Need the best amp

[trader247]

Hi, Just found this wonderful forum. I am looking for a nice amp.

I have a pair of Legacy Focus (4 ohm) speakers that I've had for years. I used to just run these off my Denon 5308CI on my home entertainment system and after about a year my Denon would keep blowing and have to go to the shop for repairs. The 5308 is rated 6-8 ohm, but I found the receiver/speaker mix in an Audiophile type review and thought the receiver would hold up.

None the less, the Denon was either defective or could not feed the needed power to my Legacy Focus speakers. Long story short, I got rid of the 5308 and got the Denon 4311 instead because it was rated to 4 ohms, big mistake as this sounds like crap in comparison to my 5308. So, now I have the 4311 and need something that can power my Legacy Focus speakers. I need a good amp recommendation that I can run from my receiver. I know I can get a Mark Levenson, McIntosh or LMM type amp, but that is not in the budget right this second. What is the best amp for the money I can get new/used to run my Legacy Focus 4 ohm speakers for around 2k give or take a little.

Thanks.

 

[ahblaza]

Hi, Just found this wonderful forum. I am looking for a nice amp.

I have a pair of Legacy Focus (4 ohm) speakers that I've had for years. I used to just run these off my Denon 5308CI on my home entertainment system and after about a year my Denon would keep blowing and have to go to the shop for repairs. The 5308 is rated 6-8 ohm, but I found the receiver/speaker mix in an Audiophile type review and thought the receiver would hold up.

None the less, the Denon was either defective or could not feed the needed power to my Legacy Focus speakers. Long story short, I got rid of the 5308 and got the Denon 4311 instead because it was rated to 4 ohms, big mistake as this sounds like crap in comparison to my 5308. So, now I have the 4311 and need something that can power my Legacy Focus speakers. I need a good amp recommendation that I can run from my receiver. I know I can get a Mark Levenson, McIntosh or LMM type amp, but that is not in the budget right this second. What is the best amp for the money I can get new/used to run my Legacy Focus 4 ohm speakers for around 2k give or take a little.

Thanks.

You go with this beast
XPA-2 | 300W 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 amplifier

Or this butterfly
Crown XLS2500 DriveCore Series Power Amp | GuitarCenter
Save $100 off the the crown with code Save100, and it's stable into 2 Ohms.
I'm sure others will chime in, ATI is also a suggestion.
ATI AT2002 Two Channel x 200 Watt Amplifier - B-Stock (120 V) - Amplifiers

Check Agon for used also

Cheers Jeff

 

[trader247]

Jeff, Thanks for the info.

I have seen the Emotiva in reviews and looks like a heck of a deal. My speakers can run bi amp, should I be looking for 2 or 4 channel if I want to bi amp or should I not worry about bi amp.

 

[ahblaza]

Jeff, Thanks for the info.

I have seen the Emotiva in reviews and looks like a heck of a deal. My speakers can run bi amp, should I be looking for 2 or 4 channel if I want to bi amp or should I not worry about bi amp.

I wouldn't bother with Bi-Amping, if you're so inclined you could go with mono amps, better choice in my opinion. The multi-channel EMO amps can't be bridged for Bi-Amping. Check out the ATI amps also, any of their stereo high current (power) amps can make those speakers sing. Check out the amps, receivers section when you made your second post, there will be some good input there, there are a lot of EMO, ATI and Crown owner's here, I'm migrating towards the Pro line of amps but don't just listen to me, see what other owners' have to say. Good luck, you don't need to spend a ton to get those speakers rocking.
Cheers Jeff

 

[PENG]

Jeff, Thanks for the info.

I have seen the Emotiva in reviews and looks like a heck of a deal. My speakers can run bi amp, should I be looking for 2 or 4 channel if I want to bi amp or should I not worry about bi amp.

Bi-amp or not is up to you but if you go with Emotiva, start with the XPA-2 as the minimum, XPA-1 would be preferred IMHO. Two XPA-1 still let you stay within your 2K budget. The 4311 should not sound like crap once you hook it up to a powerful amp, unless you did something wrong to the settings.

 

[DD66000]

Jeff, Thanks for the info.

I have seen the Emotiva in reviews and looks like a heck of a deal. My speakers can run bi amp, should I be looking for 2 or 4 channel if I want to bi amp or should I not worry about bi amp.

Forget Emo...if you want an amp that can really give those speakers juice and detail, get a Parasound amp. Halo A21, Halo A23, Halo A31 would be my choices.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Forget Emo...if you want an amp that can really give those speakers juice and detail, get a Parasound amp. Halo A21, Halo A23, Halo A31 would be my choices.

Uh, oh, better put your flame suit on.

 

[DD66000]

Uh, oh, better put your flame suit on.

