK so shipping may turn out to be pretty high and yeah class D isn't worth it, I looked into getting a Quad 606 but they are just out of my price bracket if there are even any going second hand.

Will have a look for either of these options in the UK. Anyone else in the UK with more suggestions? Even just brands to avoid would be useful.

 

[ImcLoud]

I think the ma202 shipping would be reasonable...

 

[Goochtoucher]

I think the ma202 shipping would be reasonable...

Just investigated, it's £52 shipping, doubt that drops all that much if I buy two...Might contemplate them as a backup, but they also won't arrive for 2 weeks and I am without an amp currently as my Quad 303 has to go have the right channel repaired.

 

[JerryLove]

I didn't look up exchange rates, but seems close:

Peavey :: IPR™ 1600

OTOH: the ergonomics / aesthetics may not be to your liking.

 

[GranteedEV]

I live in the UK so shipping may turn out to be pretty high and yeah class D isn't worth it

Um.. what?

 

[Goochtoucher]

Um.. what?

From what I have heard/read (and feel free to correct me if I am wrong) but the majority of class D amps don't compare well to A or A/B amps although there are exceptions so I couldn't be bothered to take the risk.

Also I don't mind the look of the peavey...bit "funky" looking for me, slightly too try hard, but I just need something in my price range that works so I will have a look for one.

 

[JerryLove]

Technically, they are class H, not class D.

Crown is Peavy to a great degree: but more conservative in appearance.

I actually use P-S Series | Power Amps | Products | Yamaha

I have had absolutely no problems with the sound (and yes, have class AB to compare to) ; But I think that will go above the price-point.

I've seen a bunch of quasi-negative comments on Emotiva these last 48 hours which is confusing because I recall them being bell-of-the-ball a year or two ago.

 

[ImcLoud]

I never liked d class amps and heard they are hard on tweeters. Although the crowns are awesome and powerful. I like a b. And have used many others. Not that the crown d would sound bad. They are a great choice for affordable power. Not to mention most systems won't even make them break a sweat

 

[Grador]

I never liked d class amps and heard they are hard on tweeters. Although the crowns are awesome and powerful. I like a b. And have used many others. Not that the crown d would sound bad. They are a great choice for affordable power. Not to mention most systems won't even make them break a sweat

For what it's worth I have never been able to hear a difference between good class D amps and A/B's.

As for being hard on tweeters, I haven't really heard this, but I can imagine it being possible?

 

[ImcLoud]

For what it's worth I have never been able to hear a difference between good class D amps and A/B's.

As for being hard on tweeters, I haven't really heard this, but I can imagine it being possible?

Ive heard it a few places, that long play with class d power isnt good for your tweets, and they good for fullrange drivers and subwoofers, but I know people running class d amps powering 3 way setups with no problems...

Now I have to say though... The Crowns do sound better than any other class d amp I ever heard.... so I wouldnt suggest just any class d, them crowns are special, I dont know what it is, but I have heard Pyle, crest, sanway, protech, and Behringer and none of them sounded like the crowns...

 

[Goochtoucher]

Ive heard it a few places, that long play with class d power isnt good for your tweets, and they good for fullrange drivers and subwoofers, but I know people running class d amps powering 3 way setups with no problems...

Now I have to say though... The Crowns do sound better than any other class d amp I ever heard.... so I wouldnt suggest just any class d, them crowns are special, I dont know what it is, but I have heard Pyle, crest, sanway, protech, and Behringer and none of them sounded like the crowns...

It is the specifics in which class D amp to choose that have put me off them if I'm honest. If I get the wrong one I am just stuck with nowhere to turn really. Especially as I intend on buying second hand gear, I read some good things about emotiva so that seems like a good place to start.

 

[GranteedEV]

From what I have heard/read (and feel free to correct me if I am wrong) but the majority of class D amps don't compare well to A or A/B amps although there are exceptions so I couldn't be bothered to take the risk.

A well designed amp is a well designed amp. There are countless well designed amps regardless of topology, and regardless of topology there are some definite duds.

"The majority"?

"the majority" of class D amps all use OEM icepower modules. In fact Here is an article on it:

Attack of the Clone Amplifiers &mdash; Reviews and News from Audioholics

Considering the icepower stuff is pretty damn good, that obviously means "the majority" of class d amps wipe the floor with class AB.

Trust me, worrying about amplifier topology will get you nowhere. No one here would recommend a poor product. Are there some class D amps out there that are ill-suited to being used full range? Sure.

But no one would recommend them in the first place. Class D is not a gamble. A random obscure Class A or AB amp no one here has heard of might well be though.

Ive heard it a few places, that long play with class d power isnt good for your tweets,

B.S.

It is the specifics in which class D amp to choose that have put me off them if I'm honest. If I get the wrong one I am just stuck with nowhere to turn really.

Nonsense. NO one here is recommending some obscure questionable class D gear here. You can go equally wrong with a poorly designed class AB or class A amp. Of which there are MORE than plenty.