Giant Killers

Brucemck2 · Aug 6, 2013

[Post taken from another thread and made into a new one here]

Besides the JOB 225, what are some other amps that might be considered to be "giant killers" for us hard core audiophiles? The new Emotiva amps? Maybe Van Alstine? Something else?

http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/amplifiers/products/xpr1
http://www.avahifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106&Itemid=231

My reason for asking is simple: I need nine channels with over 100w/ch for my three actively crossed (via Trinnov) three-way front speakers.

MarinJim · Aug 8, 2013

Magnus Audio MA 300.

Audioseduction · Aug 11, 2013

MarinJim · Aug 11, 2013

Audioseduction said:
View attachment 11218

LOL, great pic, but at 160 lbs, my amp looks more like Goliath.

Audioseduction · Aug 11, 2013

Ya, LOL my mono blocks combined are almost 300lbs

MarinJim · Aug 11, 2013

Audioseduction said:
Ya, LOL my mono blocks combined are almost 300lbs

Except your Pass Labs XA160.5 cost over 2x as much.

Bruce B · Aug 11, 2013

Brucemck2 said:
[Post taken from another thread and made into a new one here]
My reason for asking is simple: I need nine channels with over 100w/ch for my three actively crossed (via Trinnov) three-way front speakers.

Just buy 3 Pass X-3's !!

Shaffer · Aug 12, 2013

Krell s300i. $2500 list. Have a listen.

untangle · Aug 12, 2013

Exposure Audio (e.g., 3010s2)

Transcendent Sound (e.g., Son of Beast OTL)

Many EL84 amps (e.g., Decware Zen)

DIY (e.g., hypex nCore)

These all cost ~$1K USD and can deliver excellent results with compatible speakers.

Bob

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 12, 2013

The best answer to that question lies in finding the right match for the individual drivers in your system, but a simple one might be to do what Siegfried Linkwitz does with his TOTL Orions - he uses multi-channel SS amps from Amplifier Technologies Inc. The one set of Orions I've heard used a 12 channel, 60 watts per channel ATi amp. They seemed to have endless headroom. That amp was in the $2500 range. There are many here who will not believe it can be good enough at that price. Dr. Linkwitz, and my listening experience disagree.

Tim

FrantzM · Aug 12, 2013

untangle said:
Exposure Audio (e.g., 3010s2)

Transcendent Sound (e.g., Son of Beast OTL)

Many EL84 amps (e.g., Decware Zen)

DIY (e.g., hypex nCore)

These all cost ~$1K USD and can deliver excellent results with compatible speakers.

Bob

Thanks Bob >> I saw the thread dying an early death with mentions of amps costing upward of $5K ..

Brucemck2 · Aug 12, 2013

AB Systems has a pretty fanatical following over in the UK. The units appear to be based on the old Cinepro Gold design (which were very nice sounding amps back in the day), with more modern components and upgrade paths. (Per the UK forum actual prices are around half of what's listed on the website.)

http://www.abamps.net/

The Musica Bella line also appears promising:

http://www.responseaudiony.com/Ibrido.htm

I need well north of 100w/ch into 4 ohms for the woofers, and well north of 50w/ch for the 8 ohm nominal midranges and tweeters

I'm also looking into DIY nCore

ps to Frantz -- The Transcendent Beast OTL looks pretty imprssive, but I need more power and can't imagine the heat build up with nine channels of that in my equipment room!
http://www.transcendentsound.com/Transcendent/Transcendent_Sound_BEAST_OTL_Tube_Amp.html

KeithR · Aug 12, 2013

i think the Valvet A3.5 monos are a great bargain- $6000 for monoblocks.

on the tube side, Quad Classics, properly retubed, can sound amazing- $2500 or so.

JackD201 · Aug 12, 2013

I second the A3.5r MkIIs. My Living Voice and Avantgarde owning clients just love them to death. I love them with Unifield 1s, 3s and VR-44 Aktives.

They were designed with High Efficiency speakers primarily as Valvet used to make their own line of compact Horns.

untangle · Aug 12, 2013

FrantzM said:
Thanks Bob >> I saw the thread dying an early death with mentions of amps costing upward of $5K ..

Sure thing. I forgot to mention...my suggestions are based on first-hand experience. In most cases, with several speaker flavors. But clearly, many of these will not properly drive difficult loads and/or large rooms.

Bob

daytona600 · Aug 12, 2013

Croft Hybrids from the UK silly sound for the £/$ & hand-built

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