Parasound vs. Sunfire???

[wire]

RFor lack of a better term, the Sunfire is a digital amp - it runs cooler, thus doesn't need the huge, heavy heatsinks of other amps. Weight, in no way, should be used as an indicator of quality.

In most cases , weight canbe a indicator on how heavy the power supply is , not all cases of course .
Also most Carver designed amps run cool . I can run my TFM-35 hard and it doesnt heat at all , now my Bryston and SP3 is a different story .

 

[cfrizz]

You can't go wrong with either company. I had a Parasound 1500A 2 channel 204wpc amp that weighed 40lbs. Now I have a 5 channel 405wpc Sunfire Signature that weighs 43lbs!

Thanks to Bob Carver's design, it is the only 5 channel amp I can physically manage. It makes my speakers sound. terrific & never gets hot.

 

[Seth=L]

I think in the End of the Carver Days , he came out with the Lightstar , it was a pricy amp , but kick *** and Clear . I heard from the Carver Forums that some of that Tech went into the Sunfire amps , since he left Carver and created Sunfire . I like in the new Sunfire Amps , you can option the Tube like sound Chip or go with out it , or By-amp the Tweets with the Tube like sound and the low end with regular power ( more Bass ) .

My dad did this, these amplfiers are ideal for Hybrid ESLs like Martin Logan. The neutral "voltage" source can power the woofer for the tightness of the bass that it provides and the "current" source feeds the power hungry, but sweet sounding ESL panel. It is bi-wiring with a purpose!

 

[dorokusai]

I would go with the Parasound based on extensive past experience. I've never liked vintage Carver gear and only owned a couple Sunfire pieces so I may be a bit biased. I really like the aesthetics of the Sunfire gear as I'm a sucker for brushed aluminum.

Mark
Polk Audio CS