Besides owning Parasound amps, I've also read quite a few posts from people who had Emo amps, then replaced them with Parasound. Which provided more detail and more power, better soundstage.
Especially if driving a 4u load. nuf said.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Besides owning Parasound amps, I've also read quite a few posts from people who had Emo amps, then replaced them with Parasound. Which provided more detail and more power, better soundstage.
Especially if driving a 4u load. nuf said.

Any minute now........

 

[jcl]

Others on the forum might chime in about the ATI amps that they own. There have been some threads in the past regarding them that you can search for as well.

AT 1800 Multi Channel Amp

refurb
ATI AT1802 Two Channel x 180 Watt Amplifier - B-Stock (120V) - Amplifiers

 

[j_garcia]

Besides owning Parasound amps, I've also read quite a few posts from people who had Emo amps, then replaced them with Parasound. Which provided more detail and more power, better soundstage.
Especially if driving a 4u load. nuf said.

Well you read it on the internet, so it MUST be right LMAO.

Yes, Parasound makes great amps. Guess what? So does Emotiva. Nuff said.

Really depends on the budget of the OP as to what might be the best choice, so we still sort of need that budget.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Others on the forum might chime in about the ATI amps that they own. There have been some threads in the past regarding them that you can search for as well.

AT 1800 Multi Channel Amp

refurb
ATI AT1802 Two Channel x 180 Watt Amplifier - B-Stock (120V) - Amplifiers

Yeah, I usually talk about ATI. I love them. Makes great amps for Mark Levinson, Lexicon, JBL, Cary, Outlaw, Earthquake per each company's specification. Solid stuff.

And there are many great amp companies.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...then replaced them with Parasound. Which provided more detail and more power, better soundstage.
Especially if driving a 4u load. nuf said.

More powewr I may buy if the specs support it. The other two listed benefit is sheer fantasy.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Any minute now........

Didn't know you are psychic

 

[KEW]

Others on the forum might chime in about the ATI amps that they own. There have been some threads in the past regarding them that you can search for as well.

AT 1800 Multi Channel Amp

refurb
ATI AT1802 Two Channel x 180 Watt Amplifier - B-Stock (120V) - Amplifiers

I think this is a fine recommendation, but because of the current pricing, I would have to buy an 1805 for $1100 instead of an 1802 for $1000.

Amplifiers

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think this is a fine recommendation, but because of the current pricing, I would have to buy an 1805 for $1100 instead of an 1802 for $1000.

Amplifiers

Yes. $100 more for the 1805!

The specs for the 1805 are for THD of much lower than 1%. At 1%, it's probably 200+ wpc RMS x 5ch of solid real power.

 

[jcl]

I think this is a fine recommendation, but because of the current pricing, I would have to buy an 1805 for $1100 instead of an 1802 for $1000.

Amplifiers

Good point, the OP was looking for 2 channel so that's all I looked at. I'd take the extra 3 channels for $100 too.

Even the AT1202 with 120 w/ch at 8ohms and 180 w/ch into 4 at $599 is a nice amp.

 

[TazExprez]

I am thinking about upgrading my receiver and adding an amp to my system. I am considering an ATI AT1805, an Emotiva XPA-5, or a Parasound Halo A52. My speakers are Paradigm Monitor 11 V.2 for LR and these are 94dB efficient, the Paradigm CC-370 V.2 for C and this is 90dB efficient, and the Paradigm ADP-370 V.2 for SL, SR, SBL, and SBR and these are 85dB efficient. I like to listen to these at reference volume. What do you think? Thanks for any help.

 

[DD66000]

More powewr I may buy if the specs support it. The other two listed benefit is sheer fantasy.

You can think anything you want. But I just got back my Parasound P7 pre-amp, replacing the HK3390 receiver I used as a pre. I used the HK to setup my system after I moved. I used the same Citation power amp for both units.

The HK produces a really nice sound and a good soundstage. But it lacks the detail produced by the P7. And I don't know anyone who has a Parasound pre-amp and would not tell you the same thing.

The overall sound between Parasound and HK products are very similar, I can tell no difference between my HK Citation 19 stereo amp, Parasound HCA2205A 5 channel amp. Both operate in class A at low volumes.
But I will hear various instruments in the recordings that just stand out more through the P7 compared to the HK's pre-amp.

 

[DD66000]

I am thinking about upgrading my receiver and adding an amp to my system. I am considering an ATI AT1805, an Emotiva XPA-5, or a Parasound Halo A52. My speakers are Paradigm Monitor 11 V.2 for LR and these are 94dB efficient, the Paradigm CC-370 V.2 for C and this is 90dB efficient, and the Paradigm ADP-370 V.2 for SL, SR, SBL, and SBR and these are 85dB efficient. I like to listen to these at reference volume. What do you think? Thanks for any help.

I would go with the ATI or A52 before I would buy the Emo.