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Post by trav0810 on Dec 3, 2013 21:40:21 GMT -5
Since I bought my SDA 2.3TL's, I have played around with a few different amps to try to find the right one. I have owned a couple Adcoms, several different Carver's (TFM25, 35, M1.5, M500t, M1.0t MKII's), an RCA, Pilot, and Fisher tube amp and they all lacked somewhere in some way (the tube amps mainly lacked the power needed to run the big Polks). Those of you that know me from some of the other Audio forums know that I am not a tech guy or even a "true" audiophile, I don't use a lot of the buzz words and don't know how to explain exactly what I hear or don't hear. But this amp BLEW ME AWAY. At one time I was running a pair of the MKII's on my SDA's and they were certainly loud enough, but the bass just wasn't there. What was there had no definition. When I hooked this baby up, I instantly heard what I had been missing. It has that quick, snappy kickdrum like bass. The kind that you feel in your chest when it punches. The highs are clean and crisp without being shrill and the midrange is well developed. I was expecting it to lack a little in power compared to the pair of MKII's I was using previously, but the rated power of 250WPC @8ohm seems to push my speakers even better than the Carvers. All in all, this is a pretty awesome amplifier.
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Post by douglasconnection on Dec 3, 2013 23:08:33 GMT -5
Nice looking amp Trav!! That's a BIG transformer!! Glad you found an amp that puts a smile on your face
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Ender
Administrator
"I want my 2 dollars" - the "paperboy"
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Post by Ender on Dec 3, 2013 23:14:02 GMT -5
Jesus, glad to finally see pics. Now I will have to come visit.....
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Post by nooshinjohn on Dec 4, 2013 0:39:22 GMT -5
Glad you found some gold at the end of the rainbow my friend. I did not find mine until the tube mono-blocks were done. I too found that if you want the best out of SDA's or just about any speaker, there is no substitute for pure horsepower and the current to back it up.
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Post by trav0810 on Dec 4, 2013 9:01:01 GMT -5
Thanks guys! I am THRILLED with this beast. I am running it with a Modded C-1 and it seems to pair up nicely (I'm pretty happy with this unit as well!). Now I'm looking for my digital source. Still haven't found a CDP I'm blown away by and I am in the market for a Squeezebox to play with.
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Post by douglasconnection on Dec 4, 2013 19:28:02 GMT -5
Thanks guys! I am THRILLED with this beast. I am running it with a Modded C-1 and it seems to pair up nicely (I'm pretty happy with this unit as well!). Now I'm looking for my digital source. Still haven't found a CDP I'm blown away by and I am in the market for a Squeezebox to play with. For a CD player that will knock your sox off, try an OPPO BDP. I have the BDP-83SE which has a separate stereo output. For background music, I use my good old Sony 300 disk unit, but for critical listening I turn to the OPPO to play CD's. Using the outstanding Stereo DAC's in the BDP-83SE, feeding stereo analog signal from the dedicated outputs going to the Sunfire TGP.
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Post by trav0810 on Dec 4, 2013 19:51:36 GMT -5
I have considered an Oppo, but a few people I have talked to have said that while the Audio is above average, it is not exceptional. I have shied away just for the simple fact that this will strictly be a CDP in a 2 Channel rig with no video. It seems like overkill to buy a "do everything" unit just for one function. I really need to hear one so that I can judge for myself.
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tonyb
Guns
The 5 Star General
Posts: 2,662
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Post by tonyb on Dec 5, 2013 1:23:55 GMT -5
"exceptional" in anything comes with a price tag. Depends on your budget. I like the Cary cdp's and the Musical Fidelity CDP's. Certainly many more to tickle anyones fancy. The Oppo is a tad above anything in it's price class. Marantz is also very good.
Why not spend the coin in the digital world and get rid of all those cd's anyway ? Something to be said for having thousands of songs at your finger tips.
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tonyb
Guns
The 5 Star General
Posts: 2,662
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Post by tonyb on Dec 5, 2013 1:54:00 GMT -5
BTW, nice amp bro. Those caps are the size of coke cans.
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Post by trav0810 on Dec 5, 2013 8:56:59 GMT -5
Thanks Tony! Yeah, it is a pretty massive amp. Weighing in at around 70 lbs, it is built like a tank.
I am going to go digital. I'min the Market for a good deal on a Squeezebox Classic. I am shopping for a good (but affordable) unit right now. I just want a good CDP for when someone else brings over a CD for me to check out or in case I encounter computer or Wifi issues.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2013 20:47:13 GMT -5
trav, nice nice amp there
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Post by trav0810 on Dec 7, 2013 21:00:41 GMT -5
Thanks. I think she's a keeper!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2013 21:02:21 GMT -5
Same as my Parasound....definitely nice stuff to be had ! must admit, Tony tipped me off about the amp I got...over on CP lol wonder if the dude who started that thread is gonna be annoyed hehe
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tonyb
Guns
The 5 Star General
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Post by tonyb on Dec 7, 2013 21:30:50 GMT -5
Ya know, the guy asked about an amp from a dealer who sells used gear and posted the link. The Parasound was the last one on the list of used amps and caught my eye, and for a decent price to boot. I told that OP to jump on that, it was up to him to do so. Glad you did anyway, as I understand good used gear is hard to come by up north.
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Post by trav0810 on Dec 7, 2013 22:27:03 GMT -5
Well, he missed out on a good amp. You Snooze, you lose!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2013 1:42:57 GMT -5
trav, I agree, he snoozes, he loses...and the amp is MINE ! damn thing powers the A7s so nicely...took some of the brightness off (good thing) and just balanced the sound out and I can run some bass boost from the HK and not run outta gas at higher volumes...what an improvement.
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tonyb
Guns
The 5 Star General
Posts: 2,662
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Post by tonyb on Dec 8, 2013 7:49:26 GMT -5
It's called synergy my friend. That's why over at Polk we recommend Parasound or B&K amps for RTI speakers. Takes that edge of those higher frequencies without losing detail.
Glad your happy, now throw a party, invite some friends, eat drink and be merry.
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JC
Member
Balls
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Post by JC on Mar 18, 2021 21:16:26 GMT -5
The one that ended mine:
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Post by tophatjohnny on Mar 31, 2021 17:39:00 GMT -5
For my 2 channel the Mark Levinson no 431 brought the music to another level I’m not soon to get away from! Just a class amp !
For my HT the Acurus A2007 has more than kicked my ass over and over again! Those brothers in Indiana sure know how to serve it up and another Keeper ! 😉
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tonyb
Guns
The 5 Star General
Posts: 2,662
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Post by tonyb on Apr 2, 2021 7:31:32 GMT -5
Haven't had an ear on ML stuff in a very long time. Glad your digging those amps, very nice.
